FORT WAYNE — The Indiana State Police, along with troopers from Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Michigan and Pennsylvania will be conducting state-wide patrols targeting violations of the “Move Over” laws in each of those states beginning this Sunday.

The project, which was initially started by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, encompasses the five states that border the state of Ohio.

“We will be conducting extra patrols which will be targeting drivers who are violating Indiana’s ‘Move Over’ law,” said Lieutenant Corey Culler, commander of the Indiana State Police Post in Fort Wayne. “Our aim is to reduce the number of senseless tragedies because someone did not provide the necessary and required room for our emergency and service personnel while they work alongside our roadways. Please yield to and provide room for police vehicles, ambulances, fire trucks, rescue equipment, highway maintenance, utility service vehicles and tow trucks.”

Indiana statute 9-21-8-35(b) and (c) states:

• Upon approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, when the authorized emergency vehicle is giving a signal by displaying alternately flashing red, red and white, or red and blue lights, a person who drives an approaching vehicle shall:
  • proceeding with due caution, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that of the authorized emergency vehicle, if possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, if on a highway having at least four lanes with not less than two lanes proceeding the same direction as the approaching vehicle; or
  • proceeding with due caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle to a speed at least 10 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe.

A person who violates this subsection commits a Class A infraction.

• Upon approaching a stationary recovery vehicle, a stationary utility service vehicle (as defined in IC 8-1-8.3-5), a stationary solid waste hauler, a stationary road, street, or highway maintenance vehicle, or a stationary survey or construction vehicle, when the vehicle is giving a signal by displaying alternately flashing amber lights, a person who drives an approaching vehicle shall:
  • proceeding with due caution, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that of the recovery vehicle, utility service vehicle, solid waste hauler, or road, street, or highway maintenance vehicle, if possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, if on a highway having at least four lanes with not less than two lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle; or
  • proceeding with due caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle to a speed at least 10 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe.

A person who violates this subsection commits a Class B infraction.

The project, which runs from July 22 through 28, will encompass all roadways in the state of Indiana.