COLORADO MOVE OVER LAW

We have all seen an officer on a routine traffic stop. It might be a State Trooper, a Sheriff’s Deputy, or city Police Officer. Sometimes it is on a busy Interstate; sometimes it’s a quiet country road. The important thing to remember is to give that officer plenty of room to do their job safely.

There is a law in Colorado called the “Move Over Law”, which states: “When a driver on a roadway with two or more lanes in the same direction is approaching an area where an emergency vehicle, operating its emergency lighting is stationary on the side of the roadway, the driver must safely move to the left lane. If traffic, road, or weather conditions do not allow a driver to move over to the left lane, the driver must slow to a safe speed while moving through the area.”

The emergency vehicle can be a law enforcement officer, ambulance, or fire truck that has its lights operating. Thirty-two states have “Move Over Laws”. So far in 2007, five law enforcement officers in the United States have died as a result of being struck by a vehicle. Please also remember our friends who work on highway construction projects.

Slow down for them too, and make it a safer place for everyone on our roadways. Don’t forget to report aggressive drivers by dialing *CSP (*277) from your cell phone. Have a safe and wonderful Fall season!