Hurley Bill Cracks Down on Drivers Who Fail to Move Over for Police

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Drivers who fail to move over or slow down when passing a police or emergency vehicle on the side of the road would face higher penalties under legislation sponsored by state Rep. Fran Hurley, D-Chicago.

“State law already requires drivers to move over for any emergency vehicle that is stopped with its lights activated, to protect the life of that first responder and of the people they’re assisting, but the rise in officers injured and killed during routine traffic stops shows we need to do more,” said Hurley. “By strengthening this existing law, we’re helping ensure that the officers who patrol our roadways return home safely to their family at the end of their shift.”

Hurley’s Senate Bill 1862 increases penalties on drivers who violate Illinois’ “Move Over” Law, also known as Scott’s Law after Lieutenant Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department, who was struck and killed by an intoxicated driver while assisting at a crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway. Under Scott’s Law, drivers must reduce their speed and change lanes if possible when approaching a police or emergency vehicle stopped along the side of the road.

The new legislation comes in response to the 2019 deaths of Trooper Brooke Jones-Story and Trooper Christopher Lambert of the Illinois State Police, both of whom were fatally hit by passing vehicles while on duty.
“No amount of condolences can take away the grief these families have felt since losing a loved one in the line of duty,” said Hurley. “What we can do, and what this legislation aims to do, is to crack down on those who are putting our police and first responders in danger.”