(LANSING) - A coordinated one day law enforcement event is happening today to protect emergency responders and roadside workers.
Initiated by the Michigan State Police the "Move Over" campaign will be running from 11 AM until 4 PM. Troopers and motor carrier officers from every Michigan State Police district will be working in conjunction with local police departments.
Under Michigan law, motorists who are approaching stationary emergency vehicles, tow trucks, or construction zones with active flashing lights must safely shift over one lane and slow down to at least 10 MPH below the posted speed limit. If changing lanes is impossible, drivers must still reduce their speed by 10 MPH and proceed with extreme caution.
This targeted crackdown follows a concerning jump in roadside incidents, including at least 13 instances so far this year where MSP patrol vehicles were struck during active traffic stops.
Michigan State Police Director Col. James F. Grady II emphasized that while the department prefers educating the public, officers are actively ticketing violators today to curb dangerous and distracted driving habits.
Drivers who fail to comply face a civil infraction carrying a $400 fine and two points on their license. If a violation causes injury or death to a first responder, penalties scale dramatically to severe felony charges, thousands of dollars in fines, and up to 15 years in prison.