The
"Move Over"
Law --
Scott's law
mandates
that when
approaching
any police
or other
emergency
vehicle
stopped
along the
roadway, you
must:
 | Proceed
with due
caution |
| Change
lanes if
possible |
| Reduce
your
speed |
An
authorized
emergency
vehicle
under
Scott's Law,
includes ANY
vehicle
authorized
by law to be
equipped
with
oscillating,
rotating, or
flashing
lights under
Section
12-215 of
this Code,
while the
owner or
operator of
the vehicle
is engaged
in his or
her official
duties.
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 on
the Dan Ryan
Expressway.
Scott's
Law Chapter
625 of the
Illinois
Compiled
Statutes (ILCS)
5/11-907(c),
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 :
| Proceed
with due
caution,
yield
the
right-of-way
by
making a
lane
change
into a
lane not
adjacent
to that
of the
authorized
emergency
vehicle,
if
possible
with due
regard
to
safety
and
traffic
conditions,
if on a
highway
having
at least
4 lanes
with not
less
than 2
lanes
proceeding
in the
same
direction
as the
approach
vehicle.
|
| Proceed
with due
caution,
reduce
the
speed of
the
vehicle,
maintain
a safe
speed
for road
conditions,
if
changing
lanes
would be
impossible
or
unsafe. |
Violation of
Scott's Law
A person
in violation
of Scott's
Law commits
a business
offense
punishable
by a fine of
not more
than
$10,000.
Scott's Law
also
provides
that it is a
factor in
aggravation
if the
person
committed
the offense
while under
the
influence of
alcohol,
drugs or
intoxicating
compounds.
If this is
the case, a
person's
driving
privileges
shall be:
| Suspended
for 90
days to
one year
if the
violation
results
in
damage
to the
property
of
another
person |
| 180
days to
2 years
if the
violation
results
in
injury
to
another
person; |
| 2
years if
the
violation
results
in the
death of
another
person. |
