COLLINSVILLE, Ill. – As the holiday weekend approaches, highway safety remains a top priority.  

FOX 2 rode along with Illinois State Trooper John Keen as troopers cracked down on Scott’s Law , also known as “The Move Over Law.” 

Scott’s Law requires drivers to move over and slow down when approaching any emergency  vehicle with flashing lights, police, fire, EMS, tow trucks, IDOT and crews.

As FOX 2 buckled into the front seat of the marked squad car, the urgency of the mission was clear: enforce Scott’s Law and keep roadside responders safe. 

Keen waited behind another trooper, conducting a stopwatch for violations and saw a pickup truck that did not move over, and the driver issued a citation.

Keen said it’s hard to go a day without it actually happening. The minimum fine for a Scott’s Law citation is $250.

If a driver injures someone, their license can be suspended for up to two years. The squad car merges back onto the highway after the second traffic stop after another driver speeds by within inches, failing to switch lanes or slow down

Throughout the ride, the trooper shared emotional stories. One explained how it feels to stand on the shoulder, hearing the roar of cars flying by.

“It heightens our awareness and adrenaline,” Keen said. “We’re taught in the academy even to check our blind spots constantly. It’s basically living with a chip on your shoulder.”

Illinois State Police provided a dashcam footage, showing how quickly things can turn dangerous

“We encourage all drivers to move because at the end of the day, our troopers want to go home to their families as well,” Keen said.