Scott’s Law or the “Move Over” Law in Illinois tells drivers what to do when emergency vehicles and police vehicles have their lights and sirens on. 625 ILCS 5/11-907.
If an emergency vehicle is approaching you with their lights and sirens on, yield the right of way and pull over to the curb. 625 ILCS 5/11-907(a). Allow the emergency vehicle to pass you safely and make sure not to stop in an intersection. You never know when the driver of an emergency vehicle might need to use that intersection to turn!
If you are approaching an emergency vehicle that is stopped with their lights and sirens on, always slow down and change lanes to allow the emergency vehicle a wide berth, unless it is unsafe or impossible to do so. 625 ILCS 5/11-907(c).
Scott’s Law was passed in honor of Chicago Fire Department Lieutenant Scott Gillen, who was killed by a driver while assisting with a motor vehicle crash in 2000. Scott’s Law was strengthened in response to the deaths of Troopers Christopher Lambert, Brooke Jones-Story and Gerald Ellis in 2019.
A Scott’s Law violation without damage or injury to a person or vehicle has a minimum fine of $250 and a maximum fine of $10,000. If you get a second Scott’s Law violation, the minimum fine becomes $750. If you do cause damage to a vehicle, you can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, and if you cause injury or death, you can be charged with a class 4 felony.
If you have a pending Scott’s Law violation case in McLean County, the Attorneys at Finegan Rinker & Ghrist have defended hundreds of traffic cases in Central Illinois and would be happy to discuss your case with you for free.
Sources:
Scott’s Law Strengthening – https://www.illinois.gov/news/press-release.20051.html
Move Over Task Force Report – chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://isp.illinois.gov/StaticFiles/docs/Directors/LegislationNPublicNotice/Move%20Over%20Task%20Force%20Report%20FINAL.pdf
