Posted on 04/04/2005 11:07:55 AM PDT by KidGlock
Colo. Cracks Down on Left-Lane Dawdling
Mon Apr 4, 9:15 AM ET AP
DENVER - Colorado is serious about its no-dawdling law in left lanes. Drivers who insist on staying in the passing lane are risking tickets as the State Patrol has begun enforcing a law requiring motorists to use the left lane for passing only.
Since the patrol started enforcing the "Left Lane Law" three months ago, troopers have written about 460 tickets or about an average of five a day to drivers who dawdle in the left lane.
The law applies in zones with speed limits of 65 mph or higher. It took effect July 1, but troopers gave drivers until January to get used to the new law; warnings were issued instead of tickets.
Master Trooper Ron Watkins said that since the ticketing campaign began three months ago about 90 percent of the drivers he has pulled over for dawdling or cruising in the left lane said they didn't know that it was illegal to do so.
Violators of the left lane rule may be fined up to $41 and have three points tacked onto their driver's licenses. The law is not enforced when the highway is too congested to allow drivers to pass.
Nice attitude. If someone rides my a$$ in their Big Dog SUV, I make a point NOT to get out of the way.
Otherwise, I do the right thing in the right lane.
Here in CA they do the traffic breaks a little differently - one cruiser will do S-turns across all lanes of the freeway until everyone slows down. The first time I saw that I thought he was nuts!
Corrolary 2. People who are in the fast lane, with a car pool lane on the left, who think they can slow down because the car pool lane IS the fast lane.
In Pittsburgh, we have difficulty with: "Maintain Speed Thru Tunnel."
(The only place I have ever seen the gov't exhort you to drive faster, please.)
SD
I'm going to break the flow of discussion on this thread. I am a left lane driver and will go at whatever speed I like while trying to avoid getting caught for speeding. (I always like to be no more than the second-fastest car on the road.) The proper etiquette for being a left-lane driver is to go the speed you choose and, if someone comes up who is going faster, then move over to let them by -- and then move back into the left hand lane.
That's called undertaking, and in the UK, you can get ticketed for it. Of course, in the UK, the passing lane is the right lane, not the left.
Same to ya, for blocking the fast lane.
Slower traffic keep right.
This doesn't mean you get to stay in the left lane for 1/10 of a mile, to pass that next car. If someone is on your tail, as you're passing, get right after passing and let them by. Don't be a hindrance to fast, efficient transportation.
80 seems to be the de facto speed limit on most highways, most of the time, in metro ATL, as well.
You're correct.
It's interesting you asked that. I had several German civilians who worked for me and I asked them that very question. They told me you can overtake on the right but you cannot pass on the right. Passing involves lane changing. That was my answer.
Boortz was talking about this on his show this AM, and talking it up. Good publicity for the concept.
On a threadjack unrelated side note: I was at an event at the Gold Dome today, for transplant donor recognition. Boortz and Melissa Carter (lesbian radio DJ, lefty leaning of course), and a couple other media people were getting recognized for their donor awareness efforts. Sonny took the opportunity to make a comment like "you know this is a ecumenical event, if Neal Boortz and Melissa Carter are both here". Heh.
"The speed limit is the law."
No, the speed limit is A law.
"Unless a state has a posted passing lane (many do not), the only law in question is the speed limit."
True. If you are in the two or three states that does not have such a law, then my point is, of course, moot.
" Exceed the speed limit=breaking the law.
Tailgating=breaking the law.
Traveling at the posted speed limit=not breaking the law."
You can add "obstructing traffic=breaking the law" to that list in virtually all states.
"Try the "prevailing speed" and "traffic flow" arguments the next time you get pulled over. The cop will just nod politely as he hands you your ticket."
Like I said, this is about relative speed and blocking traffic. Actual speed is a completely different subject.
" I rely on my speedometer to calculate my speed. I assume others do the same."
Good idea, except don't force others to rely on YOUR speedometer.
Very true. I remember when I was there that the Germans passed a law saying you cannot come up behind someone and flash your lights for them to move out of the way and let them pass you. After the law was changed Germans no longer flashed their lights but they did drive in the left lane at high rates of speed with their left turn signal on.
They should be shot on sight!
Texas has a similar law and I don't know of or ever heard of anyone being ticketed.
Cool. Both hands on the wheel and m'shoulders rared back !
I know a lot of cops. Not a single one of them will pull you over for speeding unless you are going ten over, EVEN IN 25 mph zones! The only exception is if they want you for something else. For example, you're a kid in a souped up Honda or they think you've got drugs.
That is the little factoid that left lane nanny's ignore.
From what is reported here, speed has nothing to do with it - blocking the fast lane does.
You should also read post #65.
I didn't get into it but I am guessing my speed hit 135. My governor on my car is at 140 and my speedo only goes to 120, so past that it is just a best guess.
I don't think the jeeps ever hit over 105. I would keep losing them and then back off on the curves in case there were speed traps, but once I had clear road ahead, I would widen the gap again.
And in Montana, there are places you can see miles and miles up the road.
I must admit that I get white knuckles at prolonged speeds over 115.
"Unless the clown is one of those weaving in and out of traffic with no-turn-signal morons and he just pops up on my rear end from another lane and tailgates me from 5 inches and expects me to accomodate his childish self-indulgence. Then, I just take my foot of the accelerator."
On that we are in complete agreement.
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