Move Over Law: Post-Enforcement News Release

MOVE OVER LAW: POST-ENFORCEMENT NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:

Month [DATE], 2013PHONE:

[YOUR AGENCIES] CITE [###] MOTORISTS FOR “MOVE OVER” VIOLATIONS

RECOMMENDATION: PARTNER WITH SURROUNDING AREA AGENCIES OR SAFE COMMUNITY COALITIONS ON NEWS RELEASES TO AVOID DUPLICATION WHEN ISSUING TO MEDIA

[YOUR CITY/COUNTY], Minn. — [Local law enforcement agencies in YOUR AREA/YOUR AGENCY] cited [###] motorists for violating the state’s Ted Foss Move Over law during an enhanced enforcement effort of the law on Aug. 31.A “move over” citation in [YOUR AREA] can cost [INSERT DOLLAR AMOUNT].

Participating agencies in the one-day campaign were: [List partnering agencies in alpha order].

Motorists are required to move over for stopped emergency vehicles that have emergency lights activated — it’s the law in Minnesota. The law was named in honor of State Patrol Trooper Ted Foss who was killed 13 years ago by a passing vehicle as he was making a traffic stop on the shoulder of Interstate 90 in Winona.

Minnesota’s “move over” law means:

When traveling on a road with two or more lanes, you must keep over one full lane away from stopped emergency vehicles with flashing lights activated — ambulance, fire, law enforcement, maintenance and construction vehicles.
Reduce speed if you are unable to safely move over a lane.
Failing to take these actions endangers personnel who provide critical and life-saving services. Fines can exceed $100.

“Part of our job as officers involves assistingmotorists, which at times can be a dangerous task when you factor in other vehicles traveling at high speeds around you,” says [SPOKESPERSON]. “We need everyone’s help to keep us safe by moving over a lane when they see flashing lights.”

[INSERT HOW MANY PERSONNEL/VEHICLES WERE HIT FROM YOUR AGENCIES IN LAST YEAR/FIVE YEARS. INSERT HOW MANY CITATIONS YOUR AGENCIES HAVE ISSUED FOR MOVE OVER VIOLATIONS].

The “Move Over” enforcement and education campaign is a component of the state’s Toward Zero Death (TZD) initiative. A primary vision of the TZD program is to create a safe driving culture in Minnesota in which motorists support a goal of zero road fatalities by practicing and promoting safe and smart driving behavior. TZD focuses on the application of four strategic areas to reduce crashes — education, enforcement, engineering and emergency trauma response.

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