New ‘Move Over, Slow Down’ Law Coming to Oregon in January
Oregon is taking the Move Over Law a step further, starting January 1st.
The Oregon State Department of Transportation released this statement Wednesday.
Beginning Jan. 1, drivers will be required to move over to another lane or slow down by at least five miles an hour below the posted speed for any vehicle stopped next to the side of the road displaying hazard lights or other signs of distress. Under the current law, drivers have to move over (or if unable to move over safely, to slow down) only for an emergency vehicle, a roadside assistance vehicle, a tow vehicle or ambulance, when it is displaying warning lights.The new law makes it clear that drivers have a choice to comply by either moving over or slowing down by at least five miles an hour below the posted speed; and now the law applies when approaching any vehicle at the side of the road displaying hazard lights or distress signs. The offense remains a Class B traffic violation.
The bill states a person is not in violation of the move over law if the stopped motor vehicle is in a designated parking area.
Oregon officials expanded the law, because between 2011 and 2015, there were 167 crashes that killed 8 people directly involving cars parked alongside a highway and no emergency vehicle was involved or present.
As for the penalty, a Class B infraction in Oregon carries with it a maximum fine of $260. It's considered the 2nd most serious in their list of infractions and penalties.