Connecticut Move-Over Law

What Connecticut requires

Connecticut wants you over a lane for anything stopped on the shoulder, not just police and tow trucks. Slow to a reasonable speed under the limit and move over when it is safe. A basic violation is an infraction, but injure someone and the fine hits $2,500, and a death runs up to $10,000. The move-over statute itself is fine-only (Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-283b).

Who you move over for, and the fallback

• Move over for: Police, fire, and EMS vehicles, highway maintenance vehicles, and wreckers showing flashing lights (stationary or moving well below the limit), plus any nonemergency vehicle stopped on the shoulder, in a lane, or in the breakdown lane.
• If you can't move over: Move over one lane if you are next to the vehicle and it is safe. For an emergency vehicle, also cut your speed to a reasonable level below the posted limit.
• Connecticut already covers any vehicle stopped on the shoulder, so a broken-down car counts. The state Highway Safety Office puts it plainly: the law applies to any vehicle along the side of the road. Injury and death fines ($2,500 / $10,000) are among the steepest in New England.

What a violation costs

A basic violation is an infraction (a standard traffic fine). Injure someone and the fine rises to as much as $2,500; cause a death and it reaches up to $10,000. The statute is fine-only, so any jail exposure comes from a separate charge (Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-283b).

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