(Spirit Lake)– Spirit Lake police, in a post on social media, are reminding motorists about a law requiring you to move over when encountering vehicles that are stopped along the roadway. It states that Iowa’s Move Over Law was first implemented in 2002 and was revised in 2017 and again in 2018 to include ALL stopped vehicles displaying hazard or flashing lights, including maintenance vehicles, emergency vehicles and tow trucks. It also states that if a lane change cannot be done safely or legally, you need to reduce speed to a reasonable and proper rate for the existing roadway and traffic conditions and be prepared to stop.
A violation carries a fine of $210. A violation causing injury or death is a non-scheduled violation, along with suspension of driving privileges. A violation causing property damage results in a 90 day suspension of driving privileges; a violation resulting in injury carries a 180 day suspension and a $500 fine. A violation resulting in death results in a one-year suspension of driving privileges and a $1,000 fine.
