Published on Monday, October 17, 2005
in the Pensacola News-Journal

Officers still at risk despite law

Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Charles Mitchell knows he's risking his life every time he makes a traffic stop.

The danger isn't always from what he may find in the car he has pulled over. Often it comes from the drivers who race by where he is trying to work.

While talking to a driver he pulled over for speeding recently on Fairfield Drive south of U.S. 98, Mitchell barely made eye contact. His gaze shifted from the line of cars to the driver, then back to the line of cars, mindful that he may have to act quickly to avoid being hit.

"So much for slowing down to 20 mph below the speed limit," Mitchell said, shaking his head as he walked back to his cruiser to check the driver's license.

He's referring to a Florida law enacted in 2002 that many motorists seem not to know about. The "Move Over Act" requires motorists to move over one lane when approaching emergency vehicles or wrecker vehicles with lights flashing along the road. If it's a two-lane road, drivers must reduce speed 20 mph below the posted limit. A violation means a $115.50 fine.

In every year since 1997, the top killer of law enforcement officers in the United States has been automobile-related incidents. In 2004, 73 officers were killed in such accidents, with 8 killed after being struck by a vehicle, according to statistics gathered by The Officer Down Memorial Page.

Chris Cosgriff, founder of the nonprofit organization that aims to honor fallen officers, said most people believe officers killed in the line of duty die from gunfire.

But, Cosgriff said, officers responding to domestic violence situations, burglaries or homicide investigations know to expect a high-risk situation. An officer sitting in a patrol car running a driver's license check or standing on the side of the road talking to a motorist has little warning when another driver is about to get too close.

Mitchell believes most motorists do know the law.

"They just don't do it," he said. "As long as they don't hit us, they don't care."

But many motorists plead ignorance when they are pulled over for not moving over or slowing down.

Muffett Crowell, 57, of Pensacola only got a warning when she told Trooper Jesse Hunt she had never even heard of the law. She also got an informational flier and a lesson on state law.

"I don't think too many people know about it," she said, pointing out numerous cars in violation flying past her stopped vehicle. "I do try to follow the law. I just didn't know about this one."

Cosgriff believes most people are ignorant of the laws, even though many states have them. Moving over can also protect stranded motorists receiving help and those who are there to help, such as tow truck drivers, Cosgriff said.

Though many don't know the law, some follow it without knowing they could be stopped if they didn't.

"That's common sense to me. I would move over anyway," said Michelle Anderson, 27, of Pensacola.

Mitchell was lucky once. A driver he had pulled over stopped so close to the side of the road that he had to go to the passenger side window to ask to see the driver's license and registration. As he was standing there, another motorist sideswiped the stopped vehicle.

Had Mitchell been standing where he normally does, he likely would have been sent flying.

"People's minds are not on their driving, obviously," he said.