Four law enforcement agencies collaborated Monday on a project along Interstate 29, which resulted in 120 citations to remind drivers of the state’s “Move Over” law.

Hide Transcript Show Transcript

STORY. -- ROAD ALONG AND HAS OUR BIG CHINH: LIGHTS AND SIRENS ALONG INTERSTATE 29, REMINDING DRIVERS OF AN IMPORTANT LAW, MOVE OVER. WHEN DO I HAVE TO GET OVER? >> ANYTIME THERE’S SOMEBODY PULLED OVER WITH THEIR FOUR-WAY LIGHTS ON, FLASHERS, OR EMERGENCY VEHICLE WITH THE RED-BLUE AMBER LIGHTS ON, YOU HAVE TO GET OVER TO THE NEXT LANE. IF YOU CANNOT GET OVER TO THE NEXT LANE BECAUSE THERE’S A VEHICLE NEXT TO YOU, YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN AT A REASONABLE SPEED, WHICH IS BELOW THE SPEED LIMIT, OK? >> OK. >> LET’S HECK IT OUT. CHINH: WE RODE ALONG AS THE IOWA STATE PATROL, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, COUNCIL BLUFFS POLICE, AND POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE COLLABORATE ON ENFORCEMENT MONDAY. >> SO MANY PEOPLE GET HURT, APPARENTLY BECAUSE OF PEOPLE NOT MOVING OVER TO THE NEXT LANE. SO I THINK IT’S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE’RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW. CHINH: FREEMAN COLEMAN, JR. UNDERSTANDS, BUT WE NOTICED A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON’T, EVEN THOUGH IOWA’S NEW LAW WAS UPDATED ALMOST A YEAR AGO. >> IT SEEMS TO ME MORE OF A COMMON COURTESY THAN A LAW. IF YOU SEE ANYONE ON THE SHOULDER, MOVE OVER, GIVE THEM ROOM, GIVE THEM SPAC CHINH: THIS SUV GOT TOWED BECAUSE THE DRIVER WAS RECENTLY CITED FOR NOT MOVING OVER AND DIDN’T HAVE REGISTRATION. PLUS, IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, TAKING TWO MEN INTO CUSTOD 120 CITED OVER A SPAN OF THREE HOURS. >> I UNDERSTAND THEY’RE OUT HERE DOING THEIR JOB, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT HERE COULD BE HURT, SO I WANT TO BE SAFE, TOO. CHINH: IT’S A $195 TICKET LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SAY COULD SAVE LIVES. >> TO GET OVER FOR US. NOT JUST US, BUT TOW TRUCK DRIVERS, PLOW DRIVERS, EVERYBODY. WE HAD A DEPUTY THAT WAS HIT HERE NOT TOO LONG AGO. CHINH: THE AGENCIES INVOLVED SAID THEY HOPE TO DO MORE ENFORCEMENT IN THE FUTURE. AGAIN, THEY STRESS THE GOAL IS TO RAISE AWARENESS, NOT GIVE TICKETS. ALONG I-29, CHINH DOAN, KETV NEWSWATCH 7. JULIE: A SIMILAR LAW APPLIES IN NEBRASKA. DRIVERS MUST MOVE OVER ONE LANE WHEN THERE IS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IF YOU DON’T, IT’LL COST YOU $100, PLUS $49 IN COURT CO

Advertisement 120 tickets written in 'Move Over, Slow Down' 3-hour enforcement Four law enforcement agencies collaborated Monday on a project along Interstate 29, which resulted in 120 citations to remind drivers of the state’s “Move Over” law. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Four law enforcement agencies collaborated Monday on a project along Interstate 29, which resulted in 120 citations to remind drivers of the state’s “Move Over” law.“Anytime there's somebody pulled over with their four-way lights on, flashers, or emergency vehicle with the red-blue amber lights on, you have to get over to the next lane,” Jeff Doelz with the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division explained to a driver. “If you cannot get over to the next lane because there's a vehicle next to you, you have to slow down at a reasonable speed, which is below the speed limit.”KETV rode along as the Iowa State Patrol, Department of Transportation, Council Bluffs police and Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office collaborated on Monday’s three-hour enforcement.“So many people get hurt apparently because of people not moving over to the next lane, so I think it's very important that we're having this conversation right now,” said Omaha resident Freeman Coleman, Jr.Coleman, Jr. said he doesn’t mind getting a ticket because he understands, but KETV NewsWatch 7 noticed many drivers who didn’t move over even though Iowa's law was updated almost a year ago, requiring drivers to move over for any vehicle with lights on.“It seems to me more of a common courtesy than a law,” said Trooper Scott Miller with Iowa State Patrol. “If you see anyone on the shoulder, move over, give them room, give them space.”KETV saw an SUV get towed because the driver was recently cited for not moving over and didn't have registration.Plus, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers took two men into custody after they were pulled over and could not provide identification.Drivers KETV spoke with said they’ve learned their lesson.“I understand they're out here doing their job, and a lot of people out here could be hurt, so I want to be safe, too,” said Jay Banks, a Florida resident driving to South Dakota.It's a $195 ticket law enforcement agencies said could save lives.“To get over for us, not just us, but tow truck drivers, plow drivers, everybody,” said Cpl. Eric Shea of the Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Office. “We had a deputy that was hit here not too long ago.”The agencies involved said they hope to do more enforcement in the future. They stressed the goal is to raise awareness, not give tickets.A similar law also applies in Nebraska: Drivers must move over one lane when there is an emergency vehicle on the side of the road. If you don't, it'll cost you $100, plus $49 in court costs.