Of the more than 160 violations of the state’s Move Over Law in Hinesville since January 1, 2024, more than half have been dismissed or knocked down to a lesser charge, according to the Hinesvile Police Department.
The HPD has issued 166 citations for violating the Passing Emergency Vehicle law, known as the Move Over Law, from January 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025. Of those, 49 have been reduced to a lesser charge, such as passing in a no passing zone or driving too fast for conditions, and 31 charges have been dismissed.
HPD assistant chief Terranova Smith presented the results of the Move Over Law to city council at its March 7 meeting.
Of the remaining cases, according to the HPD, 39 have resulted in bond forfeiture, with a fine paid without a court appearance. Eleven drivers have been found guilty in municipal court and 10 others have plead nolo contendere, which still counts as a conviction. Another 26 cases are still pending.
The state’s current Move Over Law was amended to include utility workers in 2016. According to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, the Move Over Law says motorists traveling in the lane adjacent to the shoulder must move-over one lane when emergency and utility vehicles are stopped on the side of the highway and operating in an official capacity. Vehicles included in the law include all first responders (law enforcement, fire, EMS), utility vehicles, DOT vehicles, HERO units and wreckers tending to an accident. The law, the GOHS said, is meant to keep officers and traffic violators safe from crashes with passing cars.
The Move Over Law was passed in the aftermath of growing numbers of police, emergency technicians and DOT workers being killed during routine traffic stops, crash responses and highway construction projects around the nation.
According to FBI statistics, traffic crashes claim the lives of more police personnel than any other cause of death in the line of duty, including shootings. Reports show emergency vehicles of all types have been struck while parked beside Georgia highways, even while their emergency lights were flashing.
“That is one of the most serious things are faced with,” City Manager Kenneth Howard said. “We had an officer was killed in a situation like that.”
Council member Diana Reid questioned the HPD’s use of the law.
“You are using a law for an interstate,” she said. “You’re milking it. It’s mainly because of interstates. It’s not inner city.”
“That law,” Assistant Chief Smith replied, “is for Georgia roadways.”
If traffic is too heavy to move-over safely, the law requires drivers to slow down below the posted speed limit instead and to be prepared to stop.
“If you cannot move over,” Smith said, “slow down significantly.”
