cracking down on left-lane campers,

[Elseanno]

'Bout freakin' time! $124 seems low, maybe $500?

Quote:
In these days of longer commutes and simmering tempers, nothing seems to set off already-testy motorists like the left-lane camper -- the guy or gal who drives in the passing lane and bars faster drivers from easily passing. Web sites have cropped up to educate other drivers, or to vent. There's a (somewhat painful) YouTube song called "Keep Right."

Even bigwigs get frustrated. Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell, weary of having his limo slowed down by such left-lane pokies, ordered an aide to have the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission install signs a few years ago reading "Keep Right, Pass Left. It's the Law."

And now some states are cracking down on left-lane campers, both to keep traffic moving and to tamp down the road rage that goes from zero-to-60 faster than ever before.

'One of my biggest pet peeves'
One of those exasperated drivers in your rearview mirror might be Eli Dozier.

"That's one of my biggest pet peeves in the world, is when people stay in the left lane. They're not passing, they've got people behind them, trying to go around, and they just cruise," says Dozier, 31 and a stay-at-home dad.

"It's probably the most uncourteous thing you can do," he says, adding that it's "obviously" unsafe.

"I'm a fast driver," Dozier allows. "But if I'm not passing, I don't use that left lane at all."

So what's a frustrated motorist to do?



That's not just a pretext. Last year, a driver was arrested on Interstate 79 outside Pittsburgh after allegedly brandishing a semiautomatic pistol at a driver who was on his tail.

You could get a ticket

Some states didn't allow left-lane lingering but didn't enforce the law. Now they are.

At the start of the summer, the Washington State Patrol began pulling people over for violating the state's left-lane law, which prohibits "impeding the flow of other traffic."

Talk back: What are your biggest pet peeves on the road?

"This a real big hot-button topic for the public at large right now," says Trooper Cliff Pratt. "We've had a lot of complaints" from drivers who've had to deal with left-lane campers.

So far authorities have been gentle with the $124 ticket; the drivers stopped were given verbal warnings.

Last year, news outlets reported that Oklahoma was bolstering enforcement of its left-lane law as well.


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"We deal with it weekly," Lt. George Brown, supervisor of public affairs for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, said of left-lane drivers going too slowly. He's issued more warnings than tickets.

Insurers haven't gotten aggressive yet, either, but this kind of ticket has the potential to raise rates.

"Any moving violation that applies points to a driver's record could affect that driver's car insurance rates," says Susan Gallik Rouser, a spokeswoman for Progressive. "And because left-lane driving would be considered as such an infraction, we would take that into account when renewing a driver's policy."

What's the law in your state?
The laws vary widely, according to John Carr, who works for a software company in the Boston area and who compiled a list of the rules in each state after taking an interest in the issue:

A few states -- for instance, Kentucky, Maine Massachusetts and New Jersey -- permit use of the left lane only for passing or turning left.

Georgia, Colorado and Louisiana follow the Uniform Vehicle Code, requiring drivers to keep right if they're going slower than the speed of traffic.

Wyoming prohibits blocking the far left lane of a highway "for a prolonged period," though it adds that the traffic should be "at a lawful rate of speed."

In Arkansas and South Dakota, vehicles don't have to stay right.

In Alaska, Maryland, North Carolina and Ohio, vehicles can drive in the left lane so long as they're moving at the speed limit.

Florida is trying to join in: Lawmakers reintroduced a Road Rage Reduction Act this year, requiring motorists to stay out of the left lane on interstate highways except when passing. It passed the Legislature in 2005 but was vetoed by then-Gov. Jeb Bush, who questioned whether it was based on sound research.

It's no wonder drivers can be confused, and often frustrated
Dozier heard in a chat room about some windshield decals that said "Slower Traffic," with an arrow pointing to the right-hand lane, printed backward in large letters for reading in a rearview mirror. "And so I immediately ordered one. I jumped on it."

He loves the thing. "Most people, it's just inattentiveness" that keeps them in the passing lane, Dozier says. "Most people, when you pass them, they'll give you a wave. They're thankful" for the reminder


Reest of article here: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/left-lane-slowpokes-drive-you-crazy.aspx?page=2

Elseanno

[2WheelTiger]

Washington has always been pretty decent about left lingerers.  Unfortunately, the Seattle area has LOTS of left lane exits so it can get a little murky around here.  But on the open road, get your stupid, unthinking ass over to the right!  If you wanna be brain dead, ride the bus.

[TuffguyF4i]

Almost 100% of people in the left lane are speeding.  So giving a ticket for holding up traffic really can't be given if you're going the speed limit or a touch over.

[chuckfina]

I think people that impede traffic in the passing lane should be made to walk really slow for a couple of hours through a Wal-Mart at Christmas time.  I can't stand the inconsiderate fucks!

[chuckfina]

Almost 100% of people in the left lane are speeding.  So giving a ticket for holding up traffic really can't be given if you're going the speed limit or a touch over.

If the lane is designated a passing lane and you are not passing, then you get a ticket.  That sounds good to me.

[TuffguyF4i]

If the lane is designated a passing lane and you are not passing, then you get a ticket.  That sounds good to me.

I completely agree...
But how do you give a "holding up traffic" ticket for a guy thats going 65 in a 55?  

[chuckfina]

I completely agree...
But how do you give a "holding up traffic" ticket for a guy thats going 65 in a 55?  

Give the fucker a speeding ticket, too!

