Vehicle · Move over law
Move Over Law in Illinois
When you must change lanes or slow down for a stopped emergency vehicle in Illinois, which vehicles are covered, the fine for a violation, and what happens if you injure a responder. Cited to the statute.
What the move over law requires in Illinois
The duty to change lanes, when you must slow down instead, which vehicles are covered, and the penalties for a violation.
Illinois Scott’s Law fines and the list of covered vehicles are amended often, and recent amendments expanded coverage. Confirm the current figures and covered vehicles for your citation date before relying on them.
| What the law requires | What it means |
|---|---|
| Move over a lane | On a highway with at least two lanes in your direction, 625 ILCS 5/11-907 requires you to change into a lane not adjacent to the stopped vehicle when possible, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions. |
| Slow down if you cannot | If a lane change is impossible, unsafe, or unlawful, you must reduce speed, maintain a safe speed for road conditions, leave a safe distance, and proceed with caution. The statute does not fix a set number below the limit. |
| Covered vehicles | The law covers a stationary authorized emergency vehicle displaying flashing warning lights. That includes police, fire, ambulance, and other authorized emergency vehicles, along with disabled vehicles the section reaches. Recent amendments expanded coverage, so confirm which vehicles apply to your date. |
| Where it applies | The move-over duty applies on a highway with two or more lanes in the direction of travel. On other roads, and where a lane change is unsafe, the slow-down and caution duty applies instead. |
| Penalties and enhancements | What it means |
|---|---|
| Base fine range | A violation is a business offense with a fine of not less than $250 and not more than $10,000 for a first offense, and not less than $750 and not more than $10,000 for a second or later offense. |
| Causing property damage | A violation that results in damage to another vehicle is a Class A misdemeanor, and the driver’s license is suspended for a period set between 90 days and one year, on top of any other penalty. |
| Causing injury or death | A violation that results in injury to or the death of another person is a Class 4 felony. That grade carries the possibility of prison time in addition to fines. |
What you can do right now
Concrete, neutral steps for the road and for a ticket in Illinois. This is legal information, not legal advice.
- Know the covered vehicles
Learn that any stationary authorized emergency vehicle with flashing warning lights triggers the duty, so you react in time whether it is a squad car, fire truck, or tow.
- Move over early
Check your mirrors and signal to change lanes as soon as you see flashing lights ahead. Slow down and leave a safe distance only if a lane change is not possible.
- Contest a ticket if you have grounds
Given the high fines and the misdemeanor or felony grades, a Scott’s Law charge is worth reviewing. A lawyer referral service can point you to help.
A move over violation is a traffic offense, and it becomes far more serious if a responder is hurt. A licensed traffic attorney can explain your options; the state bar can refer you to one.
→ Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Lawyer FinderThis is general legal information, not legal advice. The covered vehicles, the fine, and the enhancements turn on the exact statute and the facts, so confirm your situation against the code and talk to a lawyer.
What drivers in Illinois get wrong about the move over law
Illinois calls its move-over rule Scott's Law, at 625 ILCS 5/11-907. When you drive on a highway with at least two lanes in your direction toward a stationary authorized emergency vehicle displaying flashing warning lights, you must change into a lane that is not next to it when that is possible and safe. If a lane change is impossible, unsafe, or unlawful, you must reduce speed, keep a safe speed for conditions, leave a safe distance, and proceed with caution. The penalties are steep. A violation is a business offense with a fine of $250 to $10,000 for a first offense and $750 to $10,000 for a later one. If the violation damages another vehicle, it becomes a Class A misdemeanor and brings a license suspension of 90 days to one year. If it injures or kills another person, it becomes a Class 4 felony, which can carry prison time. Amendments have widened the vehicles the law protects, so confirm the current list for your date. This is legal information, not legal advice.
Common questions
What does Scott’s Law require in Illinois?
625 ILCS 5/11-907 requires you to change into a lane not next to a stopped authorized emergency vehicle showing flashing lights when you are on a highway with two or more lanes in that direction. If you cannot change lanes safely, you must slow down, leave a safe distance, and proceed with caution.
Which vehicles are covered by Scott’s Law?
The law covers any stationary authorized emergency vehicle displaying flashing warning lights, including police, fire, and ambulance vehicles, along with disabled vehicles the section reaches. Amendments have widened the list, so confirm the current version.
What is the fine for a Scott’s Law violation in Illinois?
A violation is a business offense with a fine of not less than $250 and up to $10,000 for a first offense, and not less than $750 and up to $10,000 for a second or later offense.
What happens if you hurt a responder under Scott’s Law?
A violation that damages another vehicle is a Class A misdemeanor with a license suspension. A violation that injures or kills another person is a Class 4 felony, which can carry prison time in addition to fines.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.