Hallelujah! I love it when those left lane cruisers get ticketed! LMAO! Remember folks the headline is deceiving. She was sited for failing to move right. The speed limit was merely written on the ticket to prove she was impeding traffic in the PASSING lane!

Exactly!

The next time you feel like driving slow move over to the right lane, which is the right lane. The left lane is for passing other cars. Read the driver's manual.

Yes, driving in the left lane and refusing to get out of the way for cars driving faster is extremely dangerous because you force the faster car to pass on the right. On a 3,4, or 5 lane highway, that invites an accident by possibly having 2 cars trying to enter the lane at the same time.

I'm guessing this woman doesn't know what a yield sign means either.

Get em' Johnny Law! Can't STAND people that don't understand that slower moving traffic should be in the right lane.

All I have to say is, It's about damn time! Drivers need to understand to flow of traffic and how NOT to disrupt it. Ticket justified!

Its been a law in Jersey for a very long time, yet hardly ever enforced. Traffic jams are a nightmare, and passing left is not an option since people like this woman immediately get into the left lane. I hear they will start to really enforce it soon. We'll see.

I don't care if you are going 80 in the left lane...if the lanes to your right are passing you move the hell over already..I hate drivers who piddle along like they own the left lanes..

im with rickster....gth out of the left lane if you are not going to do 90 like the rest of us. I95 is way to straight to do the speed limit.

Plus, if it was windy and you were being careful, wouldn't you both slow down and start heading to one of the right lanes.

Sitting in the left lane driving too slowly is no different than sitting on a toilet in somebody's house because you think it's just a chair to sit on. Unfortunately, as long as you're sitting on that chair, nobody can use the toilet. Go find a regular chair and get off my toilet! And when you're driving on the freeway, move to the right if you're not passing anyone!

woman get ticket for driving 63 mph - in a 65 zone

NO!

woman was pulled over and cited for failing to move right.

Believe it or not many states have laws requiing people to keep right except to pass. "Camping out" in the left lane is illegal. Noting the speed she was travelling is just a distractor used by BSNBC.

digitalnoise, you are wrong. Traffic laws are there to prevent accidents and this particular violation is egregious. I would say it leads to more road rage than all violations combined.

I wonder if this gal has ever wondered why everybody that passes her gives her the bird?

AFT These idiot slowpokes in the left lane deserve much worse. There ought to be sensors in the road and cameras to ticket anyone blocking the orderly flow of traffic.

You're not the pace car. Get out of people's way.

Justified ticket. In fact they should suspend her license for it. It is absolutely horrible now. I am only about to be 30, but in just the 14 years I have been driving it has gotten much worse. Before you would occasionally run into one of these idiots in the left lane, now it is car after car after car. It causes traffic jams, accidents, road rage, etc. Move your nancy a$$ over to the right lane. It's all about laziness. Those people don't want to be bothered by traffic coming onto the highway from on ramps, so they just camp out in the passing lane.

Thank you to the other posters who agree that this women DESERVED to be ticketed. I'm so damn tired of people driving slower than everyone else in the 'FAST' lane. If everyone, but the people behind (and they get over to pass you) you pass you, YOU ARE DRIVING TOO SLOW, and could be the reason an accident occurs! Either drive faster, or get over to the slow lane.

I wish they'd ticket these people just as much as they ticket the excessive speeders.

Many of the "Left Laners" I see do it on purpose. They see it as their job to make sure no one else drives faster than the speed limit. Self-important tools.

This is great. Idiots like this old woman cause many accidents, even if they are not involved in them. They force people to take the dangerous action of passing them on the right. Most states have laws against impeding the flow of traffic which is exactly what she was doing by sitting in the left lane of a major freeway crawling along below the speed limit. If you want to slow down, then move over into one of the slow lanes. Do not sit in the left lane holding up all the cars behind you who do not feel a need to slow down. It is not up to you to save the rest of us by forcing us to slow down by sitting in the fast lane crawling along. You create an incredible danger from all of the frustrated drivers behind you trying to get around your dumb ass. The left lane of a major freeway usually moves at least ten mph faster than the speed limit, unless there is heavy traffic. If you are not going to keep pace then move over!!! It is about time that law enforcement took the serious danger people like this woman represent and started issuing tickets to them. They are far more of a hazzard than the person going ten miles over the speed limit in the left lane and keeping with the flow of traffic.

I have no sympathy for those left lane dawdlers. I wish they were ticketed more often. They slow down everything and people end up having to pass them on the right. That's when things get CRAAAAAZY.

Bob-2112 - Not only are you absolutely wrong and out of line, but your one of these morons that causes problems.

Correct, the speed limit was 65. However, the law also states the left lane is for passing cars and at all other times you should be in the right lane. This woman was in fact going 63, so she should have been in the right lane to allow those going 65 (not 70, 80, 90) to pass her. She broke the rule, so she got a ticket as she should have.

It is not your job to police peoples speeds. Move over to the right lane and laugh at them when you pass them after they get pulled over if that is what makes your life worthwhile.

Left lane is for passing, not slowing down when its windy. That is what the actual fine is for. Failure to pull to the right after passing someone.

