Police nab 5 drivers in 45 minutes near Moncton for breaking move-over law

There were two things that sparked Const.Karine Themens-Royto start a crack down on drivers who drive too close to emergency vehicles.

One was the Sept.12death of RCMP Const. Francis Deschenes,who died on duty on the side of Route 2after being hit while helping two people change a tire.

The other was a close call in November.

"This vehicle just flew by me without moving over and that got me thinking about how real this is and how people aren't aware or don't move or whatever it is," Themens-Roy said.

"It was quite scary."

Between Nov.4and Nov. 27,CodiacRCMPconducted five check stop operations, ticketing 25 peopleand letting another nine off with warnings.Themens-Roy estimated900 to 1,000 vehicles passed through the check stops.

"Keep in mind not all vehicles that didn't move over were intercepted because we don't have that many members to intercept all of them," she said.

Firsthand look

CodiacRCMPallowed CBCNews to watch a check stopon Route 15 near theGreater Moncton Romo LeBlanc International Airporton Wednesday afternoon. An unmarked police van waspulled off to the side of the roadwith a cruiser, lights ablaze. Upahead, two cruisers waited for violators to go speeding bywithout moving in to the left lane.

It wasn'tlong before both police cars speed off to hand out tickets. The fine is $292.50 and the loss of three demerit points. It's an expensive lesson to learn for drivers, especially right before Christmas,butas Themens-Roy said, "it's a matter of safety.

"Some people still claim they don't know, but this law has been in effect since June 1, 2013, and I don't think ignorance is an excuse anymore."

Ina 45-minute span, five vehicles were caught and given tickets, but many more got away with driving dangerously closeto the cruiser and unmarked van.

RCMP start crack down on drivers who drive too close to emergency vehicles

7 years ago

Duration 1:08

Codiac RCMP set up check stops to remind drivers to give emergency vehicles a lane.

"There's 15 that went by that we couldn't pull over because our members were already attending other vehicles," she said.

One ticketed driver was asked to comment on this storybut declined.

Themens-Roysaid she hopes the crack down raises awareness about the law, but sheadded, "quite frankly it should be common sense."