MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOP Media Contact: James Preston 813-495-3959; [email protected]
May 12, 2014
FLORIDA LAW ENFORCEMENT URGES DRIVERS TO SLOW DOWN, MOVE OVER
~ As National Police Week begins, law enforcement honors officers lost in the line of duty ~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As National Police Week starts today, law enforcement officers across the nation remember and honor our fallen heroes – those officers who in the service of their communities have given the ultimate sacrifice are remembered.
As Florida mourns the loss of Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Chelsea Richard, who lost her life barely a week ago in a deadly traffic crash on Interstate 75, the Florida State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Police Chiefs Association, the Florida Police Benevolent Association and the Florida
Sheriff’s Association are designating June 2014 as “Move Over –Slow Down - Save a Life” month.
“The safety of the public and Florida’s law enforcement officers traveling and working our highways, roads, streets and Interstates is paramount, this month and every month” said James W. Preston, President of the Florida State Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police.
“The sheriffs realize the dangers law enforcement officers face every time they pull over a vehicle and they agree everyone has a civic duty to reduce this danger by complying with our traffic laws,” said Steve Casey, Executive Director, Florida Sheriffs Association. “In this regard, the sheriffs are proud to partner with the other state law enforcement agencies and associations to bring attention to this critical public safety issue via this campaign.”
“All too often, our law enforcement officers are in grave danger when they are working Florida’s roadways, and we support every effort to better educate the public about the Move Over law,” said Springfield Police Chief Philip Thorne, President of the Florida Police Chiefs Association.
Law enforcement officers who are working on Florida’s roadways face great danger from distracted drivers. To better protect Florida’s law enforcement officers, the statewide law enforcement organizations call upon all law enforcement officers in the
state to actively educate the public and enforce the Move Over law throughout the state. Florida’s Move Over law, FS. 316.126, requires drivers to:
• On a two-lane roadway, slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit;
• On a two-lane roadway, slow to five miles per hour if the speed limit is 20 miles per hour or less; and
• On an interstate or roadway with multiple lanes of travel in the same direction, you must vacate the lane closest to any emergency or law enforcement vehicle parked along the roadway as soon as it is safe to do so. If you are not able to safely move over, slow to a speed that is 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit unless directed otherwise by a law enforcement officer.
“As the summer travel season gets fully underway, please remember to slow down and move over for our public safety personnel working along our roadways. This simple act will save many lives. Thank you and be safe.” - President John Rivera, Florida PBA.
The Fraternal Order of Police and its partners calls upon all of Florida’s active law enforcement officers to engage in a concentrated effort to increase public awareness and enforce the Move Over Law. “When it comes to the safety of law enforcement, it doesn’t matter what badge we wear. We are in this together.” Javier Ortiz, President, Miami FOP Lodge 20.
"We want drivers to realize there is a very dangerous risk when you get out of your car to help somebody," said FHP Trooper Kim Montes. "You can’t be sorry after the fact," she said. "You have to be able to prevent these crashes."
