The Law

Sec. 14-283b. Motor vehicle operator required to move over when approaching stationary emergency vehicle.

(a) For the purpose of this section "emergency vehicle" means any vehicle with activated flashing lights

(1) operated by a member of an emergency medical service organization responding to an emergency call,
(2) operated by a fire department or by any officer of a fire department responding to a fire or other emergency,
(3) operated by a police officer,
(4) that is a maintenance vehicle, as defined in section 14-1, or
(5) that is a wrecker, as defined in section 14-1, "police officer" has the meaning set forth in section 7-294a and "highway" means a state or public highway with three or more travel lanes that proceed in the same direction.

(b) Any operator of a motor vehicle on a highway when approaching one or more stationary emergency vehicles located on the shoulder, lane or breakdown lane of such highway shall

(1) immediately reduce speed to a reasonable level below the posted speed limit, and
(2) if traveling in the lane adjacent to the shoulder, lane or breakdown lane containing such emergency vehicle, move such motor vehicle over one lane, unless such movement would be unreasonable or unsafe.

(c) A violation of any provision of this section shall be an infraction, except that if a violation of the provisions of subsection (a) results in the injury of the operator of an emergency vehicle, the operator of the motor vehicle that caused such injury shall be fined in an amount not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars, and if such violation results in the death of the operator of an emergency vehicle, the operator of the motor vehicle that caused such death shall be fined in an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars.

 

Safety Officials Urges Drivers to Move Over, Slow Down for Tow Trucks

When those lights and sirens come up behind you, you know what to do, you move over and let the emergency vehicle pass. But what about emergency vehicles that are stopped on the highway? Next week a new law takes effect that requires drivers to move over and give them room.

"This law will require motorists to slow down and, if they can do so safely, move over and give a lane buffer so that they don't become part of the scene that our professionals are working on," said Steven Rief, Connecticut State Police Union.

Emergency responders and DOT workers want to spread the word - move over a lane and give them room.

"It's your duty and your responsibility when you're on the road, when you see any abnormal situation out on the road that you treat those folks out there like they're your own family members," said Ronald McLellan, Connecticut Employee Union.

Stratford Firefighter Mark Hennequin knows how important this law is. He responded to an accident along a road about 8 years ago.

"A civilian driving a vehicle came through the scene - drove right through the scene, struck me, sent me, I was thrown about 20 feet in the air," he said.