Drivers on Nevada roads have two new laws starting July 1

Two new laws start on Nevada roadways July 1. The "Move Over" Law geared towards protecting Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) workers takes effect as does the Left Lane Law.

Left Lane Law now state that drivers in the fast lane who are holding back traffic behind them can be cited. Violations for being the slow driver in the fast lane will now be a misdemeanor with a first-time $50 fine. The fine would be $100 for a second offense within seven years. Fine number three would be $250.

The "Move Over" Law has been adjusted to include Nevada Department of Transportation vehicles which are stopped on the side of the road with their flashing amber or non-flashing blue lights on. Before, drivers were required to slow down, proceed with caution, and if possible, move to the far lane when passing an official emergency response vehicle(s) pulled over on the side of the road with amber lights flashing.

The flashing lights on NDOT vehicles are warning drivers of an immediate traffic hazard, as well as when employees are constructing, maintaining or repairing highways. The law also includes NDOT’s approximately 10 Freeway Service Patrol vehicles which help keeping traffic moving smoothly in Reno and Las Vegas.

NDOT has approximately 2,000 pieces of heavy equipment such as snow plows and 850 roadway maintenance and 350 construction administration professionals responsible for maintenance and construction improvements on more than 5,000 miles of state roadway. NDOT maintenance professionals perform as many as 100 different roadway maintenance tasks, from resurfacing state roads to removing snow. They are often some of the very first on scene to assist drivers and emergency responders when there is a roadway incident.

In total, 24 NDOT employees have been killed in the line of duty since 1948. The most recent NDOT employee to die in the line of duty was Ron Raiche, Jr., who was struck and killed by an inattentive driver on March 30, 2015 while repairing roadway cracking on Interstate 80 near Battle Mountain.

“Each and every NDOT employee works to keep our roads mobile and safe,” NDOT Director Rudy Malfabon explained. “This law will in turn give our NDOT employees an extra measure of roadway safety. Earlier in my NDOT career, I worked on our road construction crews. Now, as NDOT director, I observe the daily efforts of our dedicated NDOT employees that keep our roadsides safe and clear. This law will help keep our state road maintenance and construction crews, as well as drivers, that much safer.”

The updated law becomes effective July 1, 2017. Drivers found guilty of violating the law can be charged with a misdemeanor. Many states, including California, Utah, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee and Wisconsin currently have “move over” laws which include state department of transportation maintenance vehicles.