Illinois’ “Scott’s Law” – otherwise known as the “Move Over” Law – was mandated in 2017 in order to provide more safety to vehicles displaying flashing emergency lights, including commercial trucks and cars. The law mandates vehicles approaching another vehicle displaying alternative flashing lights to move over and slow down for stopped emergency or maintenance vehicles. However, there still has been seventeen crashes involving state troopers or their vehicles in 2021, and Governor J.B. Pritzker is looking to strengthen Scott’s Law to further minimize harm.
Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law Senate Bill 1913, which allows judges to issue community service along with other penalties to those violating Scott’s law. The measure was sponsored by Senator Julie Morrison, and Rep. Janet Yang Rohr and will take effect in January 2022. The governor also signed a bill clarifying the scope of Scott’s Law, which passed the General Assembly with unanimous bipartisan support. “This is a wake-up call for every resident of Illinois – your distracted driving could be someone else’s worst nightmare, and no text or other distraction is worth that”, Pritzker said at the Illinois Capitol. “So, every time you hit the road – please remember the real risks of not honoring Scott’s Law”.
ISP reported 1,340 violations of the law during the 19-day period between February 18th and March 7, 2021, and one of the laws signed by Pritzker, House Bill 3656, makes it easier to prosecute drivers violating the law. The language of the law says, “drivers of vehicles approaching a stationary emergency vehicle in any lane shall heed the warning of the signal, reduce the speed of the vehicle, proceed with due caution, maintain a safe speed for road conditions, be prepared to stop, and leave a safe distance until safely passed the stationary emergency vehicle.” This law also created a “Move Over Early Warning Task Force” made up of appointed members to study ways to better enforce road safety and alert drivers to hazards.
For more information on the coming changes to Scott’s Law, please contact the attorneys at Rock Fusco & Connelly, LLC.