What Is Scott's Law? Illinois' Move Over Law, Duties and Penalties

Last reviewed: October 12, 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice. Illinois expanded the law in 2026; check the current text of 625 ILCS 5/11-907 before relying on any detail.

If you drive in Illinois, you have probably seen the "Move Over" signs and wondered exactly what they ask of you. So, what is Scott's Law? It is Illinois' Move Over Law, and it carries some of the toughest penalties for a traffic rule you are likely to come across.

Short answer: Scott's Law is the Illinois Move Over Law in 625 ILCS 5/11-907(c). When you approach an emergency vehicle or emergency scene with flashing lights, you must slow down, move out of the adjacent lane if it is safe to do so, and pass with due caution. A first violation carries a fine of $250 to $10,000, and causing damage, injury or death brings criminal charges and a license suspension.

Who Scott Gillen was

Scott's Law is named after Lieutenant Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department. The Illinois State Police say he was struck and killed by an intoxicated driver while assisting at a crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway. Local reporting on the 25th anniversary in 2025 gives the date as December 23, 2000.

What Scott's Law requires

In summary, the version of subsection (c) we reviewed says that when you approach a stationary authorized emergency vehicle or emergency scene showing oscillating, rotating or flashing lights, you must:

1. On a highway with at least four lanes and two or more going your way: proceed with due caution, change into a lane that is not next to the emergency vehicle if it is possible and safe, and reduce your speed, leaving a safe distance until you are past.
2. If changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe: proceed with due caution and reduce your speed, maintaining a safe speed and a safe distance until you are past.

In any lane, the statute says drivers must "heed the warning of the signal, reduce the speed of the vehicle, proceed with due caution, maintain a safe speed for road conditions, be prepared to stop, and leave a safe distance."

Which vehicles count

"Authorized emergency vehicle" is broader than police cars, fire trucks and ambulances. It includes any vehicle authorized under Section 12-215 of the Vehicle Code to use oscillating, rotating or flashing lights while the operator is on official duty. The Illinois State Police list examples such as police, fire, construction, highway maintenance, tow and ambulance vehicles, and say drivers must also move over for "any vehicle with its emergency or hazard lights activated."

The 2026 expansion

According to the Illinois State Police, from January 1, 2026 drivers must yield to emergency vehicles showing flashing lights whether stationary or not, and must also yield to emergency workers or pedestrians involved in an emergency scene. If your understanding of the law predates 2026, it is worth refreshing.

Penalties

The Illinois State Police summarise the penalties as:

• Fine: $250 to $10,000 for a first violation; $750 to $10,000 for a second or later violation.
• Damage to another vehicle: Class A misdemeanor.
• Injury or death of another person: Class 4 felony.
• License suspension: 90 days to 1 year if another vehicle is damaged; 180 days to 2 years if someone is injured; 2 years if someone dies.

The statute also lets the court order community service, and makes it a factor in aggravation if the driver was also violating Sections 11-501, 12-610.1 or 12-610.2 of the Vehicle Code at the time. It also creates a Scott's Law Fund, which the State Police use for driver education and enforcement.

Why it matters

Stopped emergency vehicles keep getting hit. The Illinois State Police reported 27 Move Over Law-related crashes involving ISP in 2024, with 12 troopers injured and one killed, and 21 such crashes in 2023, with seven troopers injured. Those figures cover only the State Police, not local police, firefighters, tow operators or road crews.

Move over laws in other states

Illinois is not alone. Other states have their own move over laws, and the details differ: which vehicles are covered, whether hazard lights count, and how high the fines go. For example:

• California (Veh. Code § 21809): drivers approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with emergency lights, a tow truck or highway maintenance vehicle with flashing amber lights, or any other stopped vehicle with hazard lights or warning devices such as cones or flares, must change to a non-adjacent lane if practicable or slow to a safe speed. A violation is an infraction with a fine of up to $50.

When you drive in another state, the safe habit is the same everywhere: see flashing lights on the shoulder, slow down and move over. For more on yielding rules, see How Does the Law Define Right of Way?

Practical tips

• Look ahead. Spot lights early so you can merge smoothly instead of braking hard.
• Don't swerve into traffic. The law asks for a lane change only when it is safe; otherwise slow down.
• Leave space after you pass. Workers and officers may step out of their vehicles.
• Stay focused. Distraction is the easiest way to miss lights ahead, especially at night or in bad weather.

Sources

• Illinois State Police: Move Over Law
• Illinois State Police: Scott's Law brochure (PDF)
• Illinois State Police press release, November 25, 2025 (PDF)
• 625 ILCS 5/11-907 (FindLaw copy of the Illinois Vehicle Code)
• WCIA: Illinois State Police marks 25 years of Scott's Law
• Cal. Veh. Code § 21809 (FindLaw)