Move Over Law | Video

Sarahbeth Ackerman | 2/28/2013

Moving over for a police vehilce stopped on the side of the road is not just a courtesy, it`s the law. The North Dakota Highway Patrol is raising awareness about their Move Over Law that was put in place back in 2009.

This means if you see an officer stopped and they have their lights on, you must get into the passing lane to avoid any distractions to the vehicles on the shoulder lane.

So far this year, the highway patrol has had three trooper vehicles hit because passing cars did not move over.

"When I`m stopping a vehicle, I need to be concentrating on what is going on in the vehicle I`m stopping. I need to know if there are weapons. And, I need to know whose in the car. I need to be concentrating on that driver and those occupants. I shouldn`t have to worry about who is coming up behind me. But, we do have to pay attention which takes our attention away from the people that we are dealing with," said trooper Scott Guenthner.

Guenthner said if you violate the law, it could be anywhere from a $50 to $500 fine and two points against your driving record.

This law can only be enforced out of city limits and on a four lane highway.

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