A new law in Minnesota is giving teeth to a “slowpoke” rule in the state. Thanks to the new law, truckers and other motorists who linger in the left lane can find themselves out $125.
While there was a pre-existing law that made it a violation to block the left lane, Minnesota State Patrol worked with state lawmakers to make it enforceable. Starting on Thursday, August 1st, Minnesota State Patrol officers will be able to enforce the left lane law by handing out tickets. The ticket comes with a $50 file plus $75 in court fees.
The new law gives State Patrol the ability to ticket anyone who is driving slowly enough in the left lane to block traffic and cause a traffic hazard.
“Traffic moves most efficiently when everyone is traveling at about the same speed, which cannot be above the posted limit or faster than conditions might allow,” said Lt. Gordon Shank of the Minnesota State Patrol.
A hands-free driving law went into effect in Minnesota on the same day, so Troopers are out enforcing both new laws.
Source: gobytrucknews, twincities, cbslocal, sctimes
About time people need to learn rules stop holding up middle lane too. Right lane=trucks+cars. Middle lane is a truck passing lane then you need to move back over+cars. Left lane car passing lane only then they need to move back to middle.
It’s not going to stop people from holding up the left lane, but at least they’re fining people who do, after a few times maybe they’ll get the hint. And also the state of Mn officials say traveling at the same speed is safer. So that representative in Georgia can stick his speed limiter proposal for trucks!!
Agree 100% with both points.
I so agree these companies like swift, JB hunt, western Express and other are the cause of traffic back ups also in my opinion drivers that are to old and should not be driving
Just how old is too old, sparky?
Good! If your truck is limited, you are supposed to run 3 to 5 mph under the limiter. That way you have a boost to go around slower traffic. It’s not the fault of the a-hole you are passing if you didn’t leave yourself passing speed… Ticket everyone that runs against the limiter and expects everyone else to accommodate them!!!
So if you have a 62 mph truck you’re supposed to drive 59 mph in a 65 or 70 zone? That’ll be safe. I hope you like accidents and traffic because if these idiots in Washington get their way every truck on the road will be governed at the same speed.
Might be like itally where trucks are not allowed to pass one another if two governed trucks are behind one another with less than 5 mph difference. How many cars behind a truck constitutes a blockage?
Now they need to start fining drivers for stopping on the shoulder of interstate highway’s. Ramps are safe to stop and park on, but any stopping on Shoulder of interstate highway is extremely dangerous.
Actually it is NOT safe to park on on /off ramps. That’s why most states have already made it illegal. Don’t believe me, try it in VA or MD or AR
Anything for revenue…
Minnesota, my native land, Land of 10,000 Taxes.
How about you, Illinois, when are you going to start enforcing this law that has been in effect since 2004. Drivers driving in any other lane than the right lane for no reason should be ticketed.
We had a state councilman here in Florida propose a state law similar to this. However it was defeated much to the chagrin of many of the commuting motoring public. One of the speeches that a proponent for this law said “The law would help with road rage”. She took a lot of grief over that comment, but I think people forget road rage takes two people to cause. First is the idiot who acts on the feeling of road rage, but just as guilty is the individual who becomes the trigger causing that person to act. Not excusing the behavior of a road Rager, but sometimes you have to wonder Would that individual have snapped had the person in front of them moved over and let them pass.
I realize this may be an unpopular opinion, but how many times have you seen someone obviously intentionally blocking someone from passing when there was plenty of open road ahead of them. This is the type of person that I feel should be taken out back and whacked with the stupid stick a few times to knock some sense into them.
We have this problem in Kentucky, people think the left lane is a travel lane.
We have signs up all over the expressways and parkways saying “keep right except to pass”
I go down the Western KY parkway every two weeks and there is always some idiot driving down the left lane not passing.
Most trucks are set at 65 mph. Now they are talking about setting all other vehicles at about the same speed limit. Try passing someone doing 65 when you can only do 65. Unless the person your passing let’s up, it’ll take forever to pass someone. Oh but wait, you’ll get a ticket for trying to pass someone. Just wait, its coming.
If you are both going 65 you do not need to pass.
Well its about time. I also agree with the stopping on the shoulders of highways. Police officers should also not be allowed to pull anyone on the shoulder of the highway if they do they must tell the person that they pulled over to go to the nearest exit and into a parking lot.
Unless it’s a medical emergency like the need to get your bladder empty. Do your thing and move on.
They will still put speed limiter on trucks.then all states will fine for left lane and rake it in on truck drivers.its a money grab.
