TENNESSEE POLICE: DRIVERS ABIDING BY MOVE OVER LAW

Police said drivers seem to be complying better with Tennessee's "move over" statute. Between January and June, the Highway Patrol reports writing about 640 citations.

That could signal a decrease from last year, when the Patrol wrote about 1,400 tickets during the year for drivers failing to move over a lane when approaching emergency and maintenance workers along a road.

The statute -- similar to laws in 39 other states -- requires drivers to move over a lane when approaching police, ambulance crews, tow trucks or maintenance crews stopped along the highways with lights flashing.

In cases where drivers can't move over, they are to slow down.

The purpose is to leave a vacant lane between passing traffic and emergency or maintenance workers. The fine for failing to comply with Tennessee's "move over" law has been raised from $50 to $500 and can also result in a jail term up to 30 days.