The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has launched a crackdown on motorists who fail to comply with the state’s move over law, which requires drivers to move over for first responders, tow truck drivers, or anyone pulled over on the side of the road.The crackdown comes following the death of Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Sergeant Michael Schlattman, and a subsequent Target 7 Investigation has found the law is rarely followed and rarely enforced until now.In a matter of two hours, 67 motorists were pulled over for not moving over when there were emergency crews on the side of the road. “I wasn’t expecting 67 just in one day,” Sheriff John Allen said. “You would think there would be a lower number and people would have been paying attention, moving over and following the law, but of course that’s not the case.”The consequences of not following the move over law can be deadly. Last month, Bernalillo Schlattman was killed during a traffic stop when a semi-truck slammed into the back of his patrol car. “I’m very fortunate, I’m very fortunate. Almost sometimes there’s a little bit of guilt because why did I survive and why do others have to die?” said Former Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Jacobs. Twenty years ago, Paul Jacobs was nearly killed on the same stretch of road, prompting him to lobby for the state’s move over law. “It was a similar situation, and why did I walk away? I wish everybody could walk away, but it’s not the reality that we live in,” Jacobs said.At the time Schlattman was killed, Target 7 discovered the law had only been enforced 16 times statewide since it was passed in 2005. “So I think now we always have to look at what we can do better,” Sheriff Allen said. “And Sergeant Schlattman’s death brought more attention to this.”Sheriff John Allen launched Operation Schlatty, the nickname of the fallen sergeant. “It’s designed to protect first responders,” Sheriff Allen said. “Everyone thinks it’s just for law enforcement, even for tow truck drivers, ambulance, roadside workers. Slow down, pay attention, move over because anything can happen. We want everybody to be safe, including workers.”The investigation into Schlattman’s death is being conducted by the Rio Rancho Police Department, and there has been no determination whether charges will be filed against the semi-truck driver. “I wouldn’t doubt if charges were brought, but I don’t know, so I can’t say as a fact,” Allen said, “I will tell you, I watched the body camera. That was rough to watch. And then I watched it in slow motion. And you can tell that the driver’s not paying attention, and he should have moved over.”Sheriff Allen plans to order more operations in the future to crack down on people who don’t move over and wants to strengthen the penalties. Currently, if caught, motorists face the same penalties as someone caught for speeding.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has launched a crackdown on motorists who fail to comply with the state’s move over law, which requires drivers to move over for first responders, tow truck drivers, or anyone pulled over on the side of the road.
The crackdown comes following the death of Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Sergeant Michael Schlattman, and a subsequent Target 7 Investigation has found the law is rarely followed and rarely enforced until now.
In a matter of two hours, 67 motorists were pulled over for not moving over when there were emergency crews on the side of the road.
“I wasn’t expecting 67 just in one day,” Sheriff John Allen said. “You would think there would be a lower number and people would have been paying attention, moving over and following the law, but of course that’s not the case.”
The consequences of not following the move over law can be deadly. Last month, Bernalillo Schlattman was killed during a traffic stop when a semi-truck slammed into the back of his patrol car.
“I’m very fortunate, I’m very fortunate. Almost sometimes there’s a little bit of guilt because why did I survive and why do others have to die?” said Former Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Jacobs.
Twenty years ago, Paul Jacobs was nearly killed on the same stretch of road, prompting him to lobby for the state’s move over law.
“It was a similar situation, and why did I walk away? I wish everybody could walk away, but it’s not the reality that we live in,” Jacobs said.
At the time Schlattman was killed, Target 7 discovered the law had only been enforced 16 times statewide since it was passed in 2005.
“So I think now we always have to look at what we can do better,” Sheriff Allen said. “And Sergeant Schlattman’s death brought more attention to this.”
Sheriff John Allen launched Operation Schlatty, the nickname of the fallen sergeant.
“It’s designed to protect first responders,” Sheriff Allen said. “Everyone thinks it’s just for law enforcement, even for tow truck drivers, ambulance, roadside workers. Slow down, pay attention, move over because anything can happen. We want everybody to be safe, including workers.”
The investigation into Schlattman’s death is being conducted by the Rio Rancho Police Department, and there has been no determination whether charges will be filed against the semi-truck driver.
“I wouldn’t doubt if charges were brought, but I don’t know, so I can’t say as a fact,” Allen said, “I will tell you, I watched the body camera. That was rough to watch. And then I watched it in slow motion. And you can tell that the driver’s not paying attention, and he should have moved over.”
Sheriff Allen plans to order more operations in the future to crack down on people who don’t move over and wants to strengthen the penalties. Currently, if caught, motorists face the same penalties as someone caught for speeding.
