On Monday, December 22, 2025, a traffic incident responder was killed on I-95 North near mile marker 228 in Mims, Florida, after a semi-truck struck a traffic incident response truck that was parked on the roadside with its lights and arrow board activated. A passenger in that response truck was airlifted with critical injuries. That’s not just a tragic headline. It’s exactly the type of roadside event the Move Over law was written to prevent.
What Move Over Laws Are
Most people think of Move Over laws as “move over for emergency vehicles.” That’s part of it, but it’s bigger than that. Move Over laws are a set of rules designed to create space and time when drivers approach a stopped vehicle on the shoulder displaying warning signals. In plain terms, if you’re coming up on a stopped roadside scene with lights, cones, or other warnings, you’re expected to change lanes away from it when it’s safe. If you can’t safely change lanes, you’re expected to slow down and pass with extreme caution. The details vary state to state, but the purpose is the same everywhere: protect people who are standing just feet from high-speed traffic and have almost no protection from a driver’s late reaction.
Why roadside scenes turn deadly faster than people expect
Roadside scenes are dangerous for reasons that don’t show up in a textbook. Responders and tow operators are focused on tasks that demand attention: directing traffic, deploying cones, loading a disabled vehicle, assisting a stranded motorist, clearing debris, or working around a crash.
At the same time, people on the shoulder may be stressed, distracted, or moving unpredictably. They might step into the lane to avoid debris, communicate with another worker, or reposition equipment. And even when there’s an arrow board and flashing lights, it can be hard to judge how the scene is set up until you’re closer than you should be. That’s why Move Over is about seeing the scene early and making a smooth, deliberate decision rather than waiting until the last second.
Why the Ticket Is the Smallest Part of the Consequences for CDL Drivers
For professional drivers, the compliance risk also goes far beyond receiving a ticket. Yes, a Move Over violation can come with a significant fine and points, and the real number on the receipt is often higher once fees and assessments are added. But the bigger problem is what happens next. When a commercial driver violates a state Move Over law, that violation can show up on a roadside inspection as a failure to obey the jurisdiction’s traffic law. That’s where 49 CFR 392.2 comes in.
392.2 requires drivers operating a commercial motor vehicle to comply with the laws and regulations of the jurisdiction in which the vehicle is being operated. So when a state law is violated, it can become a federal compliance issue on paper. In the real world, that means it can follow the driver and the carrier long after the fine is paid.
How Move Over Violations Turn Into DOT/CSA Exposure
This is also where CSA exposure becomes real. A Move Over incident often doesn’t occur in isolation. Late recognition and last-second maneuvers lead to the kinds of unsafe driving behaviors enforcement looks for: failure to obey traffic control devices, improper lane changes, careless driving, or other state violations tied to unsafe operation. A driver who jerks the wheel at the last second to “do the right thing” can end up worse off than a driver who recognized the scene early and executed a smooth lane change. From a safety and compliance standpoint, you want the early recognition, the controlled maneuver, and the calm decision-making every single time.
The “covered vehicles” list is bigger than most drivers think
The chart that follows is designed to make your next step easy. It lays out each state’s Move Over law coverage and which vehicles it applies to so your team can operate with clarity across state lines. Use it as a reference, but more importantly, use it as a cue to build a habit: when you see a roadside scene, create space early. The people standing out there don’t get a second chance.
State-by-State Move Over Laws: Vehicles Covered
| Move Over Law | First responders | Tow trucks | Municipal vehicle | Utility vehicle | Road maintenance | Disabled vehicle | Other / all flashing lights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Alaska Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Arizona Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Arkansas Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| California Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Colorado Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Connecticut Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Delaware Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| District of Columbia Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Florida Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Georgia Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Hawaii Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Idaho Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| Illinois Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Indiana Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Iowa Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kansas Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kentucky Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Louisiana Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Maine Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Maryland Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Massachusetts Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Michigan Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Minnesota Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mississippi Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Missouri Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Montana Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Nebraska Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Nevada Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| New Hampshire Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| New Jersey Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| New Mexico Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| New York Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| North Carolina Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| North Dakota Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Ohio Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Oklahoma Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Oregon Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pennsylvania Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Rhode Island Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| South Carolina Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| South Dakota Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tennessee Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Texas Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Utah Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vermont Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Virginia Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Washington Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| West Virginia Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wisconsin Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Wyoming Move Over Law | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Florida is a good example of why drivers can’t assume these laws are identical across state lines. Florida updated and expanded its Move Over law in 2024. The law doesn’t only apply to law enforcement and emergency vehicles. Depending on the situation, it also applies to wreckers, road and bridge maintenance or construction vehicles, and even certain disabled motor vehicles under specific conditions. The takeaway isn’t that every driver needs to memorize Florida’s statute word-for-word. The takeaway is that the list of protected vehicles can be broader than drivers expect, and the state line can change what’s required.
