• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Driving slow in left lane could get you a ticket in Florida

satyajitmenon

satyajitmenon

Golden Member
Linky

Florida motorists stuck behind another vehicle in the left-hand lane may soon be getting help from law enforcement and the Legislature.

A bill that passed the Florida Senate last week would allow drivers to be ticketed if they are driving too slowly in the left lane, and another car is trying to pass them. The ticket would be $143, and put points on the offender's driver's license.

And it would cost drivers even if they are driving the speed limit.
It passed the Senate 37-1, with Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, voting no. There is a similar bill pending in the House.

Current Florida driving law requires slower drivers in the left lane of multi-lane roadways to move to the right, "except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted" — which is the case on most multilane roadways.

The bills in the Legislature would require slower drivers to move over "if the driver knows, or reasonably should know, that he or she is being overtaken in that lane from the rear by a motor vehicle traveling at a higher rate of speed."
Some motorists were all for the idea on Friday, but law enforcement and traffic safety officials express reservations.

Yulee resident Carl Lindberg wants the bill to become law. "There are so many people that totally disregard the cars behind them and continue to drive in the left lane," Lindberg said. "Often at the same speed as the car next to them." That causes drivers to become aggressive, increasing the chance for accidents, he said.

Westside resident Tammy George sees slow drivers in the left lane every day and supports ticketing them. "It does slow the flow of traffic," George said, "especially when these people are also talking on their cellphones."

Jacksonville resident Marlene Gray had a mixed opinion. "If someone is going less than the posted speed limit in a passing lane, they should be ticketed," Gray said. "But the left lane is not a freeway for speeders."

The bill makes exceptions for such instances as preparing to make a left turn, driving the speed limit while not impeding the flow of traffic and traffic conditions that would make moving to the right dangerous.

But the possibility still exists that speeders will be rewarded while safe drivers are punished, AAA Auto Club South spokeswoman Karen Morgan said. "We don't want a law that ends up penalizing someone for driving at the speed limit," she said. Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler also expressed reservations.
"While I would support the concept, because many drivers become frustrated with slower-moving vehicles in the left lane and may resort to road rage to show their displeasure," Beseler said, "I don't know exactly how it would be enforced."

A similar bill passed the Legislature in 2005 but was vetoed by Gov. Jeb Bush, who argued that it punished people who followed the speed limit.

But Rep. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, who is sponsoring the bill in the Florida House, said the focus on writing traffic tickets misses the point. "The goal is to improve traffic flow on the roads," Clemens said, "by letting motorists know they need to get out of the left-hand lane when a car is trying to pass them.
"We're not looking to write more tickets," he said. "The point is to educate people."

Despite passing the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support, the bill has gone nowhere in the House. But Clemens expressed confidence that the House would eventually end up voting on the Senate bill. He said he hasn't addressed the bill with Gov. Rick Scott and doesn't know if the governor would support it. Times-Union calls to Scott's office weren't returned Friday.
Still, Clemens was optimistic. "I think we have a good chance of getting it passed this year," he said.
Click to expand...
 
Finally someone is going to enforce this. It's already an offense in most states, it's just never enforced. We have many people here that like to block the passing lane and try to regulate how others drive on the road.
 
If they passed this law in VA, the local government would never be low of funds ever again due to the sheer douchebaggery of drivers in this state (driving below speed limit in left lane and forming up with cars in adjacent lanes, backing up rush hour traffic for miles).
 
This is awesome news for folks in FL. Wish to hell they'd enforce it here in CA. Get those damn 50 mph Priuses out of the f ng way. Damn those people drive slow. I enjoy dropping down to 2nd gear on the RR just before I'm going to pass one & nail it as I'm flying by (I don't normally drive like an a$$, but these drivers in particular really get on my nerves) & give 'em an earful of revs. I typically only do this to Prius drivers.

