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State Police Ticket 230 Motorists Who Fail To 'Move Over' During Detail

New York State troopers handed out 230 traffic tickets on the state's thruway during a recent five-day special enforcement of the "Move Over" law , four times the norm for a typical one-week span, said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

New York's "Move Over" law is designed to help save the lives of the thousands of firefighters, police, construction workers, tow truck operators and others who work on the state's highways.

Photo Credit: NYS DMV

The enforcement, which ran from Monday, Nov. 14 to Friday, Nov. 18, was aimed at protecting law enforcement and emergency services personnel stopped along the roadway. 

Recent fatal crashes involving tow truck operators and highway workers have prompted Gov. Andrew Cuomo to enact the campaign to raise awareness of the law, which requires drivers to move over when approaching law enforcement vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances, tow trucks, construction and maintenance vehicles stopped along the roadway.

Officials pointed to an accident on Thanksgiving Day, when a state trooper was struck by a driver while investigating an accident on the Sprain Brook Parkway. The driver, 62-year old Xhevalin Lala of Yonkers, was charged with violating the “Move Over” law as well as DWAI and other traffic violations. The trooper suffered minor injuries.

“Every day, our first responders put their lives on the line to ensure the safety and security of our motorists and the roadways they depend on,” Cuomo said. “With this aggressive campaign, our message rings loud and clear – we have zero tolerance for irresponsible driving that puts our police officers, emergency personnel, and other workers in harm’s way. I thank state and local law enforcement for their efforts to enforce the rules of the road and ensure the protection of all New Yorkers.”

 “Move Over” violations included:

  • Capital Region – 57 tickets
  • Central New York – 60 tickets
  • Hudson Valley – 96 tickets
  • Western New York – 17 tickets

 “It is absolutely essential that we continue to educate motorists about New York’s ‘Move Over’ law – lives depend on it," said Bill Finch, Thruway Authority acting executive director. "Crews working on the side of the road are simply doing their jobs and want to go home to their loved ones at the end of the day, just like you. Give them room – slow down and move over if it is safe to do so.”

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