The left lane is a passing lane on Rt 95. Doing under the speed limit is more dangerous then going over the speed limit..can cause accidents galore.

Glad she got a ticket..stay in the right lane if you want to go slow!

Not ALL states have a law mandating that the left lane is for passing only. In fact, Virginia states local traffic should be in the right lane and through traffic in the left - also that slow traffic should keep right (which fits with the other half). Having lived in states with both types of laws (I lived in NJ for 18 months) I can attest that you need to know what the law is in the state in which you are driving. Virginia also has a law that if you are impeding traffic you will be ticketed... regardless of whether you are driving under, at or even OVER the speed limit.

From the AAA web site, the e-mail address of the AAA spokesperson John Townsend is jtownsend@aaamidatlantic.com

I just dropped him a note to let him know how I feel about left-lane hogs. Please be polite and reasonable, as that is more likely to produce action in the AAA than a flaming screed.

Disrupt traffic, get a ticket. I don't see the problem here.

Here is an excellent clip on YouTube - "Cop Screws with Slow Driver in the Fast Lane".

It cracks me up and was totally called for. The cop in this case didn't pull over the driver and issue a ticket, but he used a very funny and effective method!

Watch and enjoy :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJjtQKND4W8

Completely acceptable. The left lane is for passing only. This isn't something so out of the ordinary though. When the speed limit went from 55 to 70 in Texas (several years ago), we were instructed to keep going 55 until the new 70MPH signs went up. The new signs went up and I happily went up to 70 (not in the left lane) only to be stopped by a police officer. Apparently my gauge was a little off because he wrote me up for doing 68 in a 55. Armed with pictures and notices of when the signs went up I went into court and convinced the judge I was not speeding. When ordered to pay the fine anyway I requested a reason since I was going under the speed limit and the fine was for speeding. Her answer - "Yes, but only by 2 MPH".

Says video is no longer available. Too bad, sounds like a good one. :)

Exactly.

Oh, so many times over the years I've cursed the idiots that drive under the speed limit in the passing lane, wishing a patrolman would pull them over and give them a ticket.

She's an idiot, for whom I have not a trace of sympathy.

If you want to cruise below the speed limit get the heck out of the passing lane. You have no business being there.

If the ticket is for blocking in the left lane when another lane is available it is legitimate under State law if there is a requirement for slower traffic to keep right as there should be.

Should not be described as a ticket for "going too slow"--the slow lane might have been wide open

In states without such a law it is still common decency and good practice to not block a left lane when other lanes are available unless there is a left hand exit that one must use ahead. Particularly on a limited access highway as opposed to a neighborhood boulevard.

Was the police car hung up in the congestion built up behind a left lane bandit?

Just flipped a jerk the finger for the same crap on my way to work this morning. PA has a 2 mile limit in the passing lane. I followed mr 45 in a 55 for 7 miles while he stayed neck and neck with a delivery truck and blocked both lanes. This part of rural PA only has 7 miles of 4 lane highway. Enjoy your ticket lady, keep fighting that speed limit violation you think you got.. LOL

You left lane drivers ever see that sign with black letters on a white background that says Slower Traffic Keep Right, or the more-restrictive Keep Right Except to Pass sign? A white sign with black letters is a regulatory sign which does involve legal consequence for ignoring. There is such a law, and in most States it is a legal 2-point ticket for failing to yield the passing lane to faster traffic, in most States regardless of the speed that you think that you are moving too. Some States, like Michigan for instance, can charge you with a 3-point violation for holding-up faster traffic too.

This isn't a new law, it is an old law, much older than this 2002 story from the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/23/automobiles/road-rules-highway-tip-no-1-slow-traffic-keep-right.html

The law was enforced in Michigan when I was a kid in the 1960s and 1970s, and it is enforced in Chicago today too.

Perhaps this piece from Massachusetts Institute of Technology will help you understand the law?

http://www.mit.edu/~jfc/right.html

It is also Federal Uniform Traffic Code too:

The Uniform Vehicle Code states:

Upon all roadways any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall be driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic ...

Note that this law refers to the "normal" speed of traffic, not the "legal" speed of traffic. The 60 MPH driver in a 55 MPH zone where everybody else is going 65 MPH must still move right to comply with the law.

My guess is that is what happened here, as driving 63 mph in a 65 mph zone in the far left lane when the average speed of left lane traffic was 68 mph will get you a ticket for failing to yield the passing lane, while the 68 mph average speed of the left lane is not fast-enough to get the individual drivers ticketed for speeding either.

Next time, do what's right, and don't hold-up faster traffic in the passing lane, as that is illegal under the law!

Years ago, I was driving on the NJ Turnpike doing the speed limit There was a little old lady driving in the left lane. She was driving below the speed limit and she looked like she was petrified, white knuckles and all. She wouldn't move over, so I passed her on the right. I'll be damned if I didn't get a ticket for illegally passing on the right.

The officer who gave this lady a ticket deserves a medal! It's about time idiots holding up traffic by cruising in the left lane were fined. This rude driving habit causes more accidents than speeding!

She deserved the ticket, this is a non-story! Can we get some responsible headlines here for a change?

