Gov. Easley Signs Amendments To ‘Move Over’ Law 
Drivers Must ‘Move Over’ or Face Increased Penalties for Ignoring Emergency Vehicles 
 

RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley today signed into law House Bill 288, “An Act to Amend the Law Concerning What the Driver of a Motor Vehicle Shall Do Upon Approach of an Emergency Vehicle,” sponsored by Rep. Ray Rapp (D-Haywood, Madison, Yancey) and Rep. Bill McGee (R-Forsyth).

“House Bill 288 is a renewed effort to help increase North Carolinians’ safety on our roads and highways,” said Easley. “I am pleased that the ‘Move Over’ law has been improved to better protect our emergency service personnel and enable them to do their jobs safely while assisting motorists.”

House Bill 288 expands the state’s “Move Over” law to include increased penalties for violating the law.  Originally enacted in 2002, the law directs motorists to change lanes or slow down when passing a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights on the roadside.  Under the revised law, public service vehicles using flashing amber lights, such as Incident Management Assistance Patrol vehicles and wreckers, are now included in the list of authorized emergency vehicles.

This legislation increases the penalties for violating the law from $25 to a $250 fine plus $100 in court costs.  Motorists can now face misdemeanor charges for causing personal injury or property damage greater than $500 and felony charges for severe injury or death in the immediate area of a stopped emergency vehicle. 

The N.C. Department of Transportation and the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety have been working to educate motorists about the ‘Move Over’ law.  Throughout the state, more than 40 signs that read “Move Over or Reduce Speed for Stopped Emergency Vehicles” are being installed along interstate and U.S. routes.  Many of these signs are being installed in conjunction with signs informing motorists about the “Fender Bender” law, which requires motorists to clear the roadway of non-injury accidents. 

Information about the “Move Over” law has also been included on the 2005 State Transportation Map, on posters at rest areas and on informational bookmarks given to law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

House Bill 288 becomes effective July 1, 2006, and applies to offenses committed on or after this date.