Tennessee authorities cracking down on Move Over Law

November 21, 2023

WDEF News,

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Tennessee drivers who are not following the state’s Move Over Law will likely see blue lights in their rearview soon.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) have partnered for Operation Guardians of the Roadway. In this operation, they have ramped up their enforcement of the Move Over Law.

This law requires drivers to move over one lane of traffic when approaching emergency vehicles on the side of the road, when it is safe to do so. If it is not safe to move over, the law requires drivers to at least slow down and be cautious. The law has been active since 2006.

TDOT says so far in 2023, drivers have hit 33 HELP trucks that were responding to incidents.

Additionally, five of those accidents happened in the past month.

On Friday, November 17, 2023, TDOT said authorities pulled over 77 vehicles for violating the Move Over Law within 84 hours. They said law enforcement issues 15 warnings and wrote nine citations as well.

THP, Chattanooga Police Department and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office have assisted in enforcing the state law.

According to TDOT, those who violate this law may be fined up to $500 and receive up to 30 days in jail.

“State law requires drivers to move over and slow down for emergency vehicles,” said Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “Working together with our extraordinary law enforcement partners, we can help change driver behavior and make it safer for everyone on the road. Crash responders can’t do their jobs if their lives are being put at risk.”