A Law On The Books For Nearly 20 Years And Yet Motorists Ignore It

A law that’s been on the books in Illinois since 2001 is still being ignored by motorists. Scott’s Law was named after Lieutenant Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department who was struck and killed by an intoxicated driver while assisting at a crash scene on the Dan Ryan Expressway. Illinois State Trooper DeAnn Falat explains the “Move Over” law on our sister station 1340 AM WJOL and  the Scott Slocum show.

Scott’s Law mandates that upon approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, when the authorized emergency vehicle is giving a signal by displaying alternately flashing red and blue lights or amber or yellow warning lights, a person who drives an approaching vehicle, slow down and try to change lanes. She advises motorists not to wait to the last second. If it’s unsafe to change lanes, at the very least slow down.

The first three months of this year alone, three Illinois State Troopers have been killed while attending to a crash scene at the side of a highway. And there have been 16 squad cars struck. Falat says they’ll be zero tolerance for those who don’t comply.

A person in violation of Scott’s Law could be fined of not more than $10,000.