Final OK for Georgia’s ‘slowpoke’ bill

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 03-11-2014 | Kristina Torres

[PaulCruz2016]

Left-lane lurkers on Georgia’s highways and interstates are a pen-stroke away from trouble under legislation given final passage Tuesday by the Georgia Senate.

House Bill 459 would allow authorities to ticket those who lollygag in the state’s left lanes. The bill makes it a misdemeanor for any driver on a divided highway who does not move to the right when a car going faster approaches from behind.

With the state House already signing off on the measure, all it needs is Gov. Nathan Deal’s signature to become law.

[cuban leaf]

When you get arrested for this misdemeanor, of course you’ll happily comply.

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Yep. But with my driving style, this is not a ticket I am at risk of legitimately getting. No way. I am a very “assertive” driver that occasionally slips into “agressive”. But I am virtually ALWAYS thinking about driving when I am driving. My wife and I even joke about when we are driving somewhere, pretty much all we talk about is driving and what the other cars are doing.

It’s how I can love a 122 mile round trip to work every day in my FR-S. I take driving VERY seriously.

[discostu]

If you don’t move out of the way of faster traffic you too are breaking the law.

[RitchieAprile]

Pretty dangerous place to be on the phone. Were you heading to Fry’s?

[cuban leaf]

It’s threefold. You forgot the most important purpose: Revenue enhancement.

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Yeah. I’ve seen it. I’ve experienced it. I call the traffic police the modern highwaymen. I’ve driven in almost all states and have seen it in spades in some areas but in others, very fair. Where I live is beyond fair. Heck, a few months ago I blew through a stop sign right in front of a cop at a “T” in the road and he only gave me a verbal warning because both of us knew that what I did, though illegal, was not the least bit dangerous. And the legitimate reason for traffic laws is safety.

[certrtwngnut]

Here in N.J a morning radio show guy on 101.5 named Jim Gearhart has been railing for years about slow left lane drivers. He calls them Left Lane Dick.

[cuban leaf]

This isn’t about some tiny amount of revenue, cops hate this dangerous practice of an anal weirdo throwing a wrench into freeway traffic flow.

A single car blocking the fast lane can cause havoc over all the lanes.

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This is the 800 lb gorilla in the room. It is actually very dangerous, on many levels. That is why they want to pass a law against it. It will hit the speed nannies, but it will also be a wake-up call to those who think they can slip into the passing lane and put their mind on autopilot. That is no way to drive at highway speeds. Those people need to have someone else drive or take the bus.

[Washi]

This is another move to the police state that Freepers support.

Enacting safety laws on the public highway is not a move to the police state. Is the speed limit a sign of the police state? Is the law stating that you drive on the right-hand side of the road a sign of the police state?

When you, your wife / husband / sister / daughter / son / father gets arrested for this misdemeanor, the bitching will start.

It'll never happen to me, my wife, or my sons, because they are better, more aware, more courteous drivers than to hang out in the passing lane.

[Syntyr]

“CL, your logic would have everyone in the right lane except the one driver who is moving fastest in the left lane.”

MANY lanes of two lane highways in Texas are posted “Left Lane for Passing Only” and the popo does ticket for it.

[cuban leaf]

This was before Fry’s. We were headed to lunch at what was then called southcenter.

Fry’s is the single retail entity I miss since moving to KY.

[Syntyr]

“But I object to being forced to change lanes dangerously to compensate for some speeder’s impatience.”

No one is FORCING you to change lanes DANGEROUSLY. If you can not SAFELY change lanes then don’t change lanes. You are responsible for your care and its safe operation.

[Syntyr]

“When you, your wife / husband / sister / daughter / son / father gets arrested for this misdemeanor, the bitching will start”

Nope! In the first place it’s not an ARRESTABLE offense. Really... Hyperbole much?

In the second place if my son/daughter were ticketed for blocking traffic I would probably smack the back of their head and take their car away until they could demonstrate their understand of proper and safe usage of said motor.
vehicle.

The only thing I say to my wife is “Yes Dear!” ;)

[Orangedog]

You say that like it would be a bad thing.

[certrtwngnut]

Hey there Veggie Todd. You are bullying me. I am way over 70 & drive a Mach1 Mustang which when on the highway is never under 70. Plus I blink my high beams at the slow pokes in front of me. And I also tailgate. And I am armed.
So don’t bully me anymore just cause I am old & feeble & blind.
Have a nice day.

[Syntyr]

“No it doesn’t, just see the fast lane as a sort of passing lane (or literally the passing lane), if someone is trapped behind you, or people are passing on your right, then you need to wake up and stop blocking traffic flow.”

BADA BING!!! Well put

[Blood of Tyrants]

I was stationed at Whidbey Island in the 80s and I-5 was a parking lot then. I can’t imagine how bad it is now.

[ansel12]

Traffic flow is everything on the freeway, it is more important than if that flow is at 55 or 65, or 75.

[The Cajun]

Totally agree with the law, if you're going to drive, drive like you're awake.
To me, if you can't follow such a simple rule, you're driving semiconscious to start with, not paying attention.
Don't know if the problem with folks who hog the passing lane is inconsideration, laziness or stupidity.
One thing for sure, their minds ain't on their driving.

[Syntyr]

“Traffic flow is everything on the freeway, it is more important than if that flow is at 55 or 65, or 75.”

Yep!

Most people also dont realize that the police can ticket you even if you are going UNDER the posted speed limit if the road conditions are such that the speed you are going is unsafe. So while the posted limit may be 65 if its raining cats and dogs and you are doing 60 an officer can ticket you for speeding faster than road conditions permit. Thats why tickets have a place on them for the officer to fill out that states the time of day/night and the road conditions at the time of the infraction.

[DelFuego]

Yes, not your job to worry about others misdemeanors

[logic101.net]

Great, if they only enforce it! To the best of my knowledge most states have a “slower traffic keep right” law, but it is never enforced.

As a truck driver I have seen, mostly going through Chicago, how one slow driver in the middle lane can cause a jam up several miles long. After getting past that one car you can drive the speed limit, or close to it for a couple miles until you reach the next jam up that is caused by the same problem....