Troopers from the Indiana State Police Lowell District coordinated with state police agencies from five other states, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia last week on a joint ‘Six State Trooper’ enforcement project. As part of this traffic enforcement concentration was also given to catching those drivers who failed to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles. During this same time period April 14-April 20, 2019 troopers were also doing Human Trafficking interdiction.
With the start of construction zones throughout the state this was the perfect opportunity to utilize troopers not only to find those drivers who violate the law, but to educate the public on the slowing down and moving over for emergency vehicles; which include construction vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances, police vehicles, maintenance crews, and roadside service crews. The Move Over Law in Indiana requires motorists to move to an adjacent traffic lane, or reduce speed by 10 mph below the posted speed limit if unable to change lanes safely when driving by a stationary police, fire or ambulance emergency vehicle stopped alongside the road.
Their results were:
- Move Over Violation 24 tickets
- Move Over Violation 28 warnings
- Total traffic arrests 123 tickets
- Speeding arrests 36 tickets
- Total warnings 267 warnings
- Public Services 65
- Driving While Suspended 11
- Criminal Arrests 16
- Seat belts 2 tickets
- Child Restraint 1 ticket
- Crashes Investigated 104
Also on April 14, 2019 Trooper Jerry George was hit while sitting inside his police car on I-94 covering another crash. Thankfully, Trooper George received non-life threatening injuries and has since returned to duty.