Southampton police, along with New York state troopers, were on the streets Wednesday enforcing the Move Over Law and educating drivers about its recent expansion.

Since 2011, the law has required drivers to slow down and move to a different lane if they are approaching a vehicle stopped by a law enforcement officer. Since January, the law is also applied to Department of Transportation and tow-truck drivers. 

Lt. Susan Ralph, of the Southampton Police Department, says drivers must drastically slow down if the option to move to another lane is not available. She says the nationwide statistics regarding 
accidents involving officers are staggering. 

"We've lost 150 officers since 1999, 15 just last year, and that's not counting officers that have been struck and seriously injured," says Ralph.

She says drivers risk three points on their license and a $150 summons if they fail to move over.