Sheriff Jim Hammond would like to invite the media to a press conference that will be held on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the Sheriff’s West Annex located at 6233 Dayton Blvd.

This will be in reference to the “Move Over Law,” and how this impacts Emergency Responders by requiring motorist to yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to the authorized emergency vehicle. If changing lanes would not be possible, the motorist should proceed with caution by reducing and maintaining the speed of their vehicle.

The “Move Over Law” was expanded in July 2011 to include utility vehicles. In the last year there have been two deaths involving employees of TDOT. Several months ago an employee of Comcast was injured while working, when he was hit by a vehicle. The most recent incident reported involves T.H.P. Sgt. Lowell Russell who was finishing a traffic stop on I-40 (Knoxville) when he was rear ended by an 18 wheeler. Sgt. Russell is still listed in critical condition from the injuries he sustained in this crash.

The “Move Over Law,” was enacted to offer a degree of safety to emergency responders that include Law enforcement, Fire Department, Ambulance, Wrecker Services, TDOT, Electric Power Board and all other utility vehicles, who are out working on the streets and highways of Hamilton County.