'Please give us room, let us do our jobs,' Inspector Mark Andrews

OPP News Release

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NORTH BAY – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in the North East Region (NER) has seen an increase in the number of incidents in which motorist are neglecting to “move over” when Police vehicles are on the shoulder of the Highway with their emergency lights activated.

The Ontario Highway Traffic Act requires all motorists to slow down and proceed with caution when passing an emergency vehicle parked on the shoulder with its lights flashing. On multi-lane highways, motorists are also required to move over and leave a lane between their vehicle and the emergency vehicle, if it can be done safely.

The “move over” law was enacted to improve the safety of motorists and emergency workers (firefighters, ambulance personnel, and police).

A conviction for a first offence of this law will result in a fine of from $400 to $2,000 and three demerit points plus a possible license suspension for up to two years. A subsequent offence within five years of the first conviction will result in a fine of from $1,000 to $4,000, possible jail time of up to six months, and a possible license suspension for up to two years. Highway Traffic Act, Section 159 (2) (3).

Inspector Mark Andrews, Traffic and Marine NER, emphasized the following “It is the responsibility of all drivers to watch and make room for emergency responders, police, EMS, MTO, Fire, and MNR when they are pulled over with vehicles on the side of the road. We are concentrating our attention on the person that we are dealing with for their safety as well as our own. If you don’t give us room to work, everyone’s safety is compromised. Please give us room, let us do our jobs.”

Since 1989 five (5) OPP officers have lost their lives while performing their duties on the shoulders of highways. These deaths were preventable if the resp

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