By Toni Miles
There’s a law that’s “been on the books” for nearly two decades that some Mississippi drivers aren’t yet aware of but could make a court appearance for and get ticketed over – the Move Over Law.
Mississippi’s Move Over law went into effect in 2007. It requires anyone driving in Mississippi to move at least one lane away when approaching emergency vehicles that are parked on the roadside with lights flashing. This could include vehicles manned by police officers, highway patrolmen, Mississippi Department of Transportation workers or others who work as first responders. The law requires a lane change, or, if there are vehicles in the next lane over and it is unsafe to change lanes, motorists are required to slow down.
Under the Move Over Law, motorists who are passing an emergency vehicle on the side of the road must slow down and yield the right of way by changing lanes, keeping at least one lane between them and the emergency vehicle and first responders, if possible.
The law is intended to protect ambulance crews, state troopers and other law enforcement, medical personnel and first responders. It also covers tow trucks and highway maintenance vehicles. This often-ignored law also requires motorists to get out of the way of approaching emergency vehicles, as well, usually by pulling over to the right-hand edge of a road or street.
Drivers who don’t make room and fail to change lanes when possible under the Move Over Law risk getting ticketed, as some Mississippians have already found out.
Failure to obey the Move Over Law is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine. If the violation results in property damage to an emergency vehicle, highway maintenance or recovery vehicle or bodily injury, the fine can be up to $1,000.