New La. Law Proposed: $150 Fine for Slow Left Lane Driving

The Louisiana State Senate is considering a new law that most all drivers can agree has been needed for years.

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While I'm nearly certain the root of this issue was in the misnomer, the problem has gone on long enough.

What's the misnomer? Instead of properly titling the far left lane on interstates the "Passing Lane" like scores of other states, someone titled it the "Slow Lane" and no self-respecting driver was willing to assume that identity.

For decades Louisiana drivers have contended that as long as they were driving the speed limit, they could rightfully camp out in the far left lane of the interstate and avoid that "Slow" status.

Hopefully those days are nearing their much desired demise.

In a story from the Louisiana Radio Network, we learn that this week the Louisiana Senate Transportation Committee has unanimously passed a bill sponsored by Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau that would levy a $150 fine on drivers who continue to travel in the left lane and are making no attempt to pass vehicles in the right lane.

Senator Luneau says these drivers cause a traffic hazard.  “Many accidents throughout the nation are caused by people driving in the left lane, and the reason for that is that people get angry and can’t pass.”

Considering the enforcement of the proposed legislation, Luneau concedes, “It’s a rare occurrence that they write a ticket, but it’s a constant occurrence that happens on the highway. And all of you that live like I do, 150 miles or so from home, you see it every time you get on the highway.”

Unsurprisingly, no one elected to debate the validity of the argument and spoke against the proposed legislation.

According to powercoalition.org, the next step for this bill in the legislative process is for it to go to the full Senate for a second reading and then to the floor for debate and a final vote. 

If passed by the Senate, it then goes to the House of Representatives, where the process is repeated, including committee review and floor action.