Illinois Scott's Law Violations: Section 11-907

Illinois Attorney Defending Drivers Against Illinois Scott's Law Violations

The Illinois Vehicle Code requires drivers to yield the right of way to emergency vehicles. Emergency vehicles include police cars. The law applies to both emergency vehicles that are approaching a driver, and stationary emergency vehicles the driver is approaching.

Since its enactment in 2002, this law has been known as “Scott’s Law.” The Illinois Tollway Authority recently rebranded the law the “Move Over Law,” although most police, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and lay people still refer to the law as "Scott's Law." The source of Scott's Law is found in Section 11-907 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Attorney Matt Hoffman defends drivers charged with violations of Scott's Law in the traffic courts of Lake County, Cook County and McHenry County, Illinois.

Yielding to Approaching Emergency Vehicles

One thing Scott’s Law requires is that drivers yield the right of way to approaching emergency or police vehicles. Drivers are required to yield by immediately driving to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right-hand edge or curb of the highway clear of any intersection.

If it is necessary to permit the emergency or police vehicle to pass safely, the driver is required to stop and remain stopped until the emergency or police vehicle has passed, unless directed otherwise by a police officer.

Yielding to Stationary Emergency Vehicles Displaying Warning Lights

Another thing Scott’s Law requires is that drivers yield the right of way to stationary emergency or police vehicles that are displaying red, white, blue, amber or yellow warning lights.

While proceeding with due caution, drivers approaching such vehicles are required to yield the right of way by making a lane change “into a lane not adjacent to that of the authorized emergency vehicle, if possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, if on a highway having at least 4 lanes with not less than 2 lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle.”

Alternatively, if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe, drivers must reduce and maintain a safe rate of speed and proceed with due caution. Although Scott's Law has been the law in Illinois for almost a decade, Illinois police authorities continue to issue large numbers of Scott's Law violations.

Two common situations in which police issue Scott's Law tickets include passing too closely to a stationary police car while the officer is tending to another motorist or issuing someone else a ticket, or failing to get out of the way of a police vehicle approaching from behind.

Penalties and Fines for Failing to Yield to Emergency Vehicles and Scott's Law Violations

Scott’s Law is punishable as a “business offense.” As such, it carries greater possible penalties than a standard moving violation. According to the statute, Scott’s Law carries a fine of between $100 and $10,000.

Drivers convicted of failing to yield to a stationary emergency vehicle, where the violation resulted in damage to another’s property, will have their driving privileges suspended from between 90 days and one year. If the violation resulted in injury to another person, the suspension will be from six months to two years. If the violation resulted in another’s death, the suspension will be for two years.

Lake, Cook & McHenry County Illinois Scott's Law Violation and Traffic Ticket Lawyer

Attorney Matt Hoffman has handled Illinois' Scott's Law traffic violations since the law was enacted. He understands and appreciates the potential punishment that can be imposed if you are found guilty and convicted of this ticket. As a former Lake County traffic court prosecutor, Matt is able to identify and exploit legal and factual issues that can greatly benefit the outcome of your case.

(625 ILCS 5/11-907)

Sec. 11-907. Operation of vehicles and streetcars on approach of authorized emergency vehicles.

(a) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle making use of audible and visual signals meeting the requirements of this Code or a police vehicle properly and lawfully making use of an audible or visual signal,

(1) the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to, and as close as possible to, the right hand edge or curb of the highway clear of any intersection and shall, if necessary to permit the safe passage of the emergency vehicle, stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by a police officer and

(2) the operator of every streetcar shall immediately stop such car clear of any intersection and keep it in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.

(b) This Section shall not operate to relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons using the highway.

(c) Upon approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle, when the authorized emergency vehicle is giving a signal by displaying alternately flashing red, red and white, blue, or red and blue lights or amber or yellow warning lights, a person who drives an approaching vehicle shall:

(1) proceeding with due caution, yield the right of way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that of the authorized emergency vehicle, if possible with due regard to safety and traffic conditions, if on a highway having at least 4 lanes with not less than 2 lanes proceeding in the same direction as the approaching vehicle; or

(2) proceeding with due caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle, maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, if changing lanes would be impossible or unsafe.

