DYK moving a lane over for parked emergency vehicles isn’t just a courtesy, but an S.C. state law? Turns out not many drivers do.
If any emergency vehicle (police, fire, EMS, etc.) is adjacent to a lane of traffic, the “move-over law” requires drivers to either switch lanes or reduce speed by at least 5 mph.
Violation of the move-over law can result in a misdemeanor charge and up to a $500 fine (at the officer’s discretion). 132 violation tickets for the law were issued in 2016 + 116 so far in 2017. Most drivers simply don’t know the law exists – and increasing penalties won’t work if drivers don’t know they are committing a crime.
It’s also difficult to enforce the law. Most roadside stops involve only 1-2 officers, so pursuing a speeding vehicle is not always an option. The law is primarily enforced with the help of police dash + body cams – but law enforcement is still working on finding a preventative solution to the problem.
