A new Iowa law recently went into effect that requires motorists to be more alert and react to vehicles on the side of the road.

Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams explains the changes to the expanded “Move Over Iowa” law.

“Any vehicle that has their hazards flashing on the side of the road you have to slow down to where you can stop if a door opens or something, a person steps out, or you have to change lanes.”

Williams says sometimes he and his deputies find it difficult when they are on the side of the road dealing with a traffic stop or another situation, with passing vehicles.

“At times we actually switch to the passenger side to talk to the driver, just due to the risk. People still don’t slow down or move over. And normally when we are on a traffic stop, we don’t have the time to stop what we’re doing there to go chase that person down that failed to slow down or move over.”

Williams points out that if anyone fails to abide by the new expanded law, drivers can be pulled over and issued a citation and a fine.