As used in this subsection (c), "authorized emergency vehicle" includes any vehicle authorized by law to be equipped with oscillating, rotating, or flashing lights under Section 12-215 of this Code, while the owner or operator of the vehicle is engaged in his or her official duties.

(d) A person who violates subsection (c) of this Section commits a business offense punishable by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $10,000. It is a factor in aggravation if the person committed the offense while in violation of Section 11-501 of this Code. Imposition of the penalties authorized by this subsection (d) for a violation of subsection (c) of this Section that results in the death of another person does not preclude imposition of appropriate additional civil or criminal penalties.

(e) If a violation of subsection (c) of this Section results in damage to the property of another person, in addition to any other penalty imposed, the person's driving privileges shall be suspended for a fixed period of not less than 90 days and not more than one year.

(f) If a violation of subsection (c) of this Section results in injury to another person, in addition to any other penalty imposed, the person's driving privileges shall be suspended for a fixed period of not less than 180 days and not more than 2 years.

(g) If a violation of subsection (c) of this Section results in the death of another person, in addition to any other penalty imposed, the person's driving privileges shall be suspended for 2 years.

(h) The Secretary of State shall, upon receiving a record of a judgment entered against a person under subsection (c) of this Section:

(1) suspend the person's driving privileges for the mandatory period; or

(2) extend the period of an existing suspension by the appropriate mandatory period.

(Source: P.A. 95-884, eff. 1-1-09.)

*NOTE: Although every effort is made to include the law in its current state, no representation is made that the law as stated on this website is current. Legislative changes may occur before those changes are reflected on this website. Additionally, laws and legal precedent other than those found on this website may apply to your particular case. For this reason, it is strongly recommended that before acting upon any content you view on this or any other website, you first consult competent legal counsel.

Disclaimer

Matt appears routinely in the Lake County, Illinois traffic courts located in Park City, Round Lake Beach, Mundelein and Waukegan, in the Cook County, Illinois traffic courts located in Rolling Meadows and Skokie, and in the McHenry County, Illinois traffic courts located in Woodstock and McHenry. Frequently, he defends clients charged with failing to yield to emergency vehicles issued by the Illinois State Police on Illinois interstates and by other local police agencies.

Just because you have been charged with an offense does not mean that you are automatically guilty. A traffic ticket is merely an allegation. Because of this, Matt knows that until you either plead guilty or are found guilty, you are presumed innocent of the charge. Thus, in representing you in traffic court, Matt will explore creative solutions for resolving your case, always with an emphasis on protecting your driving record. These solutions can include seeking the dismissal of the charge, plea bargaining and negotiating for controlled results or lesser or amended charges, and even trial. Matt has over 12 years' experience as a trial lawyer.

Attorney Defending Scott's Law Traffic Tickets Issued by Police Departments in Lake, Cook & McHenry County

The Law Office of Matthew T. Hoffman P.C. represents clients charged with Scott's Law violations and other moving violations in the Lake, Cook and McHenry County, Illinois traffic courts.

Park City Traffic Court


301 South Greenleaf Ave.


Park City, Illinois

Round Lake Beach


Traffic Court


1792 Nicole Lane


Round Lake Beach, IL

Mundelein Traffic Court


105 E. State Route 83


Mundelein, Illinois

Waukegan Traffic Court


18 North County Street


Waukegan, Illinois

Rolling Meadows


Traffic Court


2121 Euclid Avenue


Rolling Meadows, Illinois

Skokie Traffic Court


5600 Old Orchard Road


Skokie, Illinois

Woodstock Traffic Court


2200 North Seminary Ave.


Woodstock, Illinois

McHenry Traffic Court


333 South Green Street


McHenry, Illinois

There are many different police departments that forward Scott's Law tickets to the eight local traffic courthouses in Northeastern Illinois for disposition. These courthouses include those located at Park City, Round Lake Beach, Mundelein, Waukegan, Rolling Meadows, Skokie, Woodstock and McHenry. If you were ticketed for a Scott's Law violation within the jurisdiction of any of these eight court venues, it is likely that you were cited by one of the following police departments. The Law Office of Matthew T. Hoffman P.C. defends clients charged with traffic violations issued by these and other area police agencies: