This month, North Carolina’s Move Over Law will be celebrating its fifth anniversary just as other states across the country will be celebrating their law’s commencement.  Although it is a celebration that we now have forty-one states with a Move Over Law, these laws come out of tragedies.  Hundreds of lives nationwide were lost in order for these laws to be on the books.

The North Carolina Move Over Law was passed two days before Trooper Calvin Taylor was killed and went into effect several months after.  At the time, only about five other states had any such law on the books and only one or two were doing anything to promote the law.  A citation for violating the law, despite the extent of any injury or death for that matter, resulted in a $25 fine plus court costs.  Five years ago, when the law became effective, few were aware of it.  Eighteen months later, Trooper Anthony Cogdill was killed in the same manner as Trooper Taylor.  They were run over by tractor trailers as they issued citations on the shoulder of Interstate 40.

As a result of these tragedies, I began FORS.  Working in conjunction with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and the North Carolina Department of Transportation, we wrote an amendment to the law, strengthening the fines and penalties.  Motorists violating the NC law will receive anywhere from a $250 fine to a felony charge.  North Carolina is one of the top states that actively promotes the Move Over Law.  On a personal note, my family and I recently traveled to South Florida and back for a cruise.  We did not see ANY mention of a Move Over Law until we crossed into North Carolina. 

Despite the number of states who now have a law, and despite the growing number of states who actively educate motorists, tragedies still occur…

If you are reading this e-mail, please take the time and the responsibility to forward this to others.  The life you save by doing so may be your own.

Please note that our mini 2007 Move Over Law calendars are still available.  These are small 3-inch wide, 4-inch high calendars with a peel-off sticky back! They are available through FORS for $3 each.

Remember to Move Over & Slow Down for Stopped Emergency and Public Service Vehicles.  Our lives depend on it.