A bill in Florida’s House of Representatives would make “camping” in the left lane illegal. HB317 would forbid any vehicle from continuously operating in the far left-hand lane of roadways that allow speeds of 65 mph or more.
“Camping” in left lane already illegal, but new law reduces wiggle room
Under current law, drivers cannot drive in the left lane “if the driver knows, or reasonably should know” that he or she is being overtaken in that lane from a driver traveling at a higher rate of speed. The proposed legislation would reduce the amount of “wiggle room” for interpreting if one can lawfully drive in the left-hand lane or not.
If the bill passes, camping in the left lane could lead to a minimum $60 fine. Additional fees and surcharges could pump the total penalty up to $158. Florida-licensed drivers could also see up to three points being added to their license for violating the proposed law.
Trucks already vamoosed from left lane in some cases
Left-lane use already has some other restrictions in place in the Sunshine State. Large trucks aren’t allowed in the far left or inside travel lane along rural stretches of interstate. This applies to roadways with at least three lanes in one direction. RVs and tour buses are exempt from this rule. Truck lane restrictions are also in place along certain sections of Interstates 4, 75, and 95, as well as on the Florida Turnpike. Violation of the “no big rigs in the left lane” rule allows for a $121 fine.
The new left-lane camping bill will be considered during the regular session that begins January 9. The Senate version, SB258, will start in the Senate Transportation Committee.
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Since they didn’t enforce the existing law what good would a new law do? FL was one of the first states to pass no riding in the left lane because all the senile citizens get out there and drive 50 mph holding up traffic. State troopers don’t enforce that one.
Nor do they stop trucks. They seem to be using the far-left lane on I-75 more and more (which is clearly marked NO TRUCKS) but FHP on I-75 never pulls them over and they are rarely seen on the interstate.
They’ll pull over an over the road trucker because they know he’ll pay the fine as he can’t come back to appear in court. They don’t pull over the “local” drivers as they’ll appear in court requiring the cop to also be there, plus the owner of a “local” trucking company probably contributes to the political party the politician in charge of troopers belongs to.
Oregon has this Law now and for several years. It does not matter the number of lanes above single lanes. There is not for all the violators but…. there was a slow 20 MPH car in the left lane of a 45 MPH zone just this last week west of Hillsboro OR.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! Well, potentially this might (should?) lessen some road rage IF it is enforced AND IF people adhere to it. Of course, that presumes it actually becomes a state law. As for me, once upon a time I was snarled in traffic for hours and had an epiphany, “Everyone is in the way of the fastest driver/vehicle on the road, AND no one is in the way of the slowest driver/vehicle on the road.” So, I tend to aspire to be nearer the latter than the former. 😉
I can’t help but consider there have been multiple scenarios ignored that might be causing slow driving. What if going to visit a relative who lives on the left & left turn is needed? What if the car’s breaking down & traffic on the right won’t let you in? Sometimes I don’t use the turn signal because I’m tired of alla them speeding up to cut me off.
There’s a difference between moving left for an exit, or because of an accident or passing slower traffic. Staying in the left lane for extended periods should be a cite-able offense. Not only for RV’s and trailers and large trucks, but cars also. It is illegal in most states and needs to be enforced.
BTW, you can also be cited for not using the turn signal when changing lanes.
Get real! You’re not going to make a left turn to grandmas off the interstate. If your car is breaking down exit off the left shoulder, failure to use you turn signal is another violation. The law is primarily needed for the old people who get in the left lane and drive slower holding up the flow of traffic. By the way I’m 80, but I do my best to obey the law. The big factor is going to be enforcement, I’ve seen State Troopers drive on by a slower vehicle with great grandma driving and never do anything. If you can’t drive with the flow of traffic stay in the slow lane.
If the article has quoted the bill correctly it’s for highways with speeds 65 or greater. Not many left turns.
I wish we had it in Nebraska. “It’s the law, honey. 🙂 ”
Start by enforcement of existing speed limits.
Just a question, is this article reposted from an earlier article? I always see comments posted a year or two years ago like this one with comments two days ago along with todays comments.
If you get the daily news newsletter you may see this before the weekend issue.
Hi, Gil. This article was just posted/published on December 20 by Russ and Tiña. Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Being a retired truck driver I never camp in the left lane. But a problem I see is more 3 lane freeway where the camp is in the middle lane causing traffic to use both the right and left as passing lanes. The article talks about Florida where there is a lot of 3 lanes and the problems in the left lane is caused by slow drivers in center lane.
Already illegal in Michigan. The left lane is supposed to be for passing ONLY. Really annoying to get stuck behind someone going 10mph under the speed limit in the right lane, and to try to go around, only to end up stuck behind ANOTHER slowpoke camping in the left lane. And more often than not, the one in the left lane is from out-of-state…
One of the reasons drivers of all kinds sometimes ride the left lane is because it is usually much smoother than the right lane (which has been beaten to death with traffic). I’ve done that while towing but only if there is no traffic behind me. Texas is especially bad!
If they are going to target RVs and buses, what about the daydreamers that increasingly hog the left lane impervious to the line of traffic behind them? Expand the law to anyone driving under the speed limit in the left lane.
But, but, but….I’m traveling at the posted maximum speed limit allowed by law! Anyone who would then pass me is traveling at an illegal speed and is breaking the law…right? I guess this is the kind of logic used at the US/Mexico border…eh???
Similar left laws are in effect in these states: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, & Oregon.
Why not just have the same common sense (enforced) law in the USA as most of the world.
The left lane is for “Passing Only”! Simple, effective and courteous.
Or would that just be an infringement on your Rights (pun intended). I do understand about the right lane being so bumpy due to extremely heavy usage especially from semi trucks. What I don’t understand is why they’re so poorly maintained? In fact it’s crazy how many semi trucks use the highways and interstates, I guess because there’s such a lack of a nationwide rail system and the vastness of this country. But then no one wants to pay for that.
Most states already have that law.
As I read the existing law, that is already the law in Florida. As seems to be the legislature here in Florida, someone is just trying to get their name on a new law, that is not new, in order to have their name on a law for bragging rights. “I did something – vote me in again.” Some of us are trying to sell Tallahassee to Georgia.