SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — On Wednesday South Dakota State Trooper Alex Hemann is working on Iinterstate-29 in Sioux Falls with a fellow trooper. They are pulling over people who are speeding.
“On a general traffic stop here in the Sioux Falls area for the highway patrol often times we have 60 -70 cars go past us during one traffic stop which may only be five minutes long there might be 4,5,6,7 cars that don’t move over that go right past you at 65 miles an hour or faster and it makes the job hard,” said Hemann.
Exploitation of immigrant workers: A growing U.S. concern
The driver of this white truck saw us and switched lanes, while the SUV behind him failed to move over. If a driver can’t move over because of traffic, or if it is just a two lane highway, drivers should slow down to 20 miles an hour below the posted speed limit.
The move over laws in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa are very similar. If a vehicle or tow truck is stopped on the shoulder with flashing yellow lights, drivers should move over.
We’re in the median here on I-29 the cars are whizzing past us 65 70 miles an hour, and I have to tell you it is a bit unnerving.
“This is my 25th year with the state patrol and I’ve had a lot of close calls unfortunately,” said Sgt Troy Christianson with the Minnesota State Patrol.
Christianson reminds us that construction season is ramping up and that means more vehicles and people on the side of the road.
“It’s important that people are just aware of the dangers that we do on a day to day basis, and that can help us stay safe as long as they reduce their speeds and just pay attention to what’s going on around them,” Christianson said.
Hemann says it’s not just for the safety of law enforcement.
“There’s often times we stop people with young children in the car or we help change a tire when there is kids in the car to get them back on the roadway quickly, you know we need people moving over, and flashing lights on the side of the road we need people moving over so nobody gets hurt,” said Hemann.
In South Dakota the fine for a move over violation is pretty stiff. Violators face a minimum fine of $270. In Minnesota the fine is a $100 or more. The same goes for Iowa, at $100.
