South Carolina legislators are moving to close legal loopholes in the state’s traffic safety laws following a tragic series of incidents last year. The push to strengthen the state’s “Move Over” law comes after three state troopers were struck during roadside stops in a single month last fall, resulting in the death of one officer.
The proposed legislation aims to eliminate the ambiguity that has allowed some drivers to evade accountability for endangering first responders.
South Carolina was the first state in the nation to enact a “Move Over” law in 1996. However, the current language requires drivers to move over or slow down specifically for an “emergency scene.” In recent years, defense attorneys have successfully argued in court that a standard traffic stop does not legally constitute an emergency. These arguments have led some magistrates to dismiss cases against drivers who failed to yield…