Law says to move over when officer on side of road

Thomas Healing

Thursday, July 2, 2009 | midnight

Thomas Healing

Being a patrol officer, I do a lot of traffic stops. One thing that I have come to notice recently is the disregard that motorists have for their duty to slow their speed and move into the farthest lane from where officers are stopped, particularly on U.S. 93 and U.S. 95. These highways are two lanes in each direction and are rarely so congested that slowing down and moving over would hinder the forward moving progress of commuters. This is a simple and safe method to ensure the safety of our officers and motorists on our roads.

Furthermore, did you know you can be stopped and cited for failing to move over, or even be arrested? Below is an excerpt from www.moveoveramerica.com and I encourage you all to visit the Web site to gain some perspective into how dangerous it is to be a first responder on our nation’s highways.

More than 150 U.S. law enforcement officers have been killed since 1999 after being struck by vehicles along America’s highways, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

To lower that deadly toll, a new coalition of traffic safety and law enforcement groups is launching a nationwide public awareness campaign to protect emergency personnel along our roadsides.

Per the Nevada Revised Statutes, upon approaching an authorized emergency vehicle which is stopped and is making use of flashing lights, the driver of the approaching vehicle shall, in the absence of other direction given by a peace officer, slow down to a speed below the posted speed limit, proceed with caution, be prepared to stop and, if possible, move to a different land.A person who violates this law is guilty of a misdemeanor.

June 18

Officer Case responds to the Inner Circle Bar, 704 Nevada Highway, in reference to a fight. When asked why the fight started, a suspect tells Officer Case that they started fighting after arguing over who had moved more times in the past.

June 19

Detectives Grasso and Wibrew locate a wanted subject at a trailer park on Elm Street. The subject has two warrants adding up to $1,500 and is subsequently arrested for contempt of court.

June 20

Officer Johnson responds to the Boulder View Condominiums in reference to a suspicious person. Upon arrival, Officer Johnson locates the suspect sitting on the steps to one of the condos. Johnson is able to identify the subject as a fugitive who is wanted by the IRS for tax evasion.

June 22

Officer Perkins stops a vehicle along Veterans Memorial Drive. Through his investigation, Perkins discovers that the subject is in possession of drug paraphernalia, is driving on a suspended license and has no insurance. The subject is arrested and transported to the Henderson City Jail.

Weekly statistics

Incident reports — 95

Traffic stops —387

Citations issued — 337

Adult arrests — 43

Juvenile arrests — 3

Animal control — 125

Boulder City Police Officer Thomas Healing can be reached at thealing@bcnv.org.