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Published on Thursday, July 8, 2004
in the Osceola News-Gazette
Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Kim Miller said she had to leap onto the hood of her patrol car to avoid being hit by a passing motorist during a traffic stop.
It's been two years since Gov. Jeb Bush enacted the "Move Over Act," but most motorists still aren't budging, local authorities said.
After a Kissimmee police officer was thrown into the windshield of a car that hit him on a local highway, Kissimmee Police Department Sgt. Jimmy Haddock said he still hasn't seen a difference.
The law, which took effect on July 1, 2002, states that drivers who observe law enforcement traffic stops on a highway must move over one lane, giving the officer and motorists who have been stopped a margin of safety.
"My guys are complaining because they say nobody moves over," said Miller said.
Miller explained that during a recent traffic stop on the shoulder of Interstate 4, she saw an oncoming driver who had his head lowered and was not watching the road. She had to leap onto the hood of her patrol car after the driver narrowly missed her.
"I've had two close calls," Miller said. "It's scary."
For two-way roads, where there is only one lane each way, the law states that drivers have to slow down 20 mph below the posted speed limit.
Between 1996 and 2000, motorists crashed into law enforcement vehicles that were stopped along Florida highways 1,793 times, resulting in five deaths and 419 injuries statewide, police statistics said.
In June of 2002, Kissimmee Officer Richard Hawley had stopped to assist the Osceola County Sheriff's Office on East Vine Street near Smith Street in the outside lane.
As he was working the area, Hawley backed up to the center lane, where a 21-year-old Orlando woman hit him.
Hawley was thrown into the windshield and then on to the top of the car, where he held on until she stopped.
Hawley was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center, but was released with only cuts and bruises.
Haddock said he has seen no difference in driving behavior since the law was passed.
"They usually keep right on going," he said.
Failing to move over can result in an $80 fine.
Authorities, however, said it's difficult to enforce the law. Miller said while conducting a traffic stop, an officer cannot just leave the scene to pull over a violator who failed to move over or slow down.
Haddock said that not a lot of emphasis has been put on enforcing the law because of other top traffic priorities, including red-light running.
Sen. Victor Crist, R-Tampa, who sponsored the law, said he would investigate whether more attention is needed. If so, he might consider lobbying for helpful tools, such as sending flyers home to motorists when they receive license expiration notices.
"I think the public just doesn't know about the law," Miller said.