The Texas Department of Public Safety is taking steps to increase enforcement of the move over, slow down law.
This law, that has been in effect since 2003, requires motorist to move over or slow down 20 mph below the speed limit when they see vehicles such as tow trucks, police vehicles and other first responders on the side of the road with their lights flashing.
DPS has planned several operations throughout the month of February and periodically throughout the year to enforce the law.
They have even begun using digital signs along the roadways to remind drivers to move over or slow down when they see these vehicles.
Motorist caught violating this law can be fined an amount of $200 to $2,000 and even face jail time depending on circumstances such as property damage or bodily injury.
The Temple Police Department participated as well in the operation and said on Twitter that most of their stops were at the site where Trooper Nipper died.
Several of our stops today have been right at the accident site where Trooper Nipper was killed. #NeverForget #SlowDownMoveOver #TempleTraffic pic.twitter.com/kZ0UiLFnBW
— Temple Police Dept (@TempleTX_Police) February 1, 2018
In Belton, DPS and other local agencies will be out enforcing the law on Thursday until 3 p.m.
In Harker Heights, the Special Operations Unit will be partnering with surrounding agencies on Thursday to conduct county-wide education and enforcement of the law along Interstate 14.
The City of Belton said preliminary data from 2017 shows DPS issued more than 10,650 warnings and citations to motorist violating this law.
Sgt. Dave Roberts said there a total of 70 citations and 16 warnings issued by all participating agencies during the enforcement effort in Bell County.
You can find more information on the move over, slow down law by clicking: Move Over/Slow Down.
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