Starting July 1st, drivers in Indiana can be fined up to $500 for driving the speed limit in the left lane.
A new law makes it illegal to drive in the left lane when there is a vehicle behind you that wants to pass. In other words, if you’re driving the speed limit in the left lane and there’s a driver behind you who wants to speed ahead, you can be fined $500.
The law would not apply during traffic, bad weather, or when pulling over for emergency vehicles, but its critics say that the law still doesn’t make any sense.
“[It’s] the silliest, most unjustifiable proposal of the entire session,” said State Senator Karen Tallian. ““It really doesn’t make sense to put law-abiding citizens as the criminal here. You can be driving down the road at 70 miles per hour, doing the speed limit, and some joker comes up behind you doing 90 and you’re the one who gets the ticket?”
Some supporters of the law however see it more as a PR campaign than anything else. “You pass in the left lane, you drive in the right,” said Indiana State Police Sgt. Trent Smith. “So it’s really designed to keep traffic flowing and moving, it’s not designed to give an open lane of travel for somebody that wants to go, you know, five, ten, 15 miles an hour over the speed limit.”
Regardless of the motivations for the law, it is now possible for police officers in Indiana to hand out $500 tickets for driving the speed limit. EDIT: This law exists in similar forms in other states as well.
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ScottSr says
In Alaska we had a something that makes more sense, if your causing 5 vehicles to slow down below the speed limit then yes you can be fined however without being specific about legal speed or just faster traffic then I highly disagree, and as a Driver I already dislike Indiana and just another excuse for me to avoid it!
rob S says
There is the same law in WA, MT and probably others. Quite sensible
Dan Thomas says
New Jersey tickets people (trucks and 4 wheelers) for cruising in the left lane on the turnpike. They could get a speeding ticket at the same time if they are cruising over the limit.
John Tennent says
Should be $10,000 fine and loss of license for a year. Second offence.$25,000 fine and life time loss of license. This should be a federal law. That would get the purposeless idiots off the road and out of way. Am I wrong? How many time a day r u held up ? 50,150? How much do u loss a year ? Half what u make or more.
Don says
Along that same line of thinking. All speed limits should be done away with. The HOS should be trashed. Safety of others and human life should be heavily discounted all in worship of the all mighty dollar.
Dan Thomas says
No fines. Just make road rage and shooting at other vehicles legal if they are preventing you for passing.
Gordon says
I wish the similar law would have passed in FL. I’m sorry, but yes the nutbag that flips into road rage is a twit, but the JACKA$$ that triggered him is no less responsible for the incident. It’s not your responsibility to slow someone down that wants to speed so have a little courtsey and move over so they won’t swerve into my zone to pass you.
I watched a driver cemented in the left lane and would not get over. Cars were having to pass in the right lane to get around this sorry excuse for a human. People like that should have their children sterilized so the genetic trait would end with that generation.
Sorry this one really pisses me off and I’m not the one normally trying to get around, but it does cause problems for me as they try to get around and take chances and then turn aggressive for the rest of the commute.
Gordon A says
Truth be known a good many of the left lane drivers have no clue as to the rules of the road, don’t know when or how to use a turn signal, and never use the mirrors . So all of the other drivers have to pay the price .Speeding is not the only thing that causes accidents. Lack of speed is just as dangerous if not more so . One thing Our legislators cannot do is fix stupid. Since we ,as voters have a tendency to vote in stupid greedy legislators we are stuck with stupid non productive rules and laws.. I wonder how this revenue enhancement law is going to be interpreted when a slow truck is trying to pass a slower truck.?
rufus says
I am not allowed to do the car speed limit in indiana. If i get in the left lane to go around another vehicle i will get a ticket. Cars do not have a speed limit in any state,as far as i can see,but truckers are held close to the line. Is it now to be law i cant pass at all?
Steve Bell says
Ironically there was a story in the St. Pete Times about a similar issue and of course it opinions were split…but according to The Times…Florida allows you to drive in the left lane and yes even as slow as you want to…and you have no obligation to make way to allow others to pass…Unless it is posted with with something like…”Keep Right Except To Pass”…also they stated that under Florida Law…you are not obligated to drive at any minimum speed unless it is posted as such…
John Tennent says
On every interstate,turnpike. There speed limit sign is followed by a slower traffic use right lane. That covers all of FL.
ken says
It comes down to selective enforcement. Trucking is big business and people see it as a source of revenue. Trucker fines are higher for the same offenses, and there are officers who are employed to go after only commercial trucks.
Donald Strong says
Most of the states already have this law in place for 2 lane roads but it’s just rarely inforced. The law made headlines about a year ago when NJ started handing out tickets for the same thing.
Robert Eason says
Any new law that encourages the breaking of another law is idiotic. If you are obeying the law then those that are breaking the law should be the ones ticketed twice, once for speeding when they get around you and the 2nd ticket would be for following too close, tailgating.
Dan Thomas says
It should be illegal to cause road rage.
