The Jefferson Police Department is participating in a national campaign to help keep first responders and law enforcement safe on the roads.

Captain Heath Enns says the national campaign “Move Over. It’s the Law” helps to remind the motoring public to move over when they see flashing lights from first responders and law enforcement on the side of the road for a traffic stop or an accident. When performing traffic stops, Enns says he prefers to approach the driver on the passenger side when on the highways because it is safer.

“There may be a car that’s paying attention to the lights or trying to see what’s going on and they veer over to the right and may sideswipe a car. So it’s safer for us to be on the other side of the vehicle. There are techniques too that we park our patrol vehicles when we stop a car in case someone rearends that car so it doesn’t push the car into us as we’re standing alongside the road.”

He points out that in 2015, 52 law enforcement officers were struck and killed in traffic accidents. He adds that there is a fine if someone is found not following the move over law, which is $195. Enns hopes everyone obeys the law and helps keep first responders safe so they can keep others safe on the road.