For those of you that are going to make snide remarks, do so knowing these Prius drivers have several hundred feet ahead of them with a clear view, doing 50 in a 65, just because they have a yellow sticker on their car that allows them to be in the carpool lane. Happens all day, every day.
 
exdeath said:
I approve of laws that prohibit individuals from tampering with the free will of other individuals.
Click to expand...
I can see where you're going with this, and yeah, generally I agree. But sometimes I like to coast to red lights, and people tailgate even though they have nowhere to go. And yes, I know the difference between them being able to get somewhere faster, and not; left-turn-lane not having a green light, for example.
 
zerocool84 said:
Finally someone is going to enforce this. It's already an offense in most states, it's just never enforced.
Click to expand...

Not really a separate offense, but basically anyone can be ticketed for impeding traffic. Back when I lived in SoCal, a police officer told me that, though he admitted it usually wasn't enforced.

djnsmith7 said:
Get those damn 50 mph Priuses out of the f ng way. Damn those people drive slow.
Click to expand...

Not all Priuses go that slow. I've been in one as a rental for a road trip and know that under certain conditions the MPG of a Prius can dip below 20MPG. :awe:

Oh yeah, I've also seen plenty of other Priuses on the road that were going pretty fast. I've been passed by them while driving my Mazdaspeed 6. I just sigh, turn the music up a hair louder and continue at whatever speed I was going.
 
Drive on a major fwy here in the Southbay for 2 business days & you'll see what I mean. They're everywhere & some of the most annoying drivers. I wouldn't even comment on it if it only happened once or twice a month. This crap happens every day.

On the bike, I only have a 30 minute commute & I can easily come across 2 or 3 of these types of drivers; all doing 50 in the carpool.

In the Tahoe, I've only been passed by a Prius once.
 
Marlin1975 said:
And with that FL just balanced their budget. 😉
Click to expand...

well probably both on this revenue and not having to constantly upgrade the roads.

We have 5 lanes each way in some parts including HOV lanes. I have a 30 mile commute all I-95. From when I get on until I get there any time during rush hour you have gridlock mostly because no one is staying to the right. You will have a row of cars going 50-55mph in a 65mph with miles of clear road ahead of them.

Worse is everyone trying to exit the on-ramp at 45-50mph (in a 65mph) and immediately head straight across all 4 lanes of traffic to the HOV lane when they are a single commuter.

Everyday I am behind someone with no one in front of them in the far left lane going slow. The road is totally clear ahead of them.

The main problem is people become unglued and get dangerous. The guy in front starts to play "break check" or pace the car to his right when an opening does come up...it's retarded.

With the gridlock you now have teenagers driving whose parents installed those iphone apps that won't let them text when in motion so they stop, text and then go a bit.

The problem is also the way our LEO's enforce tickets though. They use on ramps to radar passing traffic and then start pulling people over where everyone is trying to get on the highway. Any LEO on the side of the road with lights on = totally slow down and even people that will stop and check things out for a couple seconds.

Hopefully it fixes things.
 
its a great law, and I wish it was further enforced. Forcing someone to pass on the right is very dangerous.

BUT

how do you enforce it? I mean, how often does a cop ever see this? THere is no way to recognize it while sitting at the side of the road. The only way is to be moving with traffic and spot it... rare.
 
FuzzyDunlop said:
its a great law, and I wish it was further enforced. Forcing someone to pass on the right is very dangerous.

BUT

how do you enforce it? I mean, how often does a cop ever see this? THere is no way to recognize it while sitting at the side of the road. The only way is to be moving with traffic and spot it... rare.
Click to expand...

They can be on the side of the road like a speed trap...or from the air like they do. Not hard to tell at all from the air.
 
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I thought this day would NEVER come. The stupids have been told many times, even with signs that tell them to move the fack over. I can't stand the smugness on the face of those idiots when they look at you when you pass them on the right. They have this look of moral indignation that only an ignorance fool can muster up on their idiotic faces while continuing on, oblivious... Meanwhile the 20+ cars caravan trailing them...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top