The enhanced Pennsylvania Move Over Law (Act 105 of 2020) went into effect on April 27. It requires drivers approaching an emergency response area who are unable to safely merge into a lane further away from the response area to slow to at least 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit. An emergency response area is where an emergency vehicle has its lights flashing, or where road crews or emergency responders have lighted flares, posted signs, or try to warn travelers.
THE LAW WILL:
- Impose two points for failure to merge into the lane not next to the emergency response area.
- Set fines at $500 for first-time offenders, $1,000 for a second offense, and $2,000 for a third or subsequent offense.
- Require a 90-day license suspension for a third or subsequent offense. The license suspension will also apply to accidents that seriously harm or kill another person.
- Set additional fines of up to $10,000 for violators who injure or kill an emergency service responder or an individual in or near a disabled vehicle.
- Double fines for several traffic violations when committed in an emergency response area when first responders are present.
Emergency responders will mark response areas with road flares, caution signs, or other traffic-control devices.
Disabled vehicles are covered by the Move Over Law when they display as least two of the following markings:
- vehicular hazard signal lamps;
- caution signs or other traffic control device; or
- road flares
A similar law requires motorists to move over or slow down when approaching a stationary trash or recycling truck.
More information can be found here.
