WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC-Cover Story: Move Over Law

Cover Story: Move Over Law

They're images that send shivers down your spine.

Crashes.. where officers got hit.. struck by vehicles.

Officers doing their job.. a job that sometimes can mean not going home.

Lara Feinberg can't get behind the wheel without remembering two of North Carolina's finest..

Troopers Calvin Taylor and Anthony Cogdill.. family friends.. who lost their lives.. two years apart.. but along the same stretch of Interstate 40 in Haywood county.

Feinberg says, "We had no realization that this was a national trend."

A frightening trend that's been known as "struck-by death".

The leading cause of death for law enforcement and emergency and public service personnel.

"We finally realized there was something in place that could truly save their lives.. but nobody knew about it," says Feinberg.

Seeing pictures like these.. watch how the trooper gets clipped by a passing car.

And understanding the need to protect officers who work alongside the road.. six years ago North Carolina became one of the first states in the country to enact a move over law..

Requiring you to move over or reduce speed for stopped emergency vehicles.

But when the trucker who caused the crash that killed Trooper Anthony Cogdill got only a slap on the wrist, according to Lara Feinberg.. she had to do something and founded the group "Families for Roadside Safety."

An experience she shared at a news conference today at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Lara Feinberg said, "I can't bear the thought of having to tell my children that someone else that they care about is gone. And I can't bear the thought that the next time it could be their daddy."

Lara's husband also a North Carolina trooper..

Injured paramedic Tim Hayes who lost his legs in a struck-by crash also spoke at today's event.

The move over law.. now in all but eight states.

Lara Feinberg is working on them next.  "We want you to move over, give them a lane to do their work and slow down.. and give them a chance to live."

Through Lara's efforts-- North Carolina's move over law now carries a 250-dollar fine.. up from 25-dollars.. and if property is damaged or an officer is seriously injured.. drivers could be charged with a felony.