Move Over, It's the Law
Resent media attention and an email where a father claims his son was "charged with a hefty fine and 3 points on his driving record" has shed new light on the California Move Over/Slow Down Law.
The Move Over Law was actually passed in 2006 and implemented in 2007. Governor Schwarzenneger recently removed the sunset date of January 2010 from the law and added CalTrans vehicles with flashing amber lights to the list of vehicles, effective January 1, 2010.
The law "requires a person driving a vehicle on a freeway approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle displaying emergency lights, or a stationary tow truck or CalTrans vehicle displaying flashing amber lights, to approach with due caution and, before passing in a lane immediately adjacent to the authorized emergency vehicle or tow truck, absent any other direction by a peach officer, proceed to either make a lane change in to an available lane, as specified, or, if that maneuver would be unsafe or impracticable, slow to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe.