The expanded Move Over law is now in effect in New York state. The new version, signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul last fall, requires drivers to move over for all disabled vehicles on the side of the road.

The previous law signed in 2010 was designed to prevent collisions with emergency vehicles. That had already expanded once before to cover hazard vehicles and other responders. Still, according to the state, nearly 40 people were killed outside of a disabled vehicle in New York between 2016 and 2020 (more statistics here).

The devestation of losing a person you love lives on forever. Loved ones of Irael Martinez, a tow-truck driver killed on the job two years ago, miss him every day. A close friend who worked with him remembered Martinez, and talked about the potential impact of the law's expansion. 

“Always happy go lucky, always willing to help, you know, lend a helping hand," said Joseph Britton, the manager of Pascarella’s Towing Service, said of Martinez.

Originally from Cuba, Martinez came to the United States a decade ago to create a better life for his family from Cuba.

"He started a successful towing business, and he worked out here with the rest of us every day, seven days a week," Britton said.

But on Feb. 24, 2022, he was putting a disabled car on his tow truck when an SUV hit him.

"I called his phone – rang, rang, rang, rang and went to voicemail," Britton recalled. "And he always answers his phone. Always. And the moment that it went to voicemail, my heart just dropped." 

While the Move Over law was expanded about a decade ago to include tow truck drivers, stories like Martinez’s are why the state keeps expanding it, with the latest expansion making it so drivers have to move over for all disabled vehicles.

Britton believes the state needs to do more to make sure everyone, especially older generations, are aware of the law.

"For the motoring public, that's a little bit of an older generation," Britton said. "You know, I'm 44 years old. When I took my driving course and my driver's 'ed,' the Move Over law didn’t exist. The younger generations that have been taught this, as they get older, they're already going to know this knowledge. So until New York state starts sending out pamphlets and fliers and recertification type stuff, it's only going to be a slowly gradual change." 

Because you never know when a call could lead to a life-altering moment. 

“Not only do I worry about it, my employer worries about it, my wife worries about it," Britton said. "My children worry about it.

"If they don't have that room, that cushion to be able to do that job safely, they may not live to see the next day," he said. "You know, and it hurts me to have a friend that I'll never see again."

As for the expansion, a no grace period started Wednesday. If you do get pulled over, expect a $275 fine and three points on your license.