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House expands "move over" protections and increases penalties for violations
Summary
Senate Bill 38, a Department of Transportation-backed bill expanding move-over protections for stopped or slow-moving vehicles with warning lights, passed the House unanimously on the consent calendar after floor debate described it as a worker safety measure.
Senate Bill 38, sponsored in the House by Representative Reeder on behalf of the South Dakota Department of Transportation, passed the House after a floor explanation of its move-over provisions and penalties.
"It is to enhance the move over law that we currently have in South Dakota protecting our employees and highway workers," Representative Reeder said, describing amendments that add moving vehicles on the shoulder with warning lights to the protections and increase penalties. The bill requires motorists to move left or slow by 20 miles per hour when passing such vehicles and raises penalties to include a class 2 misdemeanor for violations and a class 1 misdemeanor if an accident results.
The bill was taken up on second reading and placed on final passage. The clerk later reported the recorded vote as ayes 68, and the bill was declared passed. The House deemed the bill title correct on the floor.
The sponsor said the measure originated with safety recommendations from the Department of Transportation and the discussion emphasized worker and responder safety along shoulders and in breakdown situations.
