Posted on 04/08/2005 6:29:31 AM PDT by RedBloodedAmerican
TALLAHASSEE -- Slowpokes could get a $60 fine for hogging the fast lane and ticking off motorists who want to pass.
The "Road Rage Reduction Act" is speeding through the Legislature following a 27-10 vote in the Senate on Thursday, two days after the House passed a similar bill by an even wider margin, 109-4. A spokesman for Gov. Jeb Bush said the governor must still evaluate the issue.
The bill requires drivers to stay in the right lane unless they're passing a vehicle or making a left turn. Supporters -- including the Florida Sheriffs Association and Florida Police Benevolent Association -- said the bill would ease traffic flow and make it unnecessary for motorists to dangerously maneuver around slower moving vehicles.
Opponents, including Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach, said the bill's emphasis on slower drivers was misplaced.
"We should have our police catching all the offenders of speeding," Lynn pleaded on the Senate floor.
In addition to the proposed fine, the bill calls for a three-point penalty on a driver's record (motorists who accumulate 12 points can lose their license). Bill sponsor Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, had pitched a four-point penalty but critics said it should be less than the four points assessed to reckless drivers.
The proposed law would allow for many exceptions to the right lane rule, such as using the left lane to avoid hydro-planing in a rain storm or to dodge debris in the roadway. Plus, it doesn't apply when there's no one else on the road.
"You can drive from (Tallahassee) to Miami as long as there's no one behind you," Bennett said.
Still, Sen. Rod Smith, D-Gainesville, called it a "traffic ticket enhancement" act, and Rep. Irv Slosberg, D-Boca Raton, one of the few opponents in the House, said it would increase speeding.
Local motorists were mixed in their reaction to the proposal.
Terry Carter, 26, of Holly Hill liked the idea of separating lanes for faster and slower drivers: "Most older people go slow. I have problems when I get cut off by an older person," Carter said.
Donna Parks, 48, of Volusia County said the bill was necessary: "All truck drivers should be in the right lane. Once when I was merging onto the interstate a truck driver was going so slow he almost ran me off the road," she said.
Naamon Lewis of Holly Hill, though, had doubts.
"We got a lot of people that hog that left lane, but I don't know about making a law," Lewis said. "Good gracious. I don't necessarily agree with the fine and (three) points off your license. I think that's stepping a little too far."
-- Staff Writer Eileen Zaffiro contributed to this report.
SIGNS YOU MIGHT BE AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVER
· Do you get angry at drivers who cut you off, tailgate or go slowly?
· Are you impatient at stoplights or when driving in the slow (right) lane?
· Do you compete with other drivers, drag racing from stoplights or moving ahead in traffic jams?
· Do you punish bad drivers by tailgating, cursing, flashing high-beam headlights or blocking drivers attempting to pass?
SOURCE: Adapted from AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety aggressive driving quiz at www.aaafoundation.org/quizzes
LOL...
That's a product of a driving system w/o any order to it. It's funny you say that, I often drive in the D.C. area and up I-95 to the north and find that the far right lane is the most vacant and what the left lane should be.
It's long overdue getting laws like this passed. The next step is to enforce them. Far too many routine motorists out there seem to think they have a badge and the authority to decide how fast everyone else drives. In their eyes, it's OK to go a little faster than the speed limit, but only as fast over as they're going.
The first thing I look for on those cars is a Kerry bumper sticker.
That's one of the problems here in FL. Some older people feel morally obligated to go the speed limit in the left lane and block people from passing. What you say is their logic. If you are going the speed limit, you can't pass. Since it's against the law to speed, you should not be trying to pass. The law has been on the books for years. It's called obstructing traffic, even if you are doing the speed limit. I know becasue an older acquantance did get a ticket about 8 yeras ago for doing that on I-4. The state trooper was not amused.
The speed limits are another thing that needs to be addressed... on most highways, if you're traveling at the speed limit, you are an obstruction on the road.
Because she's a leftist and will be howling for weeks over the injustice of it all. She really, really believes that she's serving the greater good by preventing others from driving too fast, regardless of what any law or common sense might dictate.
And yes, she does support banning all civilian firearms...how'd you know?
Do you have three or two lane highways by you? I'm thinking mostly of three lane, where the middle guys need to get over the same way the lefties do. In a two lane scenario, that's not an option.
95 through NC is two lane all the way and back up something fierce. If there's a truck in the right, EVERYONE is passing. No good solution there but get over asap, I suppose.
....what a mean attitude!....and your a CATHOLIC???????
.....shame on you!
So glad she's out there keeping me safe! Now I won't get shot or get in a car accident. ;)
heheh, actually no, Insurance companies are cracking down on this. Legally, yes they are causing the accident. Who is going to pay for the accident? Probably your insurance as you slammed on the brakes in a moving traffic situation. If there is an impediment in the roadway, a traffic light, stop sign or whatever, they will be liable.
Why, if someone is obviously coming up behind you and going faster than you, would you not move into the right lane and let them pass? I have never understood this. Just get out of their way and then continue on with your life. Bam, everyone's happy. Does it really take that much effort to turn on your turn signal for 2 seconds and make a slight right hand movement with your wheel?
Oh yes, she'd be smiling for weeks, utterly convinced she'd done you a favor!
GIVE HER A DAMN TICKET! Please!
I have actually confessed the anger I feel in my heart on the road. Sure beats flipping someone off . . .
To understand it, you have to understand how a leftist thinks. They believe it is ok for them to make this decision for you because they clearly know better that you.
Aren't you glad we have these people protecting mere mortals such as us?
Even though the person may be doing the speed limit in the left lane, if they are not passing, they are obstructing traffic. And the person doing the speed limit in the left lane must have been speeding to get beside a car in the right lane doing the speed limit. The increase in congestion behind such a driver is far more dangerous than letting the faster traffic by, even if they are speeding. The state troopers want to keep the traffic flowing as best as possible without letting things get out of hand. They don't want speed limit vigilantes causing problems. Sudden slow downs from congestion because someone decided to drive slow in the left lane does cause accidents.
How do you know that? Did you ask the person as they go by you what is going on that they need to speed? Or are you assuming that they are speeding just for the fun of it? If someone wants to crash through a guard rail and die, I figure it's their business. It does affect us through our insurance rates and what-not, but the insurance companies are going to get you one way or the other.
You're pretty much right on, but the single most dangerous group are people going substantially slower than the flow of traffic on a freeway. While super speeders are dangerous, they only require other cars to stay put. People going 45 in a 65 zone cause every other driver to react, which is more likely to cause a serious wreck.
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