A bill that sets a minimum fine for driving too slow in the passing lane on Georgia interstates and highways raced through a committee of the Georgia House yesterday afternoon.
Members of the House Transportation Committee voted unanimously to send HB1047 to the House Rules Committee. The Rules Committee will decide in the next few weeks whether to send the bill to the full House for a vote.
Georgia to give slowing tickets?
The measure to cut down on traffic congestion and driver frustration was introduced by State Rep. Mark Butler, (R) Carrollton.
"They're causing a lot of frustration for the drivers behind them," Rep. Butler said Monday to the Associated Press, singling out, as an example, drivers who travel in the left lane at, say, 50 mph in a 65 mph stretch of Interstate. "They're also causing people to weave in and out of traffic in order to get around the slower drivers, which also causes a much larger hazard.... The left-hand lane on these multi-lane roads is supposed to be used for passing only."
The bill would impose a fine of $75 on drivers caught going slower than the speed limit in the left-hand lanes of Georgia highways and interstates.
Can it be? Now Georgians can be ticketed for driving too fast and for driving too slow? Are we headed to a life of cruise control? Can you imagine being pulled over, a state patrolman approaching your car, your window rolling down only to hear the patrolman say, rather firmly, "Sir/Ma'am, do you know how slow you were going?"
"They're causing a lot of frustration for the drivers behind them," Rep. Butler said Monday to the Associated Press, singling out, as an example, drivers who travel in the left lane at, say, 50 mph in a 65 mph stretch of Interstate. "They're also causing people to weave in and out of traffic in order to get around the slower drivers, which also causes a much larger hazard.... The left-hand lane on these multi-lane roads is supposed to be used for passing only."
The bill would impose a fine of $75 on drivers caught going slower than the speed limit in the left-hand lanes of Georgia highways and interstates.
Can it be? Now Georgians can be ticketed for driving too fast and for driving too slow? Are we headed to a life of cruise control? Can you imagine being pulled over, a state patrolman approaching your car, your window rolling down only to hear the patrolman say, rather firmly, "Sir/Ma'am, do you know how slow you were going?"
Those left lane drivers are morons, rude & inconsiderate. They can see in their mirrors that they are causing a traffic jam but refuse to move to the right lane or speed up. They can also cause accidents because of people having to swerve in & out to get around them. No wonder there is road rage resulting from those situations.
I hope everyone that encounters a left-lane driving IDIOT will call the state patrol or 911 and report the trafic violation just like they would report speeding or drunk driving...I know I will have the number in speed dial!
The Law is taking the path of least resistance in order to write tickets. They have conceded to the speeders.
Ok lets say that person is going the speed limit or fiive under do you really think they are going to get a ticket for driving too slow?
Even when I am going my 5 to 9 mph over the posted speed limit I try to stay in the right lane unless I am passing someone. Now I wish these people would do that also.
Look at it this way:
The speed limit is 55. You are driving 50. Fine. Just stay in the right lane so people that ARE driving 55 can get by you without causing a logjam behind you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPavN04F0Nk
Move to the right and pass me. Riding on my backside only makes me want to stay where I am and slow down.
The GSP needs to get a life and find something worth doing. If our lawmakers can't do anything better than come up with these stupid laws perhaps it's time to disban the general assembly.
Besides, common sense should tell you to keep as far away from opposing traffic (coming towards you) as possible.
Stupid laws are made to be broken and this is one of them.
Stay out of the left lane.