New York’s Move Over Law, codified at VTL (Vehicle and Traffic Law) section 1144-a, protects the lives and equipment of emergency first responders. By understanding what the law requires, you can keep yourself and others safe. However, there may come a time when you receive a traffic ticket for violating this law.
If this happens, you will need an experienced attorney to help you avoid the most severe penalties associated with a VTL 1144-a ticket. Learn more about why drivers in Oneida County, Jefferson County, and Central New York trust The New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers to defend them.
What Does the Law Require?
The text of the Move Over Law is rather lengthy, but it essentially requires that motorists exercise “due care” when they approach emergency vehicles (e.g. police, ambulance, and fire). This includes moving over from the lane in which the vehicle is, or from the lane which is immediately adjacent to the shoulder where the vehicle is.
For instance, if you are in the right lane of traffic and there is a police cruiser on the right shoulder with its lights on, you must move to the center or left lane. If traffic or other circumstances makes this impossible, then you must slow down significantly. This law does not allow Central New York drivers to engage in otherwise unsafe behavior, such as:
- Cutting off other drivers
- Speeding above the posted limit
- Continuing at the same speed
- Driving recklessly
- Slamming on the brakes
What Happens If I Violate the Move Over Law?
VTL 1144-a is a moving violation, so a guilty plea or a finding of guilty will result in:
- 2 points added to your driving record
- Fines of up to $150 (first offense), $300 (second in 18 months), or $450 (third in 18 months)
- An additional surcharge of $88 or $93
- Potentially other tickets for other unsafe driving behaviors (e.g. speeding)
- Increases in your automobile insurance premium
If you accumulate 6 or more points on your driving record over an 18-month period, you will have to pay an additional Driver Responsibility Assessment (DRA). This means another $300 for the first 6 points, and $75 per additional point.
Recent Enforcement Surge
Not all New York drivers are aware of VTL 1144-a, but there has been a recent surge of tickets as police try to enforce the Move Over Law. Since 2023, the number of tickets has increased about 40%. As of the end of August 2025, well over 11,000 citations were issued (compared to just over 12,000 in all of 2024).
Law enforcement is actively working to enforce compliance with this law in the wake of a serious June 2025 accident in Schenectady County. In that incident, a semi-truck driver did not move over as required and slammed into a state trooper’s patrol car. The trooper suffered serious injuries.
Why You Need an Experienced Attorney
The financial penalties associated with a VTL 1144-a ticket are significant and long-lasting. But just because a driver has been ticketed for this offense does not mean they are guilty. A Central New York traffic ticket lawyer can raise several possible defenses, including:
- Switching lanes may have been unsafe under the circumstances
- The driver did not have time to switch lanes due to the proximity of the emergency vehicle
- Moving over would have required the driver to violate another law, like crossing a double yellow line
Your lawyer will review the evidence against you and then get to work developing a legal strategy aimed at challenging the ticket. This often involves invoking other portions of the VTL pertaining to driver safety. It may be possible to have the ticket dismissed and save you potentially major sums of money in fees and insurance increases.
Were you ticketed for violating the Move Over Law in Oneida County or Jefferson County? Learn more about your legal options today. Get in touch with The New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers to get started.