State police are patrolling state highways with more force this week, watching for people not obeying “move over” laws.  As Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Jennifer Weingart reports, the laws aim to keep police and all types of emergency responders safe while doing their jobs.

Move over laws are used to protect those who work on the highway. Motorist are required to move over a lane, or slow down if they see stationary emergency vehicles, tow trucks or car accidents.

Sergeant Ted Bohner is with the Indiana State Police. He says they look for it all year round but they have extra patrols out now to make more people aware of the law.

“We’re always watching out for it because it can be a hair-raising experience walking back to your police car and somebody buzzes by you without moving over at 70 miles an hour.”

The increased patrols this week are in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Pennsylvania as part of a policing partnership headed by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Bohner says officers are working in pairs to address the problem. Increased patrols run through Saturday.