- New York Move Over Law violations jumped 40 percent since the 2023 rule expansion
- Troopers issued over 12,000 citations in 2024, with 2025 already nearing that number.
- Fines can reach $450 and violations add two license points for repeat rule-breakers.
Slowing down and moving over when you see flashing lights on the roadside isn’t just courtesy, it’s the law across the USA. Several states are now mandating that drivers slow down and move over for any stopped vehicle or road user. That change is one that New York drivers appear to be having trouble with.
Authorities there say that they expect violations to be up some 40 percent compared to 2023. In fact, they’ve already written more tickets in 2025 than they did in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 each.
A Sharp Climb in Citations
State police data shows the spike clearly. In 2023, troopers issued 8,852 citations under the law. That jumped to 12,322 in 2024, and already in 2025, officers have written 11,436 tickets. That’s well on the way to outpacing 2024. In some counties, like Broome, citations have already surpassed all of 2024.
More: This State Will Throw You In Jail If You Don’t Slow Down And Move Over
Trooper Charles Murphy, president of the state Troopers Police Benevolent Association, told local news outlet Spectrum that the dangers of ignoring the rule are obvious: “If you’re driving by an individual at 65 mph, it’s inherently dangerous if someone’s standing there, or you have a mechanical failure yourself in your vehicle.”
Officials point to recent incidents as proof of the risks. “We continue to see crashes involving highway workers and our own troopers that result from a failure to move over,” said State Police spokesperson Beau Duffy. In June, a state trooper was seriously injured when a semi-truck driver failed to move over and plowed into his patrol car during a traffic stop.
Fines That Add Up
The financial consequences are stiff enough to sting. First-time violators can face up to a $150 fine plus a surcharge and two points on their license. Repeat offenders can end up with penalties of up to $450.
“People get a ticket, they remember it going forward,” state Assembly Transportation Committee Chair William Magnarelli said. “We have to get a handle on adherence to our laws, and a lot of people are just ignoring them.”
Lawmakers and police alike hope tougher enforcement will get the message across, sparing drivers from both fines and dangerous close calls on the roadside.
Lead image NYSP
