Drivers beware: ‘Ambrose-Searles Move Over Act' begins Jan. 1

Albany - Beginning Jan. 1, motorists must move over and slow down when encountering emergency vehicles on New York’s roads and highways. The Ambrose-Searles “Move Over Act” requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid colliding with an authorized emergency vehicle which is parked, stopped or standing on the shoulder of a road or highway with its emergency lights activated. Drivers must reduce speed on all roads when encountering such vehicles, but on parkways, interstates and other controlled access highways with multiple lanes, drivers are further required to move from the lane immediately adjacent to the emergency vehicle, unless traffic or other hazards exist to prevent doing so safely. “Emergency response personnel put their lives on the line every day while protecting the public on our highways,” said New York State Department of Motor Vehicle Commissioner David J. Swarts. “The Ambrose-Searles Act is a sensible and practical law to help ensure that our state’s hard-working emergency responders can perform their duties out of harm’s way.” The Ambrose-Searles “Move Over Act” is named in honor of New York State Trooper Robert W. Ambrose and Onondaga County Sheriff Deputy Glenn M. Searles who were both killed in the line of duty while their patrol vehicles were stopped on the side of the road, and to honor others who have lost their lives on the highways while serving the public. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, since 1999, more than 160 law enforcement officers have been killed in the United States when they were struck by vehicles while performing police duties along America’s highways. Ambrose-Searles ‘Move Over Act’ Protects law enforcement officers and emergency workers stopped along roadways while performing their duties. Drivers must use due care when approaching an emergency vehicle that displays red and/or white emergency lighting. On all roads and highways, drivers must reduce speed; On parkways and other controlled access highways with multiple lanes, drivers must move from the lane immediately adjacent to the emergency vehicle, unless traffic or other hazards exist to prevent doing so safely. A violation of this law is a punishable by a fine of up to $275, plus mandatory court surcharges. It will also result in two points on the driver’s license record.