James Whitehill says
They’re obeying one law, the speed limit. What about the signs that say SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT or KEEP RIGHT EXCEPT TO PASS. Trucks aren’t usually allowed in the far left lane so why don’t you just keep you’re anchor-dragging vehicle over there. Driving down the middle of the road while getting passed on BOTH sides is a traffic hazard. I’m not condoning speeding but sometimes the flow of traffic is going faster than the speed limit. Ever drive I-95 anywhere? It’s like the Autobahn! Now put someone right in the middle of it just tooling along and you get people taking chances trying to get over to get around someone who shouldn’t have been there in the first place. Move your butt to the slow lane, THE TRAVEL LANE, and stay out of the PASSING LANES…
Douglas Kirk says
It’s funny how the left lane is suddenly being held as sacred in so many states. If they really think the traffic flow will be improved by making all traffic stay in the right lane, then the right lane must be significantly longer than the left in order to accommodate all the vehicles on the road. It seems that only idiots get elected, or maybe only idiots vote. Take your pick.
James C says
I think it is an attempt, however somewhat skewed, to put a stop to these “Rolling Roadblocks”.
One slow truck moves out from in behind another slow truck to catch that extra one-mile-per-hour, and it takes them well over a minute to pass. Meanwhile, a dozen or more vehicles become trapped behind the passing truck, slowed down well below the speed limit.
I have watched over and over again, these knuckled headed drivers, in slow trucks, literally move out and cut off traffic, just so they don’t have to wait behind a truck that is going a mile per hour less than they are. I think the possibility of a fine like this is a good idea. It’ll help put a stop to it.
So, slow down, wait until traffic is reasonably clear, then make your attempt to pass. Or, if you’re anything like me, you’ll just resign yourself to it for a little while, back out of it a bit and pace a safe distance behind the other truck until something changes. The loss of a mile per hour for a half an hour or so over an 800-mile trip, isn’t much of a loss at all.
If you ask me, it should be labeled a “Fine for Impatience”.
There are too many truckers out here who resent the motoring public. If you’re one of these then maybe you shouldn’t be driving a truck. Or be prepared to pay through the nose for your knuckleheaded resentment and impatience.
sudon't says
Conversely, when a truck wants to pass me, and is only a couple miles an hour faster than me, I slow down and let him get ahead. I can’t understand why other drivers won’t do this. Do you want this guy constantly on your back door?
RAY says
First, increased driver training and emphasis on “left lane for passing” needs to be emphasized. You can’t always fix stupid, but we need to at least try. I believe high speed lane changes is the source of many accidents, and the idiot slowing traffic down in the left lane is the culprit. More citations should be issued for lane changes without turn signal use. By the way, some stupid drivers don’t know what their rear view mirror is used for. Go figure?
Robert says
13 comments and so far none of you understand the law. It’s not about catching slow drivers in the left lane (that’s just gravy). It’s really designed to catch speeders. If people think they can go faster than the posted limit because slow traffic is out of the left lane,well go ahead and speed. It will be easier to catch you going 2 or 3 mph over. Sooner than later (if not already) you’ll see signs like Arkansas has, speed strictly enforced. Ticket prices will jump up too.
RAY says
Robert, you’re probably right, but I don’t think it’s either the slow traffic or the speeding traffic………it’s the amount of dangerous lane changes that occur from someone clogging up the passing lane. That’s where I see the accidents and loss of control. Also, it’s certainly someone’s individual right to speed and take the chance of getting caught……..or someone going to slow. Common courtesy should apply to let people pass….and get out of their way.
sam diveley says
Well said
sam diveley says
This is stupid. No one does the speed limit in the left lane. The problem is the drivers won’t move to the right and get out of faster traffics way..give tickets for that.
Tony says
Kinda pointless to have speed limits if your going to ticket the people who are actually observing them.
sudon't says
This is more about people blocking the passing lanes, not speed limits. Observe the speed limit – go slow, even – just do it in the right lane.
sudon't says
I wish every state would do this. It really makes traffic flow better. I’m sick of passive-agressive dolts blocking the passing lanes, and refusing to let people pass.
RAY says
Couldn’t agree more. Idiots stay in the passing lane regardless of their speed when there is plenty of room for them in the right lanes. These idiots can’t figure out why there is no one in front of them and a line of cars behind them. I get the “finger” when I try to go around them. I’d vote for this law in all states as well.
Ron says
“It really doesn’t make sense to put law-abiding citizens as the criminal here” But that’s what cops do…the lawmakers tell them to do that. It’s all about making money. What about the slow runing vehicle in the right lane slowing up traffic? Do I pass and pay $500.00 for the privilage to pass,or saty behind for miles? I also noted the law only applies to trucks. Cars get a “free pass”
Bill says
Where in the article do you read that it applies to trucks only?
R.Boan says
I completely agree,The states pass a law that you must pull over or slow down for parked emergency or maintenance vehicles,but you cannot pull over if everybody is driving in the left hand lane!
JD says
Has anyone ever heard of the left lane being THE PASSING LANE????? meaning you pass and move over! then again with a truck only able to go 62 or 65 miles per hour, just how can that be done with out holding up traffic? when passing someone doing 55 or 60? it cant be done too fast last i remember!. then theres a pile of traffic behind you.
RAY says
JD….I think your are right…..no one knows what “passing lane” means. I don’t think they explain it anymore in driver education or training? I think we need more left lane road signs stating” Passing Lane Only”. I always see young girls teenage/college age “owning” the passing lane…..barely going the speed limit, never looking into their rear mirrors or wondering why everyone is passing them on the right at high rates of speed? Do you ever wonder if they wonder whey no one is in front of them, but a whole lot of folks behind them. Like someone stated…..I guess you can’t fix stupid.