I’ve honestly never heard of someone actually getting one of these but would love to see it actually enforced.

I don’t know what your chances are, but if i were the judge i’d immediately check if your home state has a similar law. Does it?

I’ve never heard of anyone actually getting a ticket for this. Ignorance of the law usually doesn’t work as a defense. Maybe ask r/LegalAdvice ? Hopefully you can get it tossed.

I don't think you'll get out of it. They are taking it very seriously now to make people follow it. Too many have been killed next to disabled vehicles in the last few years. I don't see the judge letting this one go.

I have seen them enforced , and it was expensive, but it was in NY state just over the border from where I live. They do not play in the Corning /Elmira area. I don't know how many state troopers NY has but some days it seems like a third of them are on Rt 17 between Corning and Binghamton.

Same here - never heard of it until my ticket. I just paid it, but I’ve heard from others that they tried to get out of it, but to no avail.

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To answer your question, judges have a lot of discretion in traffic court. But I agree with others that they probably won’t throw this out because it’s a major safety issue, and quite frankly you probably drove past several signs stating the law very clearly. Most states have this law now and it’s pretty well publicized.

Was the cops flashing lights on?

" An emergency response area is where an emergency vehicle has its lights
flashing, or where road crews or emergency responders have lighted
flares, posted signs, or try to warn travelers."

Source: https://www.penndot.pa.gov/TravelInPA/Safety/TrafficSafetyAndDriverTopics/Pages/Move-Over,-Slow-Down.aspx

Yeah, I get the idea behind it and understand. I'm not trying to get out of it, but my hope is that the judge has some discretion to reduce the impact somewhat. Completely legally irrelevant but adding to my frustration is that this clearly wasn't a crash scene or emergency of any kind, but because the officer was giving someone else a ticket.

Agreed. Pleading ignorance of the law, at any level, definitely wouldn't be the best defense either.

> Completely legally irrelevant but adding to my frustration is that this clearly wasn't a crash scene or emergency of any kind, but because the officer was giving someone else a ticket.

As long as the cops lights were flashing, the law applies. Its intent is to protect those stopped and/or working along the road.

Yeah, I'm not going to try to get out of it. I'm just hoping for some amount of leniency, especially since I have to appear before a judge anyway as part of it.

Yep, they were performing a traffic stop on the shoulder with the lights on.

Do you recall what the total cost was after fees? I'm just bracing for impact.

There's not really any argument you have then. You said you're from out of state, hopefully the points don't transfer. Good luck.

It was $127.50

Appreciate the info. Thanks.

No worries. Just sucks that this wasn’t announced properly. A little odd that so many people were unaware.

Haven’t received such a ticket. Don’t know if points transfer between states. That said, if you want to see if you can have the penalty reduced, you must plead not guilty and appear in court.

In court, you may be able to make a deal with the police officer before the hearing starts. Failing that, you can make your case to the district magistrate.

Wow is that DoT.gov link a tour de force. Thanks for sharing that!

Now I shall spend the weekend alternating between 1) nightmare scenarios at "four corners" states, and 2) daydreams about a national standard that would reduce such impossibly exhaustive, exception-laden documentation down to a couple lines.

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I'm confused. You got a ticket but you are asking others what they were charged for the same offense?

The ticket the officer handed you has the amount you owe on it. If you are not going to fight the ticket (which is a losing proposition anyway) then you have to pay that fine. And frankly, if its only $127.50 you should count yourself lucky.

The judge can't arbitrarily reduce your fine, even if they felt sympathetic (which they won't). The fine is associated with the charge and I doubt there is a reduced charge for your violation.

If points are involved that is something, maybe, they could work with you on. But other than that you are shit out of luck.

Write the check and be done with it. It's not going away and you'll feel better once it's off your mind.

Always thought it was a good idea to slow down and give a wide berth to anyone on the side of the road, whether it's an accident or disabled vehicle, someone giving/getting a ticket, road crews, postal workers, garbage trucks or other utility workers - but only, if it can be done safely without potentially causing an accident yourself.

Iirc, the wording of the new law gives some leeway for that last point. For example, on a 2-lane rural highway, it's not always safe to move a lane over putting you into oncoming traffic you may or may not see (the roads are windy around here and there's designated passing spots for a reason). On the other hand, it's usually a lot safer to at least slow down, though hard braking if they're in a bad spot can likewise cause an accident. And depending upon traffic and visibility, jumping into the far or middle lane isn't always possible within only a few seconds (especially if surrounding traffic is all trying to do the same thing).

Many years ago when I got pulled over for speeding in the Carolinas, the trooper was smart and only approached the vehicle from the passenger's side window - which probably also gave him a better view of my actions and inside the vehicle. Not sure why that's not a standard procedure around here, but at least my last traffic stop they were nice enough to wait before lighting me up and let me pull over into a small parking lot, giving him plenty of room on either side.

Doesn’t have to be a crash scene or an emergency. One pickup truck with a flashing light on top that belongs to a highway worker who stopped to pickup a shredded tire is enough to trigger it.

Move over, slow down. The signs are everywhere.

Fetterman said he was going to fix this. Give him a call.

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Why the hell would you not move over then? Do you have any idea how many people are killed on the side of the road? I have no sympathy or pity for your penalty incurred. Take your lumps, learn your lesson and do better next time.

Wouldn't hurt to try. Show up, apologize, and be honest about it. Judge might reduce points. Worst they can say is "No"...

I concur. I was once told by a judge at a ticket hearing that ignorance is not a defense. When you are driving in another state it is your responsibility to learn And obey the laws Once you are there.

Good thing for reddit!! Because that's where I read it!!

I know of easily 20 people in the same situation, their defense was that they didn't know about the law.

If you challenge it and go in front of a magistrate, usually the response I've heard is that not knowing isn't their problem, it's your responsibility to know, and the law is to enable safety for law enforcement and emergency professionals so it should be a lesson. 100% of them failed in getting anything reduced. One of them got thrown into jail overnight for escalating things and screaming at both the cop and magistrate at the hearing, so don't do that.

You definitely can try and if you get a sympathetic judge they might agree with you. I'm sure it's happened to some people who went that route. My anecdotal stories don't mean you'd be in the same boat.

Someone needs a Snickers.

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You aren’t getting out of it. It’s simple courtesy to move over for someone stopped on the side of the highway, and you’d appreciate it too if you were in that position.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/transportation-and-transit/pennsylvania-move-over-law-flashing-lights/2793269/

It was.

Or you could just be a decent human being and get out of the lane when you see literally anyone on the side of the road.

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This is just lazy, try harder next time!