[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] FW: This is True

[RRBunn]

FYI

 

  _____  

From: Radioham [mailto:radioham at comcast.net] 
Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2008 9:42 AM
To: Recipient list suppressed:
Subject: This is True

 


http://www.vsp.state.va.us/SlowDownMoveOver_VAcode.shtm




This came from someone who actually got pulled over....

In case you are not aware, as I was not aware of a relatively new law in

Va, I wanted to give all of you a heads up because of a traffic citation

I received Sunday morning.  As I was traveling in the right lane on the

Dulles Toll Rd to the airport, I came upon a stopped state trooper on

the right shoulder who had stopped a vehicle; he was pulled all the way

over on shoulder.  I was driving the speed limit and remained in my lane

and even slowed down; there was a speeding car that passed in the left

lane, thus I stayed in my lane.  The next thing I know, the trooper is

behind us with his lights flashing and I thought he was going to go

after the speeding car, but instead he pulled me over.

The first thing the officer said was that I was not speeding, but the

reason he pulled me over was because I was supposed to move over to the

left lane prior to passing a stopped emergency vehicle.  I told him I

wasn't aware of the law and he said he had just gotten hit the previous

day by someone who hadn't moved over.  I thought he would give me a

warning since I wasn't aware of the law and was driving responsibly and

haven't gotten a ticket in over 10 years, but he gave me a summons where

I have to appear in court.  This is a class 1 misdemeanor violation

which can result up to $2500 in fines and up to 1 year in jail.  I've

included links regarding the law, which of course I found after the

fact, so you are all aware.

http://www.vsp.state.va.us/SlowDownMoveOver_VAcode.shtm 

 

SLOW DOWN MOVE OVER LAW 

 Slow Down Move Over Bumper Sticker
<http://www.vsp.state.va.us/images/logos/MoveOverSlowDownLogo.jpg>  

Section 46.2-921.1 of the Code of Virginia states:

§ 46.2-921.1
<http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-921.1> . Drivers
to yield right-of-way or reduce speed when approaching stationary emergency
vehicles on highways; penalties. 

The driver of any motor vehicle, upon approaching a stationary emergency
vehicle, as defined in § 46.2-920
<http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-920> , that is
displaying a flashing, blinking, or alternating emergency light or lights as
provided in §§ 46.2-1022
<http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1022> , 46.2-1023
<http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1023> , and
46.2-1024 <http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1024> ,
shall (i) on a highway having at least four lanes, at least two of which are
intended for traffic proceeding as the approaching vehicle, proceed with
caution and, if reasonable, with due regard for safety and traffic
conditions, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not
adjacent to that occupied by the stationary emergency vehicle or (ii) if
changing lanes would be unreasonable or unsafe, proceed with due caution and
maintain a safe speed for highway conditions. 

Violation of any provision of this section shall constitute a Class 1
misdemeanor. If the violation resulted in damage to property of another
person, the court may, in addition, order the suspension of the driver's
privilege to operate a motor vehicle for not more than one year. If the
violation resulted in injury to another person, the court may, in addition
to any other penalty imposed, order the suspension of the driver's privilege
to operate a motor vehicle for not more than two years. If the violation
resulted in the death of another person, the court may, in addition to any
other penalty imposed, order the suspension of the driver's privilege to
operate a motor vehicle for two years.

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