This Labor Day holiday, Ocean County Law Enforcement join forces to draw attention to the Move Over Law.

Move Over FlyerJoseph D. Coronato (Ocean County Prosecutor) recently announced that Ocean County Law Enforcement will bring together their policing partnership to promote New Jersey’s “Move Over Law“. In response to a recent Manchester Township Police incident, this initiative aims to prevent similar accidents and near misses  by encouraging the public to follow basic parameters of the Move-Over-Law via a public awareness campaign. This is a law that all 50 states have enacted, but few drivers seem to be aware even exists. Many of those that do, don’t respect it.

“Making roadway traffic or emergency stops is one of the most dangerous functions law enforcement officers and emergency responders do in the line of duty.  Drivers are drawn to emergency vehicle lights by what police call the ‘Moth Effect’.

From 2003 – 2013, 138 officers were struck and killed on our Nation’s highways.  This is a disturbing statistic that can easily be addressed through awareness of this simple law.” — Prosecutor Coronato

The Manchester Township Police Department, at the direction of Cheif Lisa Parker has produced an outstanding video promoting the “Move Over Law” in response to the August 9th incident where four Manchester Township Police Department Officers were injured (one seriously) on a motor vehicle stop.

manchester crash pant leg“Motor vehicle stops are a part of the job for our patrol officers, but we all have a responsibility to pay attention.  When you see flashing lights, slow down and move over if you can.

Many officers have lost their lives due to distracted drivers who fail to observe the move over law.  Please take a minute, slow down and move over.

As evident from this photo showing the tire imprint left on one of my officer’s uniform pant leg, my officer’s lives are depending on you.” — Manchester Township Police Chief, Lisa Parker (emphasis added by OCSN).

In the full spirit of showing support for New Jersey’s Move-Over-Law, OCSN had taken time to produce our own video on the subject, using footage provided to us by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

In addition to moving over for Law Enforcement, New Jersey is one of only thirty states that require motorists to also change lanes or reduce speed for parked tow truck with flashing amber lights and or highway maintenance or other EMS vehicles with flashing yellow, amber or red lights. Any vehicle equipped with a sling or tilting bed designed to tow or recover vehicles is classified as a tow truck.

During the 2017 Labor Day holiday, 4 persons lost their lives in 4 motor vehicle accidents along New Jersey roadways.  Three of the crashes involved alcohol and/or drugs. One of the four deaths occurred on the Garden State Parkway in Ocean Township, Ocean County.  The NJ State Police noted that 355 people have died in traffic-related accidents so far this year (Jan. 1 through August 28, 2018) compared to 371 highway deaths recorded during the same period last year (2017). — OCPO