Earlier this month a tow truck driver from Asheville was killed while assisting a motorist. Cliff Turner was highly respected, not only within the towing industry, but in Asheville and surrounding communities as well. I have had numerous law enforcement officers contact me since Cliff’s death wanting to know the progress of having the towers added to the Move Over bill. Cliff and the thousands of North Carolinians that perform a towing service to the public deserve equal protection under this law that the law enforcement officers and emergency personnel have had the privilege of protection under since 2002.
In Raleigh, NC changes to the NC Move Over Law have been proposed in the Senate (Senate Bill 1142) as well as the House (House Bill 288). Both bills are in currently in committee (House Judiciary III and Senate Judiciary II) and we look forward to all aspects of the bill being passed. Changes include the addition of towers and other public service personnel, as well as an increase in fines and penalties. Please take the time to contact your local legislator and ask them to please support these changes. To find the members of these committees you can go to the NC Legislature website www.ncleg.net.
FORS is currently conducting a logo contest with two local high schools in Haywood County. Pisgah and Tuscola High Schools were attended by Troopers Taylor and Cogdill, respectively. The winner’s logo will appear on our materials and website. They will also receive a plaque, a gift card to an art supply store, CRAFT COLLECTIONS, and gift cards to PANACEA Coffee House. We have several entries already and the decision will be tough!!
We would like to especially thank several of our legislators for working so hard on our Move Over bills including Rep. Ray Rapp, Rep. Mitch Setzer, Rep. Ronnie Sutton, Rep. Bill McGee, Rep. Phil Haire, Rep. Bill Faison, Rep. Edith Warren, Senator John Snow and Senator Scott Thomas.
Thank you also to the NC Towers Assoc., the NC Trucking Assoc., Tony Adams with the NC Outdoor Advertising Assoc., NCDOT and the NCSHP for your support and assistance
FORS would also like to thank Blue Line Radio (bluelineradio.com) in Wilmington, NC for sharing the Move Over Law changes with their listeners. Thank you as well to Russ Bowen with WLOS for his reports last month on the Move Over Law.
The bottom line to everything we do is that we are all in this together. We all have a responsibility as motorists to make sure the changes to the move over law are passed. Please make sure you contact your legislators and request their support and leadership.
FORS also desperately needs your financial assistance to educate all motorists about this law. Whether you can send $10, $100 or $1000 to FORS, every bit will help. Everyday we are asked when there will be billboards in “your county.” We need to raise $30,000 in order to take our billboard campaign statewide. Your donations are tax deductible!! If you are interested in becoming a CORPORATE SPONSOR, please contact me. Donations can be made payable to FAMILIES FOR ROADSIDE SAFETY, INC.. Our address is below.
Please remember, next time you pass a stopped emergency vehicle or public service vehicle on the roadside…MOVE OVER!! If you cannot, then PLEASE…SLOW DOWN…It does not matter if they are a trooper or a tower…Please keep Cliff Turner’s family in your thoughts and prayers. Think of his family when you call your legislators.
- News and Updates
