WaPo: "'Move Over' Law Expanded in VA"

[GreenGene]

Here's a summary of the bill:

"Move over" law. Requires drivers to move left on a four lane highway when approaching vehicles displaying flashing blue, red, or amber lights. The offense is punished as a traffic infraction, formerly a Class 1 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation, when such violation involved a vehicle with flashing, blinking, or alternating blue or red lights, is punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. These provisions shall not apply in highway work zones.

To see the full text: Bill Tracking - 2010 session > Legislation

From the full text:

The driver of any motor vehicle, upon approaching a stationary vehicle that is displaying a flashing, blinking, or alternating blue, red, or amber light or lights as provided in §§ 46.2-1022, 46.2-1023, or 46.2-1024, or subdivision A 1 or A 2 of § 46.2-1025 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 the stationary vehicle or (ii) if changing lanes would be unreasonable or unsafe, proceed with due caution and maintain a safe speed for highway conditions.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

I was told by a very experienced California Highway Patrol officer once that cops who leave their lights flashing during a traffic stop are idiots just asking for a drunk to smash into them.

And that so called "very" experienced CHP is an idiot. If he really said that.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

And that so called "very" experienced CHP is an idiot. If he really said that.

Yes he did and no he wasn't. Here's an interesting discussion of studies on the topic:

http://www.policedriving.com/article145.htm (broken link)

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Yes he did and no he wasn't. Here's an interesting discussion of studies on the topic:

Police Vehicles and Lights (http://www.policedriving.com/article145.htm - broken link)

I'm well aware of the studies. As a 30 plus and now retired officer we were kept abreast of these studies and discussed what we should always do in light of the info. Trust me when I say officers would rather leave their emergency lights on while on the side of the road and take their chances with the occasional drunk driver. We always had hundreds if not a thousand cars passing us depending on where we were stopped and going by the law of averages only a few were drunks. The vast majority of people were those driving sober and hopefully were cognizant of their surroundings. In my time as a LEO I could count on one hand the times officers I worked with were rear ended by drunk drivers while they were stopped on the side of the road with their lights on. I can count the thousands of times I saw officers stopped roadside with their lights on with NO problems. Myself included.
I believe I know a little more on the subject. Moderator Cut