On Tuesday, October 31, an Illinois State Police (ISP) officer's squad car, parked on Interstate 94 near Old Orchard Road in Cook County, was hit by a car while the officer was responding to a weather-related accident, ISP reports. This highlights the hazards that emergency responders face and emphasizes the need for drivers to obey the Move Over Law, sometimes referred to as "Scott's Law."

The ISP states that 28-year-old Fadil Sanni of Chicago, who was driving a 2003 Toyota Matrix, neglected to move over and consequently hit the squad car's right side. The ISP officer was not in his vehicle during the incident and thankfully, neither he nor Sanni were injured. Sanni is facing charges for Scott's Law violation, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, and driving without a valid license.

In an effort to protect emergency responders, as well as other motorists, Scott's Law mandates drivers to reduce speed and move over when approaching any stationary vehicle with its emergency or hazard lights on. First-time offenders can face a fine between $250 and $10,000. If a violation results in injury, the perpetrator's driver's license may be suspended from six months up to two years.

In response to these concerns, theISP has introduced an interactive dashboard that provides information about Move Over Law violations in Illinois. This tool aims to raise public awareness and decrease the rate of such perilous incidents.