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Maryland Crackdown on Motorists Failing to Move Over for Emergecy Vehicles

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PIKESVILLE, Md. (AP) - Maryland State Police made more than 1,400 traffic stops in one day during a crackdown on drivers who fail to move over or slow down for emergency vehicles.

Police say about 1,411 traffic stops on Monday led to 335 citations and 484 warnings for violations of the move over law.

Police launched the initiative to remind drivers to give emergency workers space after one trooper was struck and critically injured and a second trooper's cruiser was destroyed in a crash.

The law requires drivers approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with lights activated to move out of the lane next to the emergency vehicle or slow down if it isn't safe to move over. A violation is a primary offense and could mean a fine of $110 and one point.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.