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Prosecutors, state troopers and chiefs push tougher 'Move Over' penalties and Blue Star plate in omnibus bill
Summary
District Attorney Marion Ryan, state troopers and police organizations urged lawmakers to strengthen Massachusetts' 'Move Over' law (H.3816), including higher fines, driver re‑education, surcharge penalties for repeat offenses and creation of a Blue Star license plate and memorial fund to honor officers killed in the line of duty.
District Attorney Marion Ryan, joined by state troopers and police organizations, urged the Joint Committee on Transportation to back H.3816 — an omnibus bill that strengthens the Move Over law and adds related provisions including a Blue Star family license plate, a law enforcement memorial fund and a statewide blue alert system.
"When you step out, the noise itself is almost deafening," DA Marion Ryan said, describing how dangerous it is for people who exit vehicles on highways. She told the committee the Move Over law of 2009 remains poorly understood: "over 70 percent of people in Massachusetts still say that they don't know that's the law." She supported raising fines and adding an educational component to reduce dangerous behavior.
Trooper Luke Bonin, vice president of the State Police Association of Massachusetts, described officers being struck while working on highways and said: "we have lost no less than 3 law enforcement officers ... due to either impaired, distracted, or fatigued driving where people struck a cruiser or an officer outside of their cruiser." He and Trooper Brendan Murphy urged stronger protections and enforcement; Murphy cautioned against using blue lights on construction vehicles because blue signals law enforcement to the public and suggested alternative colors may be preferable.
Michael Bradley, executive director of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, and representatives from the Massachusetts Coalition of Police said H.3816 would change behavior and better protect officers. The bill would raise penalties for Move Over violations, require driver re‑education and impose surcharge penalties for third offenses; testimony described increasing the fine from $100 to $250 for a first offense and higher amounts for repeat offenses, with additional penalties for a third offense.
The bill also includes a proposal to create a Blue Star family license plate and a Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial Fund; witnesses said a portion of enhanced penalties could fund the plate program and memorial maintenance. Families of fallen officers and police memorial groups offered emotional testimony in support.
No formal vote was recorded; witnesses urged the committee to report the bill favorably and emphasized the combined approach of enforcement, education and memorial recognition.
