'Move over' enforcement starts Oct. 15

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Austin Police Department Highway Enforcement Command is joining forces with several Central Texas law enforcement agencies to target drivers who are illegally passing authorized emergency vehicles.

The officers working along the Austin and San Antonio highways -- Interstate 35, Interstate 10 and Loop 1604 -- will be taking part.

"Move over" laws are commonly thought of as a rule for just moving over when an emergency vehicle has engaged their lights.

But along with moving over for authorized emergency vehicles en route, motorists also must move over when an authorized emergency vehicle is stopped on the side. 

According to the Texas Move Over Act , motorists are required to vacate the lane adjacent to a stopped emergency vehicle that has its emergency lights on. If changing lanes is not possible, motorists must slow down to 20 mph below the posted limit when the speed limit posted is above 25.

If the speed limit is below 25 mph, motorists must slow down to 5 mph.

Between 1999 and 2011 more than 175 law enforcement officers were killed after being struck by vehicles while on duty.

The agencies involved are:

• Georgetown Police Department
•  Round Rock Police Department
•  Buda Police Department
•  Kyle Police Department
•  San Marcos Police Department
•  New Braunfels Police Department
•  Live Oak Police Department
•  San Antonio Police Department
•  Comal County Sheriff’s Office
•  Schertz Police Department
•  Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office
•  Selma Police Department
•  Bexar County Sheriff’s Office
•  Windcrest Police Department
•  Kirby Police Department
•  Seguin Police Department
•  Cibolo Police Department
•  Universal City Police Department
•  Converse Police Department

The operation will begin Monday, Oct. 15 and end on Friday, Nov. 2.