That’s why we built the state-by-state chart. It’s meant to be practical for fleets that run interstate routes. It shows which types of vehicles are covered by each state’s Move Over law and a concise penalty summary. If you’re a safety manager, you can use it to train drivers, set expectations, and reduce “I didn’t know” moments. If you’re a driver, you can use it as a reminder that the right choice needs to happen early, not at the last second.
Let’s be blunt about what’s at stake. The Mims crash is a reminder that a roadside strike is one of the most catastrophic types of preventable events. When a commercial vehicle hits a stopped roadside unit, the physics don’t care about good intentions. People get killed. Lives are permanently altered. Families lose someone who was just doing their job. And then the business consequences follow: investigation, enforcement, civil exposure, lost customers, underwriting changes, truck insurance premium increases, and lasting damage to a company’s safety reputation. The ticket is usually the smallest part of the total cost.
State-by-State Move Over Laws: Statutes and Penalties
Here is a chart that outlines the State code that applies as well as the most up to date penalties for violation of a State’s Move Over law:
| State | Statute/Code | Penalties |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 32-5A-58.2 | Misdemeanor: $100; 2 pts |
| Alaska | 28.35.185 | Infraction: $150 max; 2 pts |
| Arizona | 28-775(E) | Civil traffic violation: $275; 2 pts |
| Arkansas | 27-51-310 | Misdemeanor: $250 max; 3 pts |
| California | 21809 | Infraction: $50 max; 1 pts |
| Colorado | 42-4-705 | Class 2 misdemeanor traffic: $150 max; 3 pts |
| Connecticut | 14-283b | Infraction: $90; 0 pts |
| Delaware | 4134 | Moving violation: $150; 2 pts |
| District of Columbia | DCMR 18-2210 | Moving violation: $100; 3 pts |
| Florida | 316.126 | Moving violation: $60 base + costs/fees; 3 pts |
| Georgia | 40-6-16 | Authorized emergency Misdemeanor: $500 max; 3 pts |
| Hawaii | 291C-27 | Traffic violation: $200 max |
| Idaho | 49-624 | Moving traffic violation: $33; 3 pts |
| Illinois | 625 ILCS 5/11 907 | Authorized emergency Business offense: $250 min; 15 pts |
| Indiana | 9-21-8-35 | Authorized emergency Class A infraction: $10,000 max; 8 pts |
| Iowa | 321.323A | Simple misdemeanor: $135; 0 pts |
| Kansas | 8-1530 | Authorized emergency Traffic infraction: $195 |
| Kentucky | 189.93 | Emergency or public safety Class B misdemeanor: $60 min; 4 pts |
| Louisiana | 32.125 | Traffic violation: $200 max |
| Maine | 29-A, 2054-9 | Traffic infraction: $275; 2 pts |
| Maryland | 21-405 | Moving violation: $110; 1 pts |
| Massachusetts | 89, 7C | |
| Michigan | 257.653a | Authorized emergency Civil infraction: $400 max; 2 pts |
| Minnesota | 169.18 | Petty misdemeanor: $300 max |
| Mississippi | 63-3-809 | Misdemeanor: $250 max |
| Missouri | 304.022 | Class A misdemeanor: $2,000 max; 2 pts |
| Montana | 61-8-346 | Authorized emergency Reckless endangerment of: $100 max; 2 pts |
| Nebraska | 60-6,378 | Traffic infraction: $100 max; 1 pts |
| Nevada | 484B.607 | Misdemeanor: $1,000 max; 4 pts |
| New Hampshire | 265:37-a | Violation: $75; 0 pts |
| New Jersey | 39:4-92.2 | Motor vehicle moving violation: $100 min; 0 pts |
| New Mexico | 66-7-332 | Misdemeanor: $50; 4 pts |
| New York | 1144a | Traffic infraction: $150 max; 3 pts |
| North Carolina | 20-157 | Infraction: $250; 2 pts |
| North Dakota | 39-10-26 | Moving violation: $50; 2 pts |
| Ohio | 4511.21.3 | Minor misdemeanor: $300 max; 2 pts |
| Oklahoma | 47-11-314 | Refuse, solid waste, or Misdemeanor: $500 max; 3 pts |
| Oregon | 811.147 | Class B traffic violation: $135 min |
| Pennsylvania | 33-3327 | Summary offense: $500 max; 2 pts |
| Rhode Island | 31-14-3 | Civil violation: $95 |
| South Carolina | 56-5-1538 | Endangering emergency: $300 min; 4 pts |
| South Dakota | 32-31-6.1 | Class 2 misdemeanor: $270 min; 2 pts |
| Tennessee | 55-8-132 | Class B misdemeanor: $250 max; 6 pts |
| Texas | 545.157 | Misdemeanor: $500 min |
| Utah | 41-6a-904(2a) | Moving violation: $160; 60 pts |
| Vermont | 1.6875 | Moving violation: $47 min; 5 pts |
| Virginia | 46.2-861.1 | Law enforcement, Class 1 misdemeanor: $2,500 max; 6 pts |
| Washington | 46.61.212 | Serious traffic violation: $96 |
| West Virginia | 17C-14-9a | Misdemeanor: $500 max; 2 pts |
| Wisconsin | 346.072 | Noncriminal moving violation: $30–$300 forfeiture |
| Wyoming | 31 5 224 | Misdemeanor: up to $200; no points system |
How Fleets Should Train, Coach, and Enforce Move Over Compliance
So how should a professional driver think about Move Over laws in a practical, repeatable way?
