Gov. Chris Christie recently signed a bill into law that affects every person driving in the Garden State.

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At the end of April, Gov. Christie signed Michael Massey’s Law. The law is named for a 39-year-old man from Freehold who was hit by a car while loading a sanitation truck in Ocean Township, Monmouth County, in 2013.

Much like the state's existing law that makes drivers slow down or move over when they approach an emergency vehicle, such as a police officer on the side of the road, Michael Massey's Law extends those same protections to sanitation vehicles.

In other words, when you're driving and you approach a trash truck, you must now slow down, be ready to stop, and move one lane over if possible. Violators could see a $500 fine.

In a statement, State Senator Jennifer Beck, who sponsored the legislation, said, "This tragic event was a wake-up call that we need to do more to slow down traffic in order to reduce injuries and fatalities on the job. While this legislation of course cannot alter the great loss that the Massey family has experienced, we are hopeful that such a common sense change to our law will prevent other public works employees from being injured."

 

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