Effective July 1, 2014, Florida drivers must now move over for utility service vehicles and garbage trucks.
The law requires drivers to change lanes if traveling on a multilane roadway and they can do so safely, or to slow down to at least 20 mph under the posted speed limit.
While Florida’s “move-over” law has been in effect for several years — with respect to emergency vehicles, tow trucks stopped on the roadway, and police vehicles — it now includes two additional classes of vehicles: utility service vehicles and garbage trucks.
Safety concerns led to support for the law, after incidents where roadside workers were struck by passing motorists and suffered serious injury and death.
If a driver does not comply with the new law, he or she may be subject to a moving violation (adding 3 points to a driver’s license record) and a fine of typically more than $100, depending on the jurisdiction where the incident occurs.
With the adoption of this law, Florida appears to be part of a growing trend; utility service vehicles and garbage trucks are already included in the “move-over” laws of neighboring states.
Gunster’s government affairs practice is proud to have been instrumental in the consideration and passing of this important legislation.
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This publication is for general information only. It is not legal advice, and legal counsel should be contacted before any action is taken that might be influenced by this publication. Gunster, Florida’s law firm for business, provides full-service legal counsel to leading organizations and individuals from its 11 offices statewide. Established in 1925, the firm has expanded, diversified and evolved, but always with a singular focus: Florida and its clients’ stake in it. A magnet for business-savvy attorneys who embrace collaboration for the greatest advantage of clients, Gunster’s growth has not been at the expense of personalized service but because of it. The firm serves clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa, The Florida Keys, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach. With more than 160 attorneys and 200 committed support staff, Gunster is ranked among the National Law Journal’s list of the 350 largest law firms. More information about its practice areas, offices and insider’s view newsletters is available at www.gunster.com. |
