Canada: Thousands ticketed for ignoring ‘Move Over Law’

Quebec provincial police issued more than 2,000 tickets last year to motorists who failed to comply with the province’s ‘Move Over Law’.

The ‘Move Over Law’ as it is called in most Canadian provinces and US states was implemented in Quebec three years ago, after a police officer was hit and killed by a vehicle. He was responding to an accident when he was killed. Quebec was the last Canadian province to implement this law, which says that drivers must move over when flashing lights are activated on police cars, ambulances, tow trucks, fire trucks or ministry of transport vehicles.

Ontario established its own ‘Move Over Law’ in 2003. More than a decade later, motorists still don’t seem to have gotten the message. As of July 27, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) had already laid 763 charges against drivers who ignored the ‘Move Over Law’.

Safety campaigns are taking place across Quebec and Ontario.

When it is impossible to switch lanes, motorists should significantly reduce their speed, turn on their four-way flashers and leave as much space as possible between their vehicle and emergency workers.

The penalty for failing to comply is a $284 ticket and the loss of four demerit points. Repeat offenders may face higher fines. On September 10, more than 30 emergency responders from the Quebec Provincial Police (SQ), the Lachute Fire Department, the Quebec Ministry of Transport, local towing companies and paramedics parked their vehicles along Bethany Avenue, in Lachute. Throughout the day they interacted with hundreds of motorists,