Beaumont Police enforce 'Move Over' law

When you see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road.. what do you do?  In Texas, you must slow down or move over one lane.

Law enforcement officers say Southeast Texas drivers often ignore the rules.  Ashley Rodrigue reports on police efforts to get the 'Move Over' law on track in the Golden Triangle.

When you hear these sirens, and see these lights, it usually means an officer is pulling you over.  But police say be prepared to act.. even when you are not the subject of the officer's attention.

"The law states that as you approach an emergency vehicle, with their emergency equipment activated, you either have to slow to 20 miles an hour below the posted speed limit or you have to move to the left if the left lane is available," said Beaumont Police Sgt. Jason Plunkett.

In September 2003, the state's 'Move Over' law took effect. Beaumont Police say Southeast Texans often don't follow that law.. so Wednesday, they decided to focus on it.

Police tested drivers by placing an empty patrol car on the shoulder of the Eastex Freeway near Lawrence Drive.  The goal is to make traffic stops safer for police and passers-by, especially after the traffic-related death of Beaumont Police Officer Lisa Beaulieu in 2007.

Plunkett said, "Everyone's seen the video and the tv shows.. there are a lot of officers that are either clipped or outright run over by people not heading those warnings."

Police say Chad Westbrook didn't heed that warning during Wednesday's operation. He told KFDM he knew about moving over, but, "I couldn't do what I was supposed to legally do, without causing an accident," he said.

So he got a ticket. And while he doesn't agree with the way the operation was set up, he does agree the purpose is important.

Westbrook said, "People need to know and I'm glad that they can do things like this."

"It's important when you see an emergency vehicle or something going on on the side of the road," said Plunkett, "That you pay attention to that, that you slow down if you need to or you move over if you can."

If not, police say you will be pulled over.

Beaumont Police ticketed 21 drivers for unlawfully passing an emergency vehicle.  The tickets carry a maximum fine of $200.