Can someone please explain this Move Over Act? (Cape Coral: relocation, travel)

[14Jose]

My husband just got a ticket in Cape Coral for not slowing down when two cop cars were sitting on the side of the bridge. On the ticket it states Move Over Act as the reason for the ticket. As far as I understood everything I have ever been told or read about the Move Over Act, you had to either slow down or change lanes. My husband was in the opposite lane and slowed down as soon as he was able to and still got a ticket! Also, the cops were sitting as soon as you go over the top of the bridge, so you can't really see them until you are were they are. I just wanted to see if anyone else has had problems with this or maybe I am misunderstanding the laws...

[R1v3rRat]

This is from FHP website....

Drivers are now required to "move over" or "slow down" when approaching an authorized emergency vehicle that is stopped on a highway in Florida. The "Move Over Act", passed during the 2002 session of the Florida Legislature, was signed by Governor Jeb Bush on May 1, 2002.

There are several important provisions concerning this new law. Effective July 1, 2002, on interstate highways or other highways with two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the emergency vehicle, and except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, drivers approaching a law enforcement or other authorized emergency vehicle parked on a roadway with their emergency lights activated, are required to vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle, as soon as it is safe to do so.

When approaching a law enforcement or other authorized emergency vehicle parked on a two-lane roadway with their emergency lights activated, and except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, drivers are required to slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or greater; or travel at five miles per hour when the posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less.

[14Jose]

Thanks, thats what I read also. But the cops are saying that you need to move over and slow down not one or the other.

[mawipafl]

Originally Posted by R1v3rRat

This is from FHP website....

Drivers are now required to "move over" or "slow down" when approaching an authorized emergency vehicle that is stopped on a highway in Florida. The "Move Over Act", passed during the 2002 session of the Florida Legislature, was signed by Governor Jeb Bush on May 1, 2002.

There are several important provisions concerning this new law. Effective July 1, 2002, on interstate highways or other highways with two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the emergency vehicle, and except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, drivers approaching a law enforcement or other authorized emergency vehicle parked on a roadway with their emergency lights activated, are required to vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle, as soon as it is safe to do so.

When approaching a law enforcement or other authorized emergency vehicle parked on a two-lane roadway with their emergency lights activated, and except when otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer, drivers are required to slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or greater; or travel at five miles per hour when the posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less.

Ummm ... I just learned something new .... the third paragraph above regarding a two-lane road doesn't specifically state which sides of the road the driver and emergency vehicle are on. It just says "when approaching" which could mean either from behind (on the same side of the road) or heading towards (on the opposite side of the road). I thought the slowing-down part of the Move Over Act was only mandatory if you were driving on the same side of a two-lane road as the parked emergency vehicle. Guess I was wrong. Sorry that I had to learn something at your husband's expense 14Jose.

[mawipafl]

I just had a thought 14Jose ... since the Move Over Act is a state issue rather than a local one, consider posting your question on the Florida Forum to see if anyone in other parts of the state has had the same scenario.

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