[waz]

It's a shame there's got to be a law to force people to be considerate towards other motorists.  I guess their mommas didn't raise them right.

We've got our share of rude jerks here in western NC - I hope the General Assembly is working on something similar here.

I also like Oregon's (?) law that requires people to pull over on 2 lane roads when they have more than 3 cars stacked up behind them.

[Cricket1]

I completely agree...
But how do you give a "holding up traffic" ticket for a guy thats going 65 in a 55?  

Agreed, but here is the issue, what if someone has a true emergency?? The a#$%hat who is blocking the left lane, and trying to enforce the speed limit, has NO BUSINESS doing that. It is up to the police to enforce the law, not some do gooder who think they know best. But in reality, the left lane blocker could be endangering some one's life by not getting out of the way!!

[sprale]

I also like Oregon's (?) law that requires people to pull over on 2 lane roads when they have more than 3 cars stacked up behind them.

In rural and southern Texas, most drivers do this when it's safe (like straights with shoulders). It really cuts down on aggressive drivers.

[Global Rider]

Almost 100% of people in the left lane are speeding.  So giving a ticket for holding up traffic really can't be given if you're going the speed limit or a touch over.

You're missing the point...the left lane is a passing lane. What that means is, you pass and then pull back over no matter what speed you're doing.

Try your method on the autobahn and you'll be paying one hell of a fine, not to mention get a popularity award.

[2RR2NV]

figures...no wonder the people out here are morons...  no law against it. makes me miss my ole Powerwagon. anyone that saw that grill coming up on them...MOVED over NOW. Loved it. ugly as sin, but people didn't like being in front of it. fine by me.

[STArnie13]

I don't mind someone staying in the left lane if I can go around.  They aren't being nice but at least you can still get by.  The ones I really don't like are the ones that pull up alongside another car and just pace it for a couple of miles making sure that two lanes are backed up.  I have seen that more than once.  Some people just have to mess with others-nothing better to do I guess.

[2RR2NV]

I don't mind someone staying in the left lane if I can go around.  They aren't being nice but at least you can still get by.  The ones I really don't like are the ones that pull up alongside another car and just pace it for a couple of miles making sure that two lanes are backed up.  I have seen that more than once.  Some people just have to mess with others-nothing better to do I guess.

true true... if they are in the left lane cruising and the right is open, i'm gone. no biggie. but yeah we get it alot with people pacing...especially during the Sturgis thingamajig. TONS of pacing going during that. i usually just stay home or try to take back roads to get to the good roads. but even then....the good roads have the sightseers..

[Paulie]

'Bout freakin' time! ...

+1! Lotsa these numbskull BDCs are yappin away on their cel. I needs to find "Hang Up and Drive" stickers fer the cage & scoot. As if that'll help.

[Open Sore]

I think its sad day when they have to fine people for not doing something (moving to the right lane) that should be common courtesy or common sense.

[Walker]

Agreed, but here is the issue, what if someone has a true emergency?? The a#$%hat who is blocking the left lane, and trying to enforce the speed limit, has NO BUSINESS doing that. It is up to the police to enforce the law, not some do gooder who think they know best. But in reality, the left lane blocker could be endangering some one's life by not getting out of the way!!

So there I was, my wife is in labor, her water broke, and I'm on I-5 trying to get to St. Joseph's in Tacoma.  I'm flashing my highbeams, leaning on the horn simultaneously while trying to go as fast as my Isuzu will allow.  95% of the drivers got out of the fast lane right away.  4% after they took a long look in their rear view... some I didn't wait for and went around if I had the opening.... still flashing away the whole time..... then there was this total biotch in a Jaguar who REFUSED to move over, then when I tried to go around her on the right, she jumped over and blocked me!  So I did what every SUV driver has always dreamed about doing, I gave her a tap with my brush guard on her trunk.  Sure hope it left nice dents... she got over after that.

My daughter was born exactly 12 minutes after we entered the hospital parking lot, 4 minutes after we got her in the room...... probably about 25 minutes after the water broke.

[stefrrr]

Holy shit!  

[Snowbird]

So there I was, my wife is in labor, her water broke, and I'm on I-5 trying to get to St. Joseph's in Tacoma.  I'm flashing my highbeams, leaning on the horn simultaneously while trying to go as fast as my Isuzu will allow.  95% of the drivers got out of the fast lane right away.  4% after they took a long look in their rear view... some I didn't wait for and went around if I had the opening.... still flashing away the whole time..... then there was this total biotch in a Jaguar who REFUSED to move over, then when I tried to go around her on the right, she jumped over and blocked me!  So I did what every SUV driver has always dreamed about doing, I gave her a tap with my brush guard on her trunk.  Sure hope it left nice dents... she got over after that.

My daughter was born exactly 12 minutes after we entered the hospital parking lot, 4 minutes after we got her in the room...... probably about 25 minutes after the water broke.

And so, you risked killing four people because your wife was having a baby? Real sensible, dude.

[Stray Cat]

Washington has always been pretty decent about left lingerers. Unfortunately, the Seattle area has LOTS of left lane exits so it can get a little murky around here.  But on the open road, get your stupid, unthinking ass over to the right!  If you wanna be brain dead, ride the bus.

Unfortunately other then putting up some signs, there doesn't seem to be any enforcement here in Washington.
I'd bet that there has never been a citation issued in this state for not moving over, except for an emergency vehicle. I wonder if there is a way to check the citations issued at the states web site to see?