First, treat the first warning sign as your trigger. If you see flashing lights, an arrow board, cones, brake lights, or a cluster of vehicles on the shoulder, start planning immediately. Check mirrors early, signal early, and look for a safe gap so you can execute a smooth lane change. The most common failure pattern is waiting until you’re too close, then reacting abruptly.
Second, understand that “move over when safe” does not mean “swerve.” A last-second lane dive can create a secondary crash, especially around heavy traffic or when the vehicle behind you isn’t expecting a sudden maneuver. If you can’t safely move over, your job is to reduce speed and pass with maximum caution. This is where professionalism matters. Slow down in a controlled way, maintain your lane, and give the scene room.
Third, remember that one mistake can become multiple violations. When a driver reacts late, the move-over problem often turns into failure to obey, improper lane change, or careless driving. Those entries can be far more damaging than the original fine because they paint a picture of unsafe operation. And if an inspection ties the event back to 392.2, it becomes part of the carrier’s compliance footprint.
Check out this short video on preventing improper lane violations:
Fourth, coach for consistency. Fleets that handle this well don’t just tell drivers “move over.” They build a habit: scan early, plan early, execute smoothly, slow down when you can’t move over, and never treat the shoulder as a harmless pass-by zone.
The crash near Mims, Florida is a harsh reminder that the shoulder is not a safe place and that one missed decision at highway speed can destroy lives. A traffic incident responder didn’t go home, and a passenger was airlifted with life-threatening injuries after a semi-truck struck a traffic incident response truck that was stopped with its lights and arrow board active. When incidents like this happen, it’s tempting to reduce the lesson to “move over or you’ll get a ticket.” But that framing is too small for what’s at stake.
Move Over laws are about creating survival space. They recognize a simple truth: when people are working or stranded on the shoulder, they have almost no protection from the consequences of an inattentive, late, or aggressive pass. Giving them an extra lane, when you can, turns a near-miss environment into something closer to a controlled workspace.
When you can’t move over safely, slowing down creates time. Time to see cones and debris. Time to recognize the actual work zone layout. Time for responders to step back. Time for a stranded motorist to get out of the way.
For fleets, Move Over compliance is also one of the clearest examples of how “driver behavior” becomes “business risk.” A Move Over ticket is rarely the worst part. Here’s what typically comes behind it:
1) Crash and severity risk.
The most obvious cost is the one everyone hates talking about: when a strike happens, the severity is often catastrophic. The physics are unforgiving. Even at moderate highway speeds, the energy involved in a shoulder strike can produce fatal outcomes. And once a commercial vehicle is involved, the scrutiny, investigation, and legal exposure increase dramatically.
2) Regulatory exposure under 49 CFR §392.2
Commercial drivers are required to obey state and local laws while operating. If an officer documents a Move Over violation during a stop or investigation, it can be tied back to §392.2 as a federal compliance issue—not because the federal rule explains Move Over itself, but because it requires compliance with the state’s traffic law. This is why safety managers often see Move Over incidents reflected in compliance reviews and roadside inspection histories.
3) CSA/SMS and Unsafe Driving BASIC pressure
Whether a citation is written as “failure to move over,” “failure to obey,” or accompanied by related violations like improper lane change, these are the types of entries that can put upward pressure on a fleet’s Unsafe Driving BASIC over time. Even when the immediate outcome is “no crash,” repeated violations can show patterns that enforcement and insurers interpret as elevated risk.
4) Insurance and contracting consequences
A serious roadside incident can change everything: underwriting appetite, renewal terms, deductibles, loss-sensitive programs, and even the carrier’s ability to retain certain customers or lanes. Some shippers and brokers are increasingly sensitive to safety metrics and loss history—especially when incidents involve severe injuries or fatalities. Again, this is why the ticket is the smallest part: the business consequences can last years.
5) The human and cultural cost
Beyond the legal and financial impacts, there’s the internal cost to the fleet: driver morale, turnover, recruiting challenges, and the cultural damage that happens when a company is associated (fairly or unfairly) with tragedies on the roadside. Safety culture isn’t built by slogans; it’s built by repeatable behaviors. Move Over compliance is one of the behaviors that tells drivers, customers, and the public that your fleet operates professionally.
