Traffic Violation

Virginia: Unknown Traffic Violation Carries $2500 Fine

Virginia motorists face $2500 fine for Move Over traffic violation about which 71 percent of public is unaware.

Five years ago, the Virginia legislature made it a serious crime to drive past a police officer stopped on the side of the road without changing lanes. As a result, unsuspecting motorists -- including those who are not speeding -- can nonetheless be caught in a speed trap and face a first degree misdemeanor ticket that carries a fine of up to $2500. Despite the significant financial penalty involved, nearly three-quarters of all motorists have never heard of "move over" laws, according to a Virginia State Police news release issued in July.

You can read the rest of the article here...http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/20/2032.asp

 

Yep - my boss got nailed with it.

Your only defense is that you "could not move over SAFELY." Yeah - good luck with that!

 

who gives the ticket if the pulled over cop is busy writing someone ELSE a ticket?

 

The next police officer parked 1/4 mile away down the street looking for easy picking$

 

I thought it was common sense and a courtesy to move over. I always have.

 

i move over for motorists and cops when possible- safety issue in my mind.

 

So if the officer is completely out of the traveled way of the road, we still have to change lanes?

 

I heard about this a few months ago but the issue seemed to be to change lanes when an officer is pulled over during a traffic violation, not just if they are sitting on the side of the road doing radar. I think it's to protect people on the side of the road (including officers) from getting sideswipped. As a courtesy it probably should apply to ANY car on the side of the road (not including parked cars, of course).

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Virginia Code 46.2-921.1
The driver of any motor vehicle, upon approaching a stationary emergency vehicle, as defined in § 46.2-920, that is displaying a flashing, blinking, or alternating emergency light or lights as provided in §§ 46.2-1022, 46.2-1023, and 46.2-1024, shall (i) on a highway having at least four lanes, at least two of which are intended for traffic proceeding as the approaching vehicle, proceed with caution and, if reasonable, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that occupied by the stationary emergency vehicle or (ii) if changing lanes would be unreasonable or unsafe, proceed with due caution and maintain a safe speed for highway conditions.

Violation of any provision of this section shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor. If the violation resulted in damage to property of another person, the court may, in addition, order the suspension of the driver's privilege to operate a motor vehicle for not more than one year. If the violation resulted in injury to another person, the court may, in addition to any other penalty imposed, order the suspension of the driver's privilege to operate a motor vehicle for not more than two years. If the violation resulted in the death of another person, the court may, in addition to any other penalty imposed, order the suspension of the driver's privilege to operate a motor vehicle for two years.[/FONT]

 

I suppose not since the law states that "[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]if changing lanes would be unreasonable or unsafe, proceed with due caution and maintain a safe speed for highway conditions." [/FONT]

 

It largely has to do with Safety for the officers, many who have been hit and injured or killed when a motorist doesn't move out of the way.

 

There was a study released a few months ago that stated that VA State Troopers are now more concerned about being hit on the side of the road than being shot.

 

I know a guy who got this on the toll road and he couldn't move over as a guy was right next to him. He still go the ticket and now has to go to court.