law, failure to move over or slow down for a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights may result in a $250 fine. If it results in damage or injury, you may have to pay a fine of up to $1,000.

If you’re driving on a multi-lane road and see a stopped emergency vehicle up ahead with its lights flashing, you have to move over. The aptly named move over law helps keep first responders safe on the job—whether it’s on a highway or a residential street. Mississippi’s move over law was enacted in 2007 and updated in 2012.

Every state now has a move over law. It’s important to know what the law is in your state. This article breaks down Mississippi’s move over law so you can avoid paying fines and help keep emergency responders safe.

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What are the move over laws in Mississippi?

Mississippi state law requires that vehicles approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with its lights flashing should move over to the far lane if safe to do so. Under statute 63-3-809 of the Mississippi Code, drivers must:

Change into the far lane on roadways with two or more lanes

Slow down and proceed with caution if moving over is not an option

What is considered an emergency vehicle in Mississippi?

The Mississippi move over law applies when you’re approaching any of the following authorized emergency vehicles with their lights flashing:

Fire trucks

Law enforcement vehicles

Ambulances

Utility vehicles

MDOT trucks

Tow trucks

Sanitation vehicles

Mail trucks

The move over law also applies to pedestrian vehicles that are on the side of the road.

Key Takeaway Authorized emergency vehicles include first responders as well as maintenance and service vehicles. If you see flashing lights, move over or slow down.

Penalties for violating Mississippi’s move over laws

Violating Mississippi’s move over law is a misdemeanor and comes with some serious fines. The penalties for breaking the move over laws are:

$250 fine for failure to move over or slow down

$1,000 fine if failure to move over or slow down causes damage to the emergency vehicle or bodily harm to the driver or passengers of the emergency vehicle

The more citations you have on your driving record, the more severe the penalties. The accumulation of traffic citations in a 12-month period can mean increases in your insurance rates.

In Mississippi, if you have a previous criminal record, a traffic citation may lead to

license suspension

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Can breaking move over laws raise your insurance?

A traffic citation will raise your insurance rates. Although Mississippi doesn’t use a demerit point system, an insurance company will still take note of minor traffic infractions as well as major violations. The more citations on your driving record, the more your insurance rates will increase.

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Why are there move over laws?

Move over laws exist to protect first responders and other emergency personnel who work on the roads. By requiring drivers to change lanes, the move over law creates a buffer zone between traffic and emergency personnel. This allows them to focus on their work without having to worry about being hit by a passing vehicle.

Even though every state now has a move over law, emergency responders are still at risk. On June 2, 2021, Mississippi trooper John Harris was struck and killed while conducting a traffic stop on Highway 16. Moving over or slowing down for emergency vehicles not only saves you a ticket, but it can also save lives.

Key Takeaway Move over laws help keep emergency responders safe. Always drive carefully around stopped emergency or maintenance vehicles.

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FAQs

Can I go to jail for breaking Mississippi’s move over law?

Breaking the move over law in Mississippi is a misdemeanor punishable by fine. This means that it is unlikely a driver would be sent to jail for breaking Mississippi’s move over law. Fines range from $250 to $1000 depending on the nature of the infraction.

How long will breaking the move over law stay on my record in Mississippi?

If you break the move over law in Mississippi, the citation will remain on your record for about one year.

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