New Florida bill could make it illegal for drivers to stay in left lane unless passing

[Zorro]

A new bill in Florida could make it illegal for drivers to stay in the left lane unless they're passing another car.

There is already an existing law that states slower traffic should move right but this would be different.

The bill aims to ticket drivers who continuously drive in the left lane of traffic if they're not intending to pass another car.

It was filed in the Florida Senate last week by Representative Jenna Persons-Mulicka of Naples.

The law would apply to certain roads, streets and highways across the state with two or more lanes and a posted speed limit of 65 miles per hour.

https://www.wesh.com/article/florida-bill-left-lane/42718557

Looks like someone's been behind a left lane driver who won't accelerate to move past right lane traffic; there are plenty of those drivers in Florida.

[ramen]

1. I hate to say it, but the Florida legislature has come up with a good idea. nt

[LakeArenal]

10. I think it's just another way to racially profile.

This “law” is never enforced in WI.

[getagrip_already]

2. lots of states have that law.....

But yes, it can be infuriating to be behind someone doing the bare speed limit in the left lane because they can.

[Yonnie3]

3. I've often wondered how this type of law would apply to rush hour traffic n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Haha. Lots of states have that law yet nobody to enforce it.

[sl8]

5. Senate & House bills:

S 464 : https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/464/

H 421 : https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/421

[Ocelot II]

6. We've had that law here (MN) for years. It's never enforced.

[LakeArenal]

9. Exactly.

Sounds like another way to racially profile.

[Ocelot II]

11. Too hard to do racial profiling on a freeway.

I think it's a reasonable but ineffective effort to keep traffic moving, but it doesn't really work because people just drive around the slowpoke and don't bother to call it in. There might be a few extreme cases where someone is poking along at 40 mph for miles (maybe they're stoned or very old) and they do get get ticketed (there's a $50 fine) but otherwise nothing happens.

[Chainfire]

7. That will be rough on Texans driving I-10 through North Florida...

We call them "fast lane homesteaders." It is incredible how many of them drive their pickups from Dallas to Jacksonville, a couple of miles below the speed limit, in the left lane. The seem to be oblivious to the 40 miles of traffic that they back up, and don't notice that everyone passes them on the right waving with erect middle fingers.

[lpbk2713]

8. Typical.

With that wording a driver would have to make a left turn from the outside lane.

[sl8]

18. There's an exception for preparing to exit:

From the House bill:

[...]

(4) On a road, street, or highway having two or more lanes
18 allowing movement in the same direction with a posted speed
19 limit of at least 65 miles per hour, a driver may not
20 continuously operate a motor vehicle in the furthermost left-
21 hand lane, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle,
22 when preparing to exit the road, street, or highway, or when
23 otherwise directed by an official traffic control device. This
24 subsection does not apply to authorized emergency vehicles and
25 vehicles engaged in highway maintenance or construction

[...]

[Baitball Blogger]

12. So stupid to find this level of regulation in a State that is currently in a Republican phase.

[jimfields33]

16. Many states have this law. We'll see if it works.

Anything to stop traffic is a plus. Saves the environment as well. This is one idea that’s good from the state legislature.

[Baitball Blogger]

17. Here is where I think there's a problem.

A) It encourages a lot of back and forth lane changes. That creates a lot to keep track of. And B) Sometimes an entire line of cars are moving along the left, slowly, but they are steadily passing the right hand side. And C) Sometimes there is just too much traffic for the few lanes available for everyone to stay on the right.

[jimfields33]

21. Those are some good points for sure.

[eppur_se_muova]

13. With all the entrance/exit ramps on the right, moving to the left lane lets traffic get by ...

... and enter the highway more easily.

I once had someone throw a ball of wet laundry at my windshield because I didn't let him cut in front of me from the acceleration lane. (Left lane was busy enough without me, so it was obvious he was going to have to slow down to enter, but hey, there's no accounting for idiots.)

You can call the left lane the passing lane, or you can call the right lane the entrance/exit lane, but unless you have three or more lanes you're left without a 'normal' lane.

[IHateRonDesantis1986]

14. They should

Go ahead and make driving I-75 illegal because that would solves a lot of our traffic problems lol.

[FoxNewsSucks]

15. people who don't move over for speeding cops

will get ticketed. It will do nothing for the rest of us who get stuck behind a self-absorbed left-lane bandit

[Rebl2]

19. In Missouri

We have had that law for years.

[FloridaBlues]

20. There's plenty of slow left lane drivers here car and trucks!

As everywhere in the country. Good luck enforcing this law