LITTLE-KNOWN LAW INTENDED TO PROTECT GEORGIA OFFICERS' SAFETY

Anytime an officer puts on their uniform, and hits the road, their lives are in danger...especially when it comes to making traffic stops.

Deputy Bryan Rosenberg, Richmond County Sheriff's Office: "My biggest fear is actually getting hit by another vehicle while pulling a car over."

Last year, 15 officers were killed by passing cars while making routine traffic stops. Deputy Rosenberg has had some close calls himself.

Deputy Rosenberg: "I can't describe how it feels to have a vehicle almost hit you while you're trying to do your job. It's very scary."

The "Move Over Law" is what it says. You must move over into the other lane...if it's open...any time there's an emergency vehicle on the side of the road with its lights on.

Deputy Rosenberg: "Honestly, I don't know why people don't move over, regardless of their knowledge of the law, or not. It's just a simple courtesy for the safety of the emergency worker." Friday night, we rode along with Deputy Rosenberg to see how many people didn't move over during a traffic stop. Every time a car was stopped, there was always someone who didn't move over...their excuse once we caught up with them?

Deputy Rosenberg: "When I spoke with this driver, he said that he didn't know that he was supposed to move over, by law." That same driver ended up getting arrested for a suspended license. Although he wasn't supposed to be driving, anyway...not knowing the "Move Over Law" got him caught. So, regardless of whether or not you're speeding, any time you see these lights....be ready to move over.

Now, if the there is no way for you to move over, or it's a one-lane road, you have to slow down enough that you could stop if you had to. Otherwise, if you get caught, you're getting a ticket. Georgia isn't the only state with this law...40 other states have it, as well. South Carolina is one of them.