Secretary Hal Taylor of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) fully supports Governor Kay Ivey’s decision to promote Alabama’s Slow Down Move Over Awareness Month each August.
“We cannot stress enough the importance of Alabama’s 'move over law’ to ensure the safety of Troopers and other first responders who must work in close proximity to traffic to perform their jobs. We applaud such efforts to raise awareness and to provide first responders with the clearance they need to work safely,” Secretary Taylor said.
In addition, fines associated with violation of the law go into effect Sept. 1, 2019. See below for details n the law and new fines:
Section 32-5A-58.2
Moving over or reducing speed when approaching law enforcement vehicles, emergency vehicles, etc.
(a) This section shall be known as the "Alabama Move Over Act."
(b)(1) When an authorized law enforcement vehicle or emergency vehicle making use of any visual signals is parked, when a wrecker displaying amber rotating or flashing lights is performing a recovery or loading on the roadside, when a utility service vehicle operated by or on behalf of an entity providing utility services displaying any rotating lights, flashing lights, or other visual signals is parked on the roadside while performing tasks associated with the provision of utility services, when a vehicle displaying flashing lights is parked or engaged in the performance of official duties on or along a road, or when a garbage, trash, refuse, or recycling collection vehicle is actively collecting garbage, trash, refuse, or recycling materials on the roadside, the driver of every other vehicle, as soon as it is safe, shall do the following:
a. When driving on an interstate highway or other highway with two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the law enforcement vehicle, emergency vehicle, wrecker, utility service vehicle, vehicle displaying flashing lights, or garbage, trash, refuse, or recycling collection vehicle, the driver shall vacate the lane closest to the law enforcement vehicle, emergency vehicle, wrecker, utility service vehicle, vehicle displaying flashing lights, or garbage, trash, refuse, or recycling collection vehicle, unless otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer. If it is not safe to move over, the driver shall slow to a speed that is at least 15 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit unless otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer.
b. When driving on a two-lane road, the driver shall move as far away from the law enforcement vehicle, emergency vehicle, wrecker, utility service vehicle, vehicle displaying flashing lights, or garbage, trash, refuse, or recycling collection vehicle as possible within his or her lane and slow to a speed that is 15 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or greater or travel at 10 miles per hour when the posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less, unless otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer.
(2) A violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25). Upon a second violation of this subsection, the fine shall be fifty dollars ($50). Upon a third or subsequent violation, the fine shall be one hundred dollars ($100).
(c)(1) The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency shall provide an educational awareness campaign informing the motoring public about this section. The agency shall provide information about this section in all newly printed driver's license educational materials after January 1, 2010.
(2) This section shall not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.
Effective Sept. 1, 2019, Act 2019-520 will increase the fine associated with a violation of the Alabama Move Over Act as follows: (1) $100 for a first violation; (2) $150 for a second violation; and (3) $200 for a third or subsequent violation. (Until then, fines are $25 for a first violation, $50 for a second, and $100 for a third or subsequent violation.)
(Act 2009-577, p. 1695, §§1-3; Act 2012-409, p. 1114, §1; Act 2013-400, p. 1536, §1; Act 2018-459, §1.)
