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Surveying, Mapping Crews Rejected From Expansion Of ‘Move Over’ Law
March 24, 2014
House members expressed concern Friday that too many professions could end up attached to a law that requires motorists to slow down and shift lanes to avoid law-enforcement and emergency crews working along roads.
Members of the Economic Affairs Committee rejected an amendment that would have added surveying and mapping crews to a measure (HB 469) that would add sanitation vehicles and utility-service vehicles to the state’s 11-year-old “Move Over” law.
“There’s some talk of including prison work crews. We are loving this bill to death,” said Rep. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater. “The average motorist is going to have a long checklist over their sun visor of what they are required to move over for.”
The bill, as it stands, requires motorists to move over a lane, or slow down to a speed that is 20 mph less than the posted speed limit, when a clearly identified work-crew vehicle is parked and crews are working on sanitation, electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, cable, telephone or other communications services. Sanitation crews were added to the bill March 3. The Economic Affairs Committee voted 14-1 on Friday to approve the bill, with Rep. Carlos Trujillo, R-Miami, opposed.
Bill sponsor Holly Merrill Raschein, R-Key Largo, said the addition of the survey and mapping crews could jeopardize the bill. Rep. Barbara Watson, D-Miami Gardens, requested the amendment, noting that surveyors and mappers risk their lives while working in the middle of roads or on road shoulders.
“As they are involved in their duties, they tend not to observe the traffic,” Watson said. “Many times they have their backs to the oncoming traffic.”
The Senate version of the bill (SB 478) by Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, has yet to make a committee appearance. Evers represents the North Escambia area.
by The New Service of Florida
Comments
8 Responses to “Surveying, Mapping Crews Rejected From Expansion Of ‘Move Over’ Law”
Survey crews be careful!!!
I would say that 90% of the time the survey crews are near the road ways doing their job for State in County or in some cases the City for upcoming road work. They many are looking the other way and not for approaching traffic. These Guys might just need the protection of the Move over Law. I always slow down a bit and give them a sporting chance. Just saying.
As if people in Escambia Co didn’t know there are county inmates working on the side of the roads all the time. It probably be nice if citizens slowed down some.
This is getting ridiculous.
So if ANYONE with a name on their vehicle is on the side of the road we are to disrupt traffic flow and cause backups. How about they GET OFF THE ROAD!
Everyone needs to be careful when driving but that’s just logical and even more so when something unusual is happening. BUT A TICKET! Why are’t children, joggers, people taking a stroll, someone mowing, bicycles,… included in the law?
If it’s an ACTUAL emergency vehicle then of course. Slow down and move over. They don’t have a choice.
What happened to the days when work crews used signs and cones and flashing light barrels to make their presents known.
this happened to my uncle he moved over for a road crew and crossed a double yellow line a cop behind him pulled him over and wrote him a ticket for crossing the double line went to court the judge upheld the fine this happened in baldwin co al BREAKING THE LAW TO OBAY THE LAW
Let me make sure I have this right. I have to slow down for all the above mentioned people to 20 mph less than the speed limit. That means sometime i will be driving on the interstate at 35 mph. I wont be recognized after a18 wheeler hits me from behind doing 75mph Just saying if they keep adding people to this list they should move the speed limit down to 45 rather than moving it up to 75.
When it comes..to lawmakers..having to “make a bill” to tell another human being to slow down and not kill another human being..is when law makers need to be chauffeurs. Too bad there are those who don’t have that compassion…and you have to legislate to care about another human being.
“As they are involved in their duties, they tend not to observe the traffic,” Watson said. “Many times they have their backs to the oncoming traffic.”
Sorry, but they knew the JOB was dangerous when they took it. Once again, where’s the personal responsibility? Working in that environment one MUST ALWAYS have their head on a swivel. When it is YOUR LIFE on the line, you can not rely on others to be your eyes and ears.