Harford Deputies Crack Down On Move Over Law

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — The Harford County Sheriff's Office had extra patrols on Route 40 Wednesday, as officers kept an eye out for violators of Maryland's "Move Over Law." If an emergency response or service vehicle is parked or stopped with signals on, that means a driver should move over or reduce speed as a precaution.

The Move Over Law was first passed in 2010 in Maryland to ensure safety around emergency response and law enforcement vehicles.

It was expanded in 2014 to include tow trucks and then was again amended in 2018 to include recycling trucks, trash trucks and service/utility vehicles with yellow or amber flashing lights or signal devices.

The Move Over Law requires drivers approaching these vehicles to do the following:

• Move into a lane not immediately adjacent to the emergency vehicle.
• Slow down if it is not possible to move.

"Today, deputies are taking part in a push to enforce the Move Over Law," the Harford County Sheriff's Office reported on Wednesday, Jan. 23. "This law is for our safety. It requires drivers to 'move over' one lane, or slow down, while passing an emergency or service vehicle stopped on the shoulder. Help our deputies stay safe! #MoveOver"

Maryland's Move Over law aims to reduce the number of fatalities, such as the death of a volunteer firefighter in Cecil County in 2013 and a Port Deposit man killed working on I-695 near Milford Mill in 2014.

Violation of the law can lead to a fine of $110 and one point.

If the violation contributes to a crash, the fine is $150 and three points.

If the violation contributes to a traffic crash resulting in death or serious injury, the fine is $750 and three points.

Photos of Move Over enforcement courtesy of the Harford County Sheriff's Office.