Crime & Safety

Austin Police Poised To Enforce 'Move Over' Law

About 18 cops will be out on the streets June 26 to make sure drivers are vacating lanes next to emergency workers or at least slowing down.

AUSTIN, TX — Police will be out in force next week to enforce the state's "Move Over Law" dictating that drivers vacate lanes closes to emergency vehicles or slow down when passing.

The initiative by the Austin Police Department Highway Enforcement Command (APD HEC) is scheduled on Wednesday, June 26. This law states that drivers must vacate the lane closest to an emergency vehicle or slow to 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit.

To enforce the law, APD will dispatch some 18 officers during the operation after gathering for a press briefing detailing the effort at 8:15 a.m., in the Cabela’s parking lot in Buda. The operation will take place inside Austin city limits, but the briefing is in Buda.

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The operation will focus on drivers not moving over for tow trucks that have emergency lights activated while on the side of the highway. Research from AAA shows that a tow truck driver is hit and killed once every six days, making it one of the most dangerous jobs. The Transportation Code was amended in 2013 to include tow trucks as emergency vehicles.

Related story: Austin Police Enforce Texas 'Move Over' Law

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The planned initiative will be the second in a series of operations to educate the public on the law, police said, and to help protect our partners in the towing industry. Police earlier this month conducted a similar effort between the hours of 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 pm., handing out 238 warnings to drivers in the process.

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