TEXAS SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT TARGETS ILLEGAL DRIVING

The Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office is targeting people who do not obey the driving laws. They are performing this additional targeted service thanks to funding received from the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant which they received from the Texas Department of Transportation. The grant began October 1 and will continue until September 2007. Allen said that the office would also be involved in public awareness.

They also have plans to visit five school districts in the county to do a presentation on traffic safety. These presentations will explain traffic safety and laws, and the move Texas move-over law. They want people to know that Texas has had a move over law for three years now. The department is concerned that some people are still not aware of it. The move over law requires a car that is approaching an emergency vehicle to move out of the lane adjacent to the vehicle or if that is not possible, slow down to 20 miles under the posted speed limit.