Indiana Move Over Laws
In Indiana, failing to move over and slow down for a stopped emergency vehicle is a Class B infraction and subject to a fine of up to $1,000.
Written by Holden Easterbrook
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
Indiana
state law makes neglecting to move over and slow down for stopped emergency vehicles with flashing lights a Class B infraction. These types of violations carry a fine of up to $1,000.Being hit by a passing car is a leading cause of death for emergency responders, which is why Indiana participates in the Six-State Trooper Project. Along with passing move over laws in 2002, Indiana state troopers have banded together with fellow troopers from Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania to crack down on drivers who don’t make room for stopped emergency vehicles.
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What are the move over laws in Indiana?
Indiana’s move over law requires all drivers to make room and reduce their speed when coming up on a stationary emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights.
To provide a little more detail, Indiana requires drivers to:
- Vacate the lane adjacent to the emergency vehicle, if possible
- Reduce their speed to at least 10 mph below the speed limit
What is considered an emergency vehicle in Indiana?
When the law was first written in 2002, it only protected emergency or recovery vehicles such as:
- Police cruisers
- Fire trucks
- Ambulances
- Tow trucks
However, since the law was expanded in 2010, it now includes utility and service vehicles.
Penalties for violating Indiana’s move over laws
Failing to abide by Indiana’s move over laws is a Class B infraction and can earn you:
- A fine of up to $1,000
- This penalty is reserved for those that damage emergency equipment or injure/kill an emergency worker
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Can violating move over laws raise your insurance?
While a Class B infraction is not as severe as some of the other punishments you can receive while driving, it’s still a traffic ticket.
All tickets are recorded on your
driving record
along with an appropriate number of demerit points. Convictions and demerit points will increase the cost of your monthly insurance payments because your insurance provider will view you as a high-risk driver.Demerit points
will stay on your record in Indiana for two years from the conviction date, and any additional points you acquire will only further increase your insurance costs. Because of that, be sure to slow down and drive carefully when passing a stopped emergency vehicle.Why are there move over laws?
When properly followed, move over laws create a buffer zone that separates emergency responders from passing vehicles
Move over laws first began appearing in the United States in the early 2000s after South Carolina paramedic James D. Garcia was struck and injured by a passing vehicle while on the scene of an accident. Garcia was found at fault for the accident, and since then he’s worked to ensure the passage of these move over laws.
His work has made a real difference. Since 2021, every state has implemented its own version of a move over law to protect its emergency responders. Violations do still occur, though—according to the
Emergency Responder Safety Institute
, 44 emergency responders were struck and killed by vehicles in 2019.RECOMMENDED
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