Move over law now enforced on Nevada highways
Have you heard of the 'move over' law on our highways? Most people haven't. The law requires drivers to move over one lane, away from emergency vehicles parked on the side of the road; or at the very least, drivers have to slow down if changing lanes isn't possible.
A typical day for Nevada Highway Patrol, driving along I-15 making sure motorists are following the law. However troopers are enforcing a law many people don't know about. Trooper Loy Hixson pulls a silver car over, for not abiding by the 'move over' law, as it passed a NHP car pulled over to the right.
"In Nevada, when you're approaching an emergency vehicle, you're required if you have an open lane to move to your left, to get over. The reason why you were stopped is that you did not move over," Hixson explains to motorist Hugo Salcedo.
Salcedo told us he had no idea this law existed, giving safe clearance to officers, emergency workers and tow truck drivers.
"I saw the cars and didn't see them right on the edge and I thought that I was safe. Obviously it's not," Salcedo says.
The law has been on the books in Nevada for 12 years, but like Salcedo, a lot of people don't know they're supposed to move over, or slow down if changing lanes is impossible. Hixson says it’s important for the safety of those on the side of the road.
"We have had our car hits, luckily we have not had our troopers seriously injured or killed, and that's what we want to avoid way too many people who get distracted when they are driving," Hixson says.
The Salcedos, who got a warning this time, say they will pay attention now.
If cited for not moving over, it's going to cost you at least $190.
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