Law enforcement officers are becoming more aggressive in ticketing drivers who fail to slow down or move over when passing parked emergency vehicles, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper said recently.

Trooper Monte Carroll urged motorists to abide by a state law that requires drivers to reduce their speed — or change lanes, if possible — when passing parked emergency vehicles.

When traveling on a two-lane road in the same direction as a stationary emergency vehicle with flashing lights, Carroll said, motorists may drive no faster than 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit. In areas where the speed limit is lower than 25 miles per hour, drivers who pass parked emergency vehicles may not exceed five miles per hour.

When driving on a highway with two or more lanes traveling in the direction of the emergency vehicle, motorists may move out of the lane nearest the emergency vehicle, in lieu of applying their brakes.

“Certainly the best thing to do is just slow down,” Carroll said. “If you do that, you’re good.”

Explained in detail in Section 545.157 of the Texas Transportation Code, the law about passing emergency vehicles took effect in September 2003, Carroll said.

“We are still seeing violations, and we’re starting to write more citations for it,” the trooper said.

A violation that does not result in injury or property damage is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $200. A fine of as much as $500 may be assessed, Carroll said, if a driver who fails to move over or slow down causes property damage — such as scraping the side of a fire, law enforcement or emergency medical vehicle.

Causing bodily injury because of failure to decrease speed or change lanes is a Class B misdemeanor. Such an offense, Carroll said, is punishable by as much as six months in county jail and a fine not to exceed $2,000.