IGNORING ONTARIO 'MOVE OVER LAW' COULD MEAN 3 DEMERIT POINTS

It's called the Move Over Law. While most drivers are probably aware they must pull over when they see an emergency vehicle, they may not know they must slow down and change lanes when one is stopped on the side of the road. Provincial and City Police officials are taking action to educate motorists.

The Move Over Law has actually been in existence since 2003. However many motorists are still unfamiliar with it. What the law requires is for people approaching an emergency vehicle, be that a fire engine, or an ambulance or a police motor vehicle, with their lights flashing - they have to move as far as they can into the next lane. On a multi-lane road, that would mean moving to the next lane safely, and slowing down and passing the emergency vehicle,'' OPP North West regional traffic manager John Kendrick said.

Kendrick says the law was put into place after a police officer was killed in 2000 by a passing transport truck on the side of a highway. Thunder Bay Police Traffic Sgt. Glenn Porter says drivers must proceed with caution, as the officers may be intent on other tasks, and not give their attention to your approaching vehicle and reminds motorists this doesn't just apply to highways.

''All of the roads in the city of Thunder Bay, residential or not. If there's an emergency vehicle that's stopped with the lights on, that means there's emergency workers walking around. Slow right down, give them lots of room,'' Porter said. Kendrick says they're stepping up enforcement and so far in 2008, over 600 drivers have been charged in the province for not abiding by this law. The penalty is is a hefty price to pay for not slowing down and moving over.

''Current set fines for the offence in Ontario, is actually $485.00 on a first offence. And it includes 3 demerit points on your license'' Kendrick says a sign has been installed at the Pigeon River Border Crossing reminding drivers of the legislation. The OPP and Thunder Bay Police are working on having more signs put up on area roadways in the near future.