SPOKANE VALLEY--Police in Spokane Valley are cracking down on drivers who do not move over for emergency vehicles on the side of the road. 

Officers say drivers who don’t merge into another lane, or at least slow down, put emergency crews, police and even other drivers at risk.

For the second time in three weeks, Spokane Valley police and sheriff's motorcycle officers are doing a one day safety emphasis patrols in two locations in the valley.

The patrols will be conducted Wednesday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Drivers who fail to yield for emergency vehicles stopped along Appleway Avenue and Trent Road face a $124 ticket.  Officers said they were so surprised at how few people moved out of the way for emergency vehicles during the last emphasis patrol that they needed to do another.

Washington State law requires drivers to move to over one lane when an emergency vehicle is stopped on the side of the road with its lights flashing.

The law applies to roads with multiple lanes, and when merging can be done safely.  If a driver can’t pull over, officers say it’s acceptable to slow down to a safe and reasonable speed.