Speed limiters on trucks do not force drivers to hang out in the left lane.
I had a speed limiter on my truck and imagine that it never forced me to do something I shouldn’t do. And I never got a ticket because of it either.
If you KNOW you can’t make the pass in a timely fashion, say going up hill with a full load then maybe you should stay in the right lane.
With that being said, I am not sure if this is the best solution, but you have to take it as it is. If your truck is only slightly faster then the one behind you it’s your call if you want to watch the back of that other truck or chance the ticket.
I owned my truck, I bought it used with the limiter in place, I originally played on removing it but after considering the increase in gas consumption I saw banging against the limiter, compared to driving like I had a bit of common sense, I figured it didn’t matter if the truck had a limiter because I was driving under the 65mph limiter anyway.
But see, that is the difference between the company buying your fuel and buying your own fuel
after rereading my post I see I need an edit button 🙁
Hmmmm……..on every truck I have ever owned, and bought my own fuel, I have found that I get my best fuel mileage in the 70 to 72 mph range.
If I drop back to 65 then I lose almost half a mile mpg, and the slower I go the less mpg I got.
I had an old Pete with a 5 and 4 that consistently got 7.3 to 7.5 mpg depending on terrain.
I guess this falls in a “go figure” category.
Well, I will never move over to let another vehicle on the Interstate in MN, only to have them or others keep passing on the right and trapping you out in the left lane! Just another way to make driving even more unsafe with brilliant ideas from people that are the weakest link.
Excellent news and I hope the fine lots. I also hope theres a variation of the fine for thise guys that just hog the middle lane taking their big rig for a sliw walk!!
If they are going to limit the speed of trucks they need to limit cars as well. Then we can look like Taledega speedway with all the trucks stacked to the right and all the cars packed in the left. Then when we start having 100 plus vehicle pileups they can see the error of their logic
Every day JB Hunt’s finest in the right and middle lanes going 62 mph up I287 in NJ. Of course no trucks in the left lane. NJ needs to enact that law.
LMAO. Still waiting to see SP pull folks over speeding in construction zones. I have literally watched police in several states watch as speeding cars and the occasional trucks, speed through them. “Selective enforcement” of laws, is sickening
I still laugh un controllably
So you don’t want me to speed but you don’t want me going to slow either? Well quite frankly, Do you think this will get any better if they pass that bill requiring us all to be governed at 65? The DOT has too much power, the trucking industry is over regulated! Leave us alone and let us do our job!!
EXTORTION 101 by the road pirates themselves. $50 FILING FEE, $75 COURT COSTS. No one voted or votes FOR these made up fees & costs. They are never on a ballot. COPS ASKING LAWYERS aka Judges for the increase and BOOM! THEY CREATE IT THEMSELVES (for) themselves.
Stop and think about that break down amounts on the fines for a minute.
Is not a filing fee a court cost????
Filing fees are imposed by a court(at least in my state), in some states it is imposed by state law or county ordinances.
But it is STILL A COURT COST no matter how you look at it.
if you happen to be able to read English, the MN enforcer stated…
at or below the posted speed limit
so, for you morons who are exceeding the posted speed limit and still want to bitch about somebody blocking your way…piss off maggots
They can limit trucks to 65mph if they want to. Then they’ll have the problem of each truck motor and computer being different. Computer will show 65mph but some will run 65.1mph, 65.2mph and so on. The different weights each one going up and down hills. Each driver still trying to pass the other. Causing more headaches and backups than ever!
When have they never done that ticket thing for slower drivers , Slower drivers have a slower lane . Isn’t it the shoulder? Or is that the bike lane?
Just how old is too old, sparky?
Middle lane driving should be considered for through traffic. It’s more hazardous when inbound traffic doesn’t yield. So it’s harder for large trucks to move over then back again. This clears for exiting traffic as well. So traffic is slower who cares. Most drivers are driving above speed limit anyhow. DOT should create better lane usage and speed controls like a lot of progressive cities.
Man!!!…I’ve told you drivers and told you: DRIVE 55 EVERYWHERE!!! Who cares if you’re freight is late??! Thats what they want!!! Let em have it 55 everywhere
Well I think ALL TRUCKS need to do the same speed even owner operators need to slow down TOO that is one of our problems too is they want to run 100 mph and hollar get out of my way.
I’ve been thankful and fortunate to not experience speed limited trucks, I can roll like I need and do my best to still be safe but we all know or at least some of us know there’s a lot of hands that…will…not…listen and still impede traffic cause how dare you be in front of them, the 4 wheelers do the same how dare you get in front lol