Bill > H0469

This bill, known as the Move Over Act, amends Florida law to require drivers to take specific actions when approaching certain vehicles on the roadside. It defines "sanitation vehicle" as a motor vehicle clearly marked as belonging to or contracted by an entity providing garbage, trash, refuse, or recycling collection, and "utility service vehicle" as a motor vehicle clearly marked as belonging to or contracted by an entity providing electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, cable, telephone, or communications services. The bill expands existing requirements for moving over for authorized emergency vehicles to also include these sanitation and utility service vehicles when they are performing their duties on the roadside. Specifically, drivers on highways with two or more lanes in the same direction must vacate the lane closest to these vehicles if it can be done safely, or reduce their speed. On two-lane roads, drivers must slow down to 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit (or 5 mph if the limit is 20 mph or less). The bill also mandates an educational campaign about these requirements and will be effective July 1, 2014.