Illinois: Area tow truck drivers say many people ignore Move Over Law

Shaun Newman is off for another day of work. A tow truck driver for six years he's crisscrossed the area charging batteries, replacing tires and transporting people to auto shops.

While he's comfortable with his job there's one thing that still scares him.

"We got a cardinal rule in the tow truck, when you get out to pick up your car, you don't take your eyes off traffic," Newman says.

That's because drivers may have to hook up vehicles alongside cars zooming by at speeds of 70 and 80 miles an hour.

Illinois law requires drivers to reduce speed, change lanes if possible and proceed with caution when coming across any emergency vehicle.

"Flashing, oscillating, rotating emergency lights be they amber, red, blue," Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Carl Heintz.

Scott's Law, also called the Move Over law, was named after a Chicago fire lieutenant was struck and killed on the side of a highway.

"Drivers are getting much better at this then they once were," Heintz says.

Drivers are also supposed to move over for tow trucks but Shaun Newman says that's not happening.

"They should slow down and move over but nobody ever does," Newman says.

We rode along with Newman to find out for ourselves and found many drivers violating the law.

Intersections like at East State and Mulford Street are where Newman says drivers rarely move over and instead drive right beside the tow truck.

Newman says part of the reason he thinks drivers ignore the law is that they're preoccupied.

"The cell phone era has brought along the people who just don't pay attention to anything and they don't care what's going on in the side there's just tunnel vision," Newman says.

That's concerning for Newman who says he's just trying to stay safe while doing his job. Drivers can have their license suspended and face a fine of up to $10,000 for violating Scott'