North Carolina drivers will soon face higher penalties if they violate the "Move Over Law" and cause the serious injury or death of an emergency service official.

Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law last week Senate Bill 29 or the "Officer Jason Quick Act," named for a Lumberton police officer who was struck by a car and killed while responding to a car accident on I-95 in 2018. It increases the penalty for such drivers from a Class I felony to a more severe Class F.

The Move Over Law requires that drivers either slow down or move into the next available lane when approaching emergency and public service vehicles that are on the side of the road with their lights flashing. This applies to everything from police cruisers to garbage trucks.

Simply violating the law is punishable by a $250 fine. If the violation leads to property damage or causes injury, the driver could be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor.

“Law enforcement officers like Jason Quick put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe," Cooper said in a press release. "This bill will increase penalties for those who recklessly endanger the lives of our first responders, and I’m proud to sign it in memory of Officer Quick and in honor of all of our first responders.”

The change goes into effect Dec. 1.

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