So what should fleets do with this? Treat Move Over as a standard operating procedure, not an optional judgment call.
Train early recognition: drivers should be coached to treat the first signal (flashing lights, arrow board, cones, brake lights) as the trigger to start planning their lane change. Late reactions cause abrupt maneuvers.
Coach decision quality: “Move over when safe” doesn’t mean “swerve.” It means signal, mirror, space, smooth lane change. If you can’t move over, slow down deliberately and safely, maintaining control and space.
Emphasize the multi-violation risk: a last-second lane dive can turn one citation into multiple (failure to obey, improper lane, careless driving, following too closely, or worse).
Use state-by-state clarity: drivers run interstate. Requirements change at the state line. The chart is designed to reduce “I didn’t know” moments by showing which vehicles are protected and the penalty exposure in each state.
Finally, remember the core message: Move Over isn’t about avoiding enforcement. It’s about preventing the next Mims. The goal is that everyone (responders, tow operators, utility workers, stranded motorists, and professional drivers) gets home at the end of the shift.
If your fleet needs help building this into a repeatable program (training, policy language, driver coaching, and documentation), use the chart provided as your starting point and make Move Over compliance part of how you define a professional driver.
Move Over Laws: FAQ
What is a Move Over law?
A Move Over law requires drivers to change lanes away from certain stopped roadside vehicles displaying warning signals when it’s safe to do so. If a lane change can’t be made safely, most states require drivers to slow down and pass with extra caution.
Do Move Over laws apply in every state?
Yes. Every state has some form of Move Over law, but the details vary—especially which vehicles are covered and whether “slow down” requirements apply in certain situations.
Which vehicles do drivers have to move over for?
It depends on the state. Most states include law enforcement, fire, and EMS vehicles. Many also cover tow trucks, utility/service vehicles, road maintenance vehicles, and in some states even certain disabled or stranded vehicles. Your state-by-state table shows exactly what’s covered where.
What does “slow down” mean if I can’t safely move over?
“Slow down” generally means reducing speed below the posted limit and passing the roadside scene with heightened caution. Some states specify a required speed reduction (for example, a certain number of MPH under the limit), while others use general language like “reduce speed” or “proceed with due care.”
Can a Move Over violation affect my DOT record or CSA scores?
It can. In addition to the state citation, roadside officers may document the violation in a way that ties back to federal requirements to obey state/local traffic laws while operating a CMV (often referenced under 49 CFR 392.2). Related violations—like failure to obey, improper lane change, or careless driving—can also increase a carrier’s exposure under the Unsafe Driving BASIC.
What’s the most common reason drivers get cited for Move Over violations?
Late recognition. Drivers often see the lights or arrow board too late, wait until they’re right on top of the scene, and either don’t move over at all or make an abrupt, unsafe lane change. The safest approach is to scan ahead and plan the lane change early.
What are the penalties for violating a Move Over law?
Penalties vary widely by state. Some states treat it as a moving violation with fines and points. Others elevate it to a misdemeanor under certain conditions, and penalties can increase significantly if the violation causes property damage, injury, or death. Your state table summarizes the common penalty range for each jurisdiction.
How can fleets train drivers to comply without causing a secondary crash?
Train a simple, repeatable process: recognize the scene early, signal and move over smoothly when safe, and if you can’t move over, slow down deliberately and pass with maximum caution. Fleets should reinforce this with coaching, telematics feedback when available, and consistent documentation when a driver fails to comply.
The Bottom Line: A Small Move That Prevents Life-Changing Outcomes
If you’re reading this as a safety manager, this is a good moment to turn a tragedy into a policy and training improvement. Add Move Over expectations to driver onboarding. Reinforce it during weekly safety meetings. Pull telematics clips if you have them and use real examples to coach early recognition and smooth lane changes. If you’re a driver, treat this as a professional standard. The goal isn’t to avoid enforcement. The goal is to avoid becoming the next truck involved in the next roadside fatality.
Regulatory References
The following FMCSA regulations and CSA resources are directly relevant to Move Over compliance, roadside inspections, and Unsafe Driving exposure for motor carriers and CDL drivers.
- 49 CFR §392.2 – Applicable Operating Rules (Obeying State & Local Traffic Laws)
- 49 CFR Part 392 – Driving of Commercial Motor Vehicles
- FMCSA Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) Program Overview
- FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS) – How Safety Is Measured
- FMCSA Unsafe Driving BASIC Factsheet (CSA)
If you want help turning Move Over compliance into a repeatable, documented program your drivers actually follow, My Safety Manager can help. We’ll review your current policy, training, and roadside inspection history, then give you a clear plan to reduce violations and protect your CSA profile. Contact us to get started today!
