A new law increasing penalties for drivers camping in the left lane is set to take effect Aug. 1. State Senator Jay Luneau said his bill works to prevent high-speed accidents and road rage caused by vehicles driving side by side.
“When wrecks happen in those circumstances, the injuries and the damage are a lot greater, so hopefully we can stop some of that,” said Luneau. “The road rage numbers were incredibly high for people driving side by side and blocking other traffic out, so hopefully we’ll prevent some of that from happening as well.”
Currently, drivers traveling 10 miles per hour or more below the speed limit in the left lane are subject to a $100 fine. The new law lowers that threshold to just 1 mile per hour below the speed limit, which Luneau hopes will help keep the left lane for passing.
“Now, there are some exceptions to that if you’re on the highway where there is a left turn that you’re getting ready to make, or if the person is getting over because of an emergency vehicle on the shoulder or some instance like that, there are exceptions to it,” said Luneau.
The new law also raises a first offense fine to $150, and if second and third offenses occur within a year, they can result in a $250 fine and up to a $350 fine and a 30-day prison term. Luneau said the previous law was ineffective and difficult for police to enforce.
“So what I did is just made this bill where it’s a little easier for them to write the tickets, gave them some more discretion and increased the fines, so we can try to get some of those folks that insist on driving in the left lane side by side to stop doing that,” Luneau said.
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