NORWICH – On Jan. 1, New York will become the 49th state to enact “Move Over” legislation aimed at protecting law enforcement officers and emergency workers who are performing their duties along the roadways.

Governor David Paterson signed the Ambrose-Searles ‘Move Over Act’ into law this past summer and it will take effect at the start of the year.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, more than 160 police officers have been killed nationwide in roadside collisions since 1999.

New York’s law, the Ambrose-Searles Move Over Act, is named in honor of New York State Trooper Robert W. Ambrose and Onondaga County Sheriff Deputy Glenn M. Searles, who were both killed in the line of duty while their patrol vehicles were stopped along the road.

“The highway is one of the most dangerous environments faced by law enforcement,” announced Acting New York State Police Superintendent John P. Melville in a statement. “Unfortunately, too many motorists either ignore or fail to perceive the dangers associated with driving too close to emergency vehicles that are stopped on the side of the road. We hope that by informing the public of this new law and vigorously enforcing its provisions, we will be able to improve safety for emergency professionals who work in these hazardous conditions.”

Move over legislation has been passed in 49 of the 50 states and New York was the last state, besides Hawaii, to adopt the law.

The laws requires:

• Drivers must use due care when approaching an emergency vehicle that displays red and/or white emergency lighting. 

• On all roads and highways, drivers must reduce speed; 

• On parkways and other controlled access highways with multiple lanes, drivers must move from the lane immediately adjacent to the emergency vehicle, unless traffic or other hazards exist to prevent doing so safely.

Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino supports the law and said although local officers haven’t had any incidents in recent memory, most could recall at least one near-miss scenario while working along the city’s streets.