On January 12, 2019, Illinois StateTrooper Christopher Lambert was killed at the scene of a prior three-vehicle traffic crash in the left lane of interstate I-294 near Willow Road, IL. While he was dealing with that crash, another vehicle failed to stop and struck Trooper Lambert while he was outside of his patrol car.
On Jan. 12, 2020, ISP announced additional ‘Move Over’ (Scott’s Law) patrols in honor of the late Trooper Lambert.
The statewide detail began on Sunday, Jan. 12, and will run throughout the week, ending on Saturday, Jan. 18.
During 2019, 27 ISP squad cars were struck by vehicles and drivers that were in contravention of the Move Over (Scott’s) Law. This figure is greater than the total number of all ISP crashes of this sort that occurred during all of 2016, 2017 and 2018, added together! Two of these crashes resulted in the tragic, unnecessary deaths of Trooper Christopher Lambert and Trooper Brooke Jones-Story.
Effective as of Jan. 1, violators of Illinois’ Move Over (Scott’s) Law will be fined no less than $250 for a first offense and no less than $750 for a subsequent offense. If a violation involves property damage, the violator’s driver’s license will be suspended for a mandatory period anywhere between 3 to 12 months. If a violation results in injury to another person, the violator’s driver’s license will be suspended for a mandatory period of anywhere between 6 months and two years.
The Move Over (Scott’s) Law requires drivers to change lanes when approaching stationary emergency vehicles, including highway maintenance vehicles displaying flashing lights, and any stationary vehicle with their hazard lights activated. The law also states, if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe, drivers are required to proceed with due caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle and leave a safe distance until safely passing the stationary vehicle.
Trooper Christopher Lambert began his ISP career in 2013 and graduated with Cadet Class 123. He served honorably in the United States Army for eight years. He is survived by his wife, children and parents.
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SOURCE: Illinois State Police
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