Florida drivers just got new marching orders for staying safe on the roads. As of 2025, the state’s Move Over Law has expanded once again. This time, it is not just about protecting emergency vehicles but also covering any vehicle parked on the roadside with hazard lights blinking or flares burning.
The Ticket Clinic has covered the history and prior updates to Florida’s Move Over Law in detail, explaining how it started with emergency vehicles like police, fire, and tow trucks. Over the years, lawmakers added protection for utility service vehicles and sanitation trucks. Now, the law has stretched even further, and drivers need to know the new rules before they find themselves flashing their license and registration to a trooper.
What Is Florida’s Move Over Law?
Florida’s Move Over Law requires drivers to either move over one lane or slow down when approaching certain vehicles stopped on the roadside. Under the previous rules, this mainly applied to emergency vehicles with flashing lights, tow trucks, sanitation vehicles, and utility service trucks performing official duties.
Drivers who could not safely change lanes were supposed to drop their speed to 20 miles per hour below the posted limit if the limit was 25 mph or higher or to 5 mph if the speed limit was 20 mph or lower.
What Changed in 2025?
The big news for 2025 is that the Move Over Law now applies to any vehicle parked on the roadside with hazard lights flashing, emergency flares burning, or visible emergency signage like reflective triangles. That means your neighbor changing a flat tire on the shoulder is now protected by the same law that covers a state trooper conducting a traffic stop.
This change is significant because it removes the ambiguity about who counts as an emergency or official worker and puts safety first for everyone stuck on the side of the road. Whether it is a stranded family on a road trip or a delivery driver dealing with a mechanical failure, drivers approaching the scene must either move over one lane or slow down significantly.
Penalties for Violating the Move Over Law
Getting caught ignoring Florida’s Move Over Law can hit your wallet and driving record hard. Penalties can include:
- A fine for $158 dollars
- Three points added to your driver’s license
- Higher insurance premiums due to the points on your record
- Possible court costs and fees that add to the expense
For commercial drivers, a Move Over violation can even threaten employment, as trucking companies often monitor moving violations closely.
Why Did Florida Change the Law?
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has pointed to rising numbers of crashes and fatalities involving drivers who fail to move over for vehicles on the roadside. According to recent state statistics, thousands of crashes and dozens of fatalities have occurred because drivers did not give stopped vehicles a safe buffer.
The aim is to prevent injuries and save lives by reducing the risk for anyone working or stranded on the roadside. Lawmakers wanted to eliminate confusion about who qualifies for protection under the law. Now, the rule is simple: if you see hazard lights or flares, give them space or slow way down.
The Ticket Clinic’s Experience Fighting Traffic Violations
The Ticket Clinic has been defending Florida drivers for more than thirty years, handling millions of cases involving moving violations like speeding, careless driving, and Move Over Law infractions. We know the ins and outs of how officers conduct traffic stops and how prosecutors build their cases.
A Move Over ticket is not just a small fine. It can snowball into points on your license, insurance hikes, and a record that follows you for years. If you have been cited for violating the Move Over Law or any traffic offense, you do not have to accept the charges without a fight.
Call The Ticket Clinic before paying any fine or pleading guilty. Our team can analyze your case, challenge the evidence, and help protect your driving record and your wallet.
Florida roads are busy enough. Let The Ticket Clinic help keep your journey smooth, even if flashing lights appear in your rearview mirror.
