Posted on 03/27/2017 12:37:25 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A bill that has already passed the Maryland House of Delegates would fine drivers up to $250 for lingering in the left lane of a highway after passing another vehicle.
House Bill 1451 was sponsored by Frederick County Republican Delegate William G. Folden and is now pending in the Senate.
Folden says the aim of the bill is to prevent traffic congestion.
When it passed in the House last week, he posted the following statement on his Facebook page:
“By the slimmest of margins and probably the most bi-partisan voting sheet I’ve seen, my bill for “Left Lane Passing Only” on highways with 3 or more lanes has just passed the House Chamber 73-66…. Now it’s off to the Senate! This bill will bring Maryland in line with 39 other states that have similar traffic strategies to encourage a more fluid traffic movement without bottlenecking what is already the second worst traffic congestion in the country!! Proud to be sponsoring an effort to get commuting parents home a little sooner to their loved ones….”
The bill’s summary says it “restricts the use of the far left lane of a roadway by a driver to only the overtaking and passing of another vehicle if (1) the roadway has a posted speed limit of at least 55 miles per hour and (2) the roadway has two or more lanes of traffic moving in the same direction.”
“After overtaking and passing the other vehicle, the driver must return to the right lane as soon as it is reasonably safe to do so,” it goes on to say.
The left lane restriction would not apply to vehicles in the far left lane preparing for a left turn, vehicles that are in the HOV lane during the HOV use period, or in traffic conditions “that require the use of all roadway lanes.”
A violator would be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of $75 for a first offense, $150 for a second offense and $250 for a third or subsequent offense.
Especially trucks that pass other trucks in the right lane by going 0.35 mph faster.
The bill’s proponent is out west in Frederick County. This county has several interstates and road infrastructure superior to that of the Baltimore and DC suburb population centers. So enforcement of the proposed law would be great out west and totally a waste of time in the populated areas. If you want to really do something, how about going after the freaking tail-gaters. You know the A-holes who sit twenty feet behind you when you are in the fast lane going 20 over with traffic close ahead of you.
This Bill is BS. For you to be passing in the left lane you have to be driving at speeds in which you get ticketed for Reckless Driving.
Nothing like left lane talk to bring out all the road ragers, LOL
I am generally always in the left lane. That is because I tend to speed a little bit. If I have someone coming up on me (I am diligent about checking my mirrors) then I get out of the way. I tend to be in the “anyone that drives slower than me is an idiot and anyone that drives faster than me is a maniac” camp so if you wan’t to drive faster than me, have at it. If I have to pass someone in the right lane I always give them the stink eye. The “passed in the right lane hall of shame” stare.
I was in a hurry to get somewhere the other night (going to meet friends for a concert) and was running a bit late. I looked down and I was going 90 in a 75 on the interstate. That scared me a little bit, mostly for the effect it would have on my insurance if I got pulled over. Yikes. That was due to people camped out in the left lane driving 76. Luckily I haven’t gotten pinched for speeding in about 9 years. That was $410.00 that I won’t see again.
Does this apply to highway patrol teams with their “rolling roadblocks” ?
It is the law in NJ but no one heeds it and the police don’t enforce it. Pity, they could make a lot of dollars!
On the bright side, the idiot can now be fined for it.
That’s because another truck (behind you) radio’d ahead and told them about an obnoxious driver that probably cut them so. So they block the traffic by passing really slow which inconveniences the asshat and consequently everyone else.
If there is someone behind you (in the left lane)who wants to go faster - GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY. Period. Failure should result in a Rodney King style beat down, a fine equal to several year's income and permanent revocation of drivers license
That’ll teach those Left Lane Malingerers! They’re probably ILLEGALS, too! ;)
Chuckles.
Agree. left-lane lingering is one of my biggest pet-peeves.
It’s really very simple: if you’re not passing someone, stay in the right-hand lane.
I lived in Maryland in the early 1950.
I always thought the state was batty. All real estate in Maryland is leased from the State. You lease your land for 99 years and then build a house on it.
I often wondered why the state owns all the land.
who is to determine what ‘lingering’ means? It’s far too subjective- Do we enstate a ‘zero tolerance’ policy when someone is in the left lane over say 40 seconds? Even if they can’t merge right due to congested traffic?
Today AWFCD filed a civil rights case against Maryland’s new left lane lingering bill said Asian Women for Careful Driving spokesperson Wi Go Slo.
It should be legal to draw and quarter road ragers, along with their pets and families.
How will they enforce it?
People want safety but they also want speed.
they strike a compromise with being safe but FEELING like they’re going fast by simply sitting in the fast lane.
I despise those people, they’re greedy.
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