Drunk driver nearly hits Alachua deputy, officials say

Close call during traffic stop results in DUI arrest

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – An Alachua County deputy had a close call early Tuesday morning when he was almost hit during a traffic stop.

The incident was caught on dashcam video and showed a pickup truck zooming past the deputy as he was giving a verbal warning to a driver pulled over for a broken tag light. 

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One of the truck's wheels can be seen crossing the white line next to the deputy. He said in his report he "felt the rush of wind behind me" as the truck drove by, also knocking off the side view mirror of the stopped truck.

With help from the Florida Highway Patrol, deputies were able to catch the driver, who failed to move over, and noticed some indicators of impairment, including an open case of beer inside the truck.

The driver was arrested for DUI, the Sheriff's Office said.

The video was posted to Alachua County Sheriff's Office's social media pages as a reminder to #MoveOverFL. 

Florida law, State Statute 316.126, requires drivers to move over a lane when they can safely do so for stopped law enforcement, emergency, sanitation, utility service vehicles and tow trucks or wreckers.

If drivers can't move over, or are traveling on a two-lane road, they are to slow down to a speed 20 mph less than the posted speed limit.

The Sheriff's Office said violating the Move Over law will result in a fine, fees and points on a driving record. 

Wow. That was close. #MoveOverFL

Wow. That was close. It was early Tuesday morning, and clearly traffic stops are never “routine.” What started out a broken tag light nearly became broken bones, and ended with a drunk driving arrest. You can see an entire wheel of a full size pickup truck cross the white line next to your Deputy Sheriff, and his report states he “…felt the rush of wind behind me...” – that first driver received a verbal warning. The sound you hear on the video is the mirror being knocked off the stopped truck. After catching the driver that failed to #MoveOverFL, deputies noted some indicators of impairment, to include an open case of beer in the truck. With a hand from our partners at the Florida Highway Patrol (Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles), the second driver was arrested for DUI. Florida law, State Statute 316.126, requires you to Move Over a lane — when you can safely do so — for stopped law enforcement, emergency, sanitation, utility service vehicles and tow trucks or wreckers. - If you can’t move over — or when on a two-lane road — slow to a speed that is 20 mph less than the posted speed limit. - Slow down to 5 mph when the posted speed limit is 20 mph or less. When you fail to Move Over, you put yourself and others at risk; you could crash into a vehicle or worker. Violating the Move Over law will result in a fine, fees, and points on your driving record – or worse. For everyone’s safety, please #MoveOverFL.

Posted by Alachua County Sheriff on Wednesday, September 12, 2018