Not giving way to emergency, law enforcement will mean bigger fine
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on June 18, 2006 2:04 AM
From staff reports
Goldsboro police will begin enforcing a stricter provision in the move-over law that calls for at least a $250 fine after July 1.
Maj. M.D. Hopper, who supervises the patrol division, said officers will issue warning tickets for a few days before writing citations.
The law now carries only a $25 fine, but the General Assembly recently passed a rewritten version.
Under the law, when a law-enforcement officer, firefighter or rescue personnel have stopped their vehicle along a road, drivers are required to move to the lane farthest from the emergency vehicle. If the driver cannot move over, because it is a two-lane road or because of traffic, then he is required to slow down appreciably until completely past the public safety vehicle.
Anyone who causes property damage to the public safety vehicle can be fined $500 under the rewritten law.
Hopper said officers, state Highway Patrol troopers and emergency medical technicians have been injured because drivers did not move over or slow down.