Passing Emergency Vehicles in Texas

[LilyMac]

Hello all,

While my husband, sister and I were driving around this past weekend on the highway in the far right lane, up ahead we came upon a police officer with a car pulled over onto the shoulder. I told my husband (much to his annoyance), "you were supposed to pull into the next lane." I was referring to:

Passing Emergency Vehicles
SB 193 - Requires a vehicle operator approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle using flashing lights, on a highway with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction, to vacate the lane closest to the emergency situation or slow to 20 mph below the speed limit or 5 mph when the posted limit is less than 25 mph.

We proceeded to have a liveley "discussion" about this law. I said that it creates awareness and that the goal is improving the safety of officers and the people they have pulled over. I cited cases where officers have been hit by drivers that were later found to be drunk.

My sister and husband said that they thought it was a silly law made up as an excuse to cite drivers, moreover, my husband (the lawyer) said, it would be difficult to enforce given that the officer is busy already. My sister was incensed. She said the law is a way to punish "good" drivers by making them switch lanes or face the possibility of getting a ticket. She said that the "bad" drivers who would be more likely to hit the officer wouldn't yield anyway.

I would like to know what Texas police officers think of this law and whether it in itself has cause wrecks? Have they written citations for failing to switch lanes? Is this new law really going to prevent officer injury, or, as my husband said, is it a poorly written knee-jerk reaction to what is a rare occurrence (officers getting hit by cars)?

Thanks.

[scott715us]

Not just TX officers, but similar laws are in effect in every state. How in the hell is this a law enacted to "punish" good drivers as your sister states? I tell you what, tell your husband and your sister to ride in our shoes for a few days and pull some folks over on two lane roads and expressways. The law was put into place simply for officer safety. There is no "hidden trick" behind the "move over" law. Too many officers get killed during traffic stops because of inattentive drivers. Cell phones have added to the problem. It's not enough that people eat, put on makeup, fight, watch tv in their vehicles, but now that cell phones are in everyone's car, it just adds to the danger.

Here is a story on the last officer that has been killed in Nashville, which was last year http://www.wsmv.com/Global/story.asp?s=2138064 . If your husband and sister do a google search on the internet about officers struck and killed, I think they will quit whining about this law and realize the danger officers are put in every day doing a simple traffic stop. :mad:

[acreature]

Its the same in NC... if you cannot safely switch lanes, you are to slow to 20 mph as you pass.

It is true to an axtent that the Officer is busy, and it is hard to enforce. But that is what the back-up Officer is for.

I have yet to issue paper for such an occurrence.

[Old Trooper]

I only wish it was a rare occurrance (officers getting hit by cars). More officers get killed in vehicle accidents than any other instance. This is just one way to help them get through the day safely. Your sister and the lawyer need to get in touch with reality.

[P01IC3M4N]

My sister and husband said that they thought it was a silly law made up as an excuse to cite drivers, moreover, my husband (the lawyer) said, it would be difficult to enforce given that the officer is busy already. My sister was incensed. She said the law is a way to punish "good" drivers by making them switch lanes or face the possibility of getting a ticket. She said that the "bad" drivers who would be more likely to hit the officer wouldn't yield anyway.

I would like to know what Texas police officers think of this law and whether it in itself has cause wrecks? Have they written citations for failing to switch lanes? Is this new law really going to prevent officer injury, or, as my husband said, is it a poorly written knee-jerk reaction to what is a rare occurrence (officers getting hit by cars)?

Thanks.

perhaps your sister and husband would like to explain to the two children in this picture how silly they think it is...

http://www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=17351

i know you are only looking for information, and this is no offense to you, but i'm going to really get pissed off if i have to justify the use of common sense. it is a very touchy subject with me. i hope i catch your husband one day.

[P01IC3M4N]

one more thing, it's very easy to enforce. since it's passage, 208 people have received an introduction to that law from me. you will not get a warning.

[ChesCopPodz]

I gave warnings for the first 6 months, but no more.

[Johninaustin]

Your hubby is mistaken. It's very easy to enforce. I may be busy but the radio isn't. This, along with unsecured children, is one of my favorites. Only the truly stupid would look upon it as "Punishment". They are probably the same folks that blast thru construction and school zones.

[LilyMac]

I understand the anger in some of the replies to my post, but I really wasn't trying to provoke anyone. I was very surprised at the response of my husband and sister when I brought up the law. Pulling over or slowing down is a small thing to do for the safety of the officers. Since my sister hadn't heard about it, I wondered how many people actually knew about it and were moving over or slowing down when an emergency vehicle is pulled over.

It is an obvious hazard to the officer to be so near traffic while having someone pulled over. I haven't noticed my fellow citizens pulling over or slowing down for emergency vehicles, although I do so now. It took some getting used to, however, especially in rush hour traffic.

I am sorry for agravating people. Maybe the state will do some television ads or something to get the word out because I haven't noticed a change on the roads.

[sbrad]

$500 mandatory fine here.
Pay the Clerk.

And if your husband thinks it's hard to enforce, consider the officer that is sitting around the corner waiting for his partner to radio him and give your vehicle description to him. I've done it, and since I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer I'll bet others have thought of it too.

[ChesCopPodz]

Won't let me edit. The code is 46.2-921.1 and failure to do so is a class one misdemeanor which means up to a year in jail and $2500 are the maximum punishments.

[tpd_six]

We have the same law here since last year, and I have issued citations for it. Believe it or not, some truckers and motorists actually think it's funny to see how close they can come to the officer. I can always call the vehicle in and have someone down the road stop and cite them, or, if the stop I'm on isn't that serious I will actualy leave them to go stop people who fail to move over instead. I consider it extremely dangerous and disrespectful. Very easy to prove, since our cameras are usually running on the stops anyway.

[txinvestigator1]

Lily, Your husband and sister sound like real selfish, obnoxious people.

I drive 30k plus miles a year on Texas roads, and I have noticed more people moving over.

[txinvestigator1]

I frequently watch for these bad drivers when I'm backing up other officers on stops. If I see one that comes too close, I'll peel off and make the stop.

I liked to follow ambulances and fire trucks and stop people who failed to yield.

[ChesCopPodz]

I liked to follow ambulances and fire trucks and stop people who failed to yield

Ooooh, I never thought of doing that, great idea. I have to give it a try next time I get the chance.