Manchester PD Video Urges Drivers To Move Over

MANCHESTER, NJ — If you are out driving around and see flashing emergency lights, do you know that you are supposed to move over?

Manchester Township Police are trying to make sure drivers not only know the law but understand why it is vitally important to follow it, following an accident earlier in August that injured four Manchester police officers. One of those officers remains off-duty, continuing to recover from his injuries.

"Motor vehicle stops are a part of the job for our patrol officers, but we all have a responsibility to pay attention," Manchester Police Chief Lisa Parker said. "When you see flashing lights, slow down and move over if you can. Many officers have lost their lives due to distracted drivers who fail to observe the move over law."

That includes Manchester Patrolman Robert Tobias, who was killed in 1974 by a passing car during a motor vehicle stop.

Manchester Township police have released a video that has been distributed by the Ocean County prosecutor's office, not only showing the dangers to the officers but also emphasizing the points of the law. Law enforcement across the county will be focused on driving home the importance of the Move Over Law during all of Labor Day weekend, Prosecutor Joseph Coronato said, a move that came in response to a request from Parker.

"Drivers are drawn to emergency vehicle lights by what police call the 'moth effect,' " Coronato said. "From 2003-2013, 138 officers were struck and killed on our nation’s highways. This is a disturbing statistic that can easily be addressed through awareness of this simple law."

The law is simple: The driver of a motor vehicle approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with flashing, blinking or alternating red or blue lights is required to cautiously make a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the emergency vehicle if possible based on the existing safety and traffic conditions. If a lane change is impossible, prohibited by law or unsafe, drivers are required to reduce their speed below the posted speed limit and be prepared to stop.

Drivers who fail to move over can be fined a minimum of $100 to $500, though 10th District Sen. Jim Holzapfel and his Assembly colleagues, Greg McGuckin and Dave Wolfe, have announced they will introduce legislation to stiffen the penalties for failure to comply with the law.

"The public needs to understand these are life and death situations," Wolfe said. "First responders are needlessly being killed and injured because drivers are disregarding the law. They don’t stand a chance against a car or truck that’s barreling down a highway. They’re sitting ducks. We’re putting drivers on notice that they need to obey the law or face stiff consequences."

Coronato said while the Manchester incident was the most glaring recent example, there have been numerous other near-misses while police officers were conducting motor vehicle stops. The Manchester incident happened the day before a stretch of Route 195 in Howell was dedicated to the memory of New Jersey State Trooper Marc Castellano, who was killed when he was hit by a vehicle that failed to move over away from a police investigation.

"Please take a minute, slow down and move over," Parker said. "As evident from this photo showing the tire imprint left on one of my officer’s uniform pant leg, my officers' lives are depending on you."

See footage of the Aug. 9 Manchester incident below from two angles.

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Video by the Manchester Township Police Department supplied by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office