IT ALASKA IT IS MOVE OVER OR PAY THE FINE

A highway safety bill known as the Move Over Law took effect yesterday and requires vehicles to move over for parked vehicles with flashing emergency lights on roadways with two or more lanes in the same direction when traffic conditions safely permit.

Otherwise, drivers must noticeably slow down. Drivers on roads with two lanes in opposing directions are required to noticeably slow down. This law includes fire department and law enforcement vehicles, tow trucks picking up a vehicle and animal control officials performing their duties.

Darin Minkler, a tow truck driver for Matanuska Towing and Recovery, said in 21 years of driving he can easily remember six tow truck drivers working on road sides and being struck by moving vehicles.

“I personally got hit once - just with a mirror - but it hurt,” he said. “My hope is that folks will slow down when they see the lights. Quite often our lives are completely ignored.” Minkler said he was sweeping away accident debris when he was struck by a truck driver looking at the accident. Working the Glenn Highway during rush hour is spooky, because vehicles often fly by him at 70 mph with just inches to spare. His father Duane, who also drives tow trucks, campaigned hard for the law not just for their lives, but the lives of all emergency and safety personnel. The law is a revision of one that passed last year, which law enforcement said was unenforceable because of vague wording.