112 Drivers Ticketed During 'Move Over' Enforcement
By Andrea Flores
ARVADA, Colo. (CBS4) - Arvada police are reminding motorists to "move over" for emergency vehicles.
"Everybody needs to either move over, and if they can't, either due to weather or traffic conditions, then they're obliged to slow down," Detective David Snelling with Arvada Police said of the "Move Over" law.
But Wednesday, as one vehicle after the other failed to move over, officers like Chris Steiner laid down the law.
"One car didn't yield to our flashing lights on the side of the road," said Steiner. "There was plenty of opportunity to change lanes around us, and she did not do so."
Even though the Move Over law has been in effect since 2005, Arvada police say many drivers don't even know it exists.
Police agencies say roadside stops can often be the most dangerous part of the job.
"If we get hit by a car at 65 miles per hour, we're not going to survive that collision," said Steiner.
As police work to make sure motorists are moving over, some unlucky drivers certainly learned their lesson.
"I guess I should have moved over a lane ahead of time," said a driver who did not want to be identified. "I guess hindsight is 20-20."
More than 112 tickets were issued by law enforcement agencies within Jefferson County, including Arvada Police, Colorado State Patrol, Wheat Ridge Police, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Golden Police, and Morrison Police.
The cost for a Move Over law citation is about $150 if pulled over by Arvada police.
Those costs vary by department.
Andrea Flores is a reporter for CBS4. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @AndreaFloresTV.