Forest roamer...

This law is egregious? Traffic laws are there to prevent accidents? Quite a contradiction there since driving slow in the passing lane can cause accidents.

I can tell that we will never have a German autobahn system here in the U.S. precisely because of the penchant some drivers have for driving slowly in the left lane. The Germans have no problem with ticketing slow drivers occupying the left lane and I would imagine that those ticketed drivers complain about the tickets because they were still within the autobahn speed limit.

BTW - I would venture to say that 98% of new vehicles today can easily exceed any listed US interstate speed limit and do so safely. Exceptions being weather and traffic density and ones concern for fuel efficiency.

@TFNJ...that video is still on youtube. And if you're from NJ you'll like it, its a NJ state trooper doing it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJjtQKND4W8

This is the law in NJ....only passing cars drive in the left lane. And only while passing! Reno911, it is dangerous for her to be in the left lane. If someone is driving under the speed limit and cannot handle the right lane, what does that say about their driving? It is the law for a reason. She would not have been ticketed for 67 as it was not substantial enough. You are suppose to move with the flow of traffic and yield for drivers that are trying to pass.

Traffic laws on U.S highways should mirror that of the Audubon in Germany in that it is illegal for any motorist to drive in the far left lane unless they are actively passing another vehicle

The point is she didn't yield to the police car trying to pass her legally.......failure to move to the right

I hope someone sets up one of those contribution money-raising websites ... for the state trooper who issued the ticket!! I will be the first person to send him $25 bucks as a THANK YOU!

Here in Virginia, does the right lane travel faster than the left lane due to those idiots! Our left lanes here in Norfolk are usually clogged with people who have no clue what a PASSING lane is for. You can flash your lights at them to move over all you want. They drive like they are entitled to stay there. I have seen them come from the right hand entrance onto I64, travel over all the way left and then stay there, never PASSING anyone.

It is the LAW in Virginia:

§ 46.2-842.1. Drivers to give way to certain overtaking vehicles on divided highways.

It shall be unlawful to fail to give way to overtaking traffic when driving a motor vehicle to the left and abreast of another motor vehicle on a divided highway. On audible or light signal, the driver of the overtaken vehicle shall move to the right to allow the overtaking vehicle to pass as soon as the overtaken vehicle can safely do so. A violation of this section shall not be construed as negligence per se in any civil action. State Police say this applies even when faster traffic is speeding.

"The next time you feel like driving slow move over to the right lane, which is the right lane. The left lane is for passing other cars. Read the driver's manual."

How could 63 be considered slow when the maximum is 65? Anyone looking to pass her on the right would only have been able to do so at 2 additional miles per hour. It is true that the left lane is for passing, but 63 in a 65 is only two miles shy of speeding.

the thinker-318752

woman get ticket for driving 63 mph - in a 65 zone

NO!

woman was pulled over and cited for failing to move right.

Believe it or not many states have laws requiing people to keep right except to pass. "Camping out" in the left lane is illegal. Noting the speed she was travelling is just a distractor used by BSNBC.

Please Think about it "thinker." People have come here and read the story. Many have commented on it. This story has raised the awareness of this issue. Maybe even a few folks that like to stay in the left lane have been a little educated in this issue. Now, Think about it "thinker." Would you have clicked on, read, and commented on a story titled "Woman Gets Ticket For Left Lane Violation" or not? Not so much "thinking" going on there, is it? So where's the real BS? And BTW... don't like NBC? Don't watch. Don't click. Don't read. Go back to Faux Nuts where you obviously belong. If your whole life is to continue to make yourself full of hate and miserable, do it elsewhere. See how simple it is? Now that's Thinking. Maybe try it sometime for yourself, instead of having a misnomer moniker to which you can obviously never achieve. Kinda like Intelligent Congressman.

Hmm, I think she got the ticket for not moving into the right lane, not for going 2 miles under. And this would apply to anyone hogging the left lane at 2 miles over or 10 miles over if you don't slide out of the passing lane! Anyone going ten miles over the limit should get sacked big time.

And JASON above who cuts the slow driver off is risking his life and the life of someone else because he's the boss, right? WTF?

Mike277, LOL OMG that was awesome!! Yeah, Jersey here.

Here is something for those of us who have a hard time remembering the law, which also costs less than a traffic ticket for failing to yield the passing lane will too!!!

http://www.alphabetsigns.com/signs/p/TR01R4-3.html?gclid=CNXM8_P497UCFZE-Mgod-HMAOQ

The driver, who didn’t want her name used, told NBC Washington she was driving in the left lane of I-95 in Laurel last Friday when she was pulled over and cited for failing to move right.

According to the citation, she had been driving 63 mph in a 65 mph zone.

“[I was] really shocked,” she said. “I thought, ‘Oh, my God, you’ve got to be kidding me.’”

Ohh I was sooo shocked!! Duh huh huh huh!!! Ya think, el stupido!?

What part of PASSING LANE do you not understand!?

Get OUT of the left lane if you're going to play 'holier than thou' driver and adhere to the posted speed crap. There's a reason it is called RUSH HOUR- you're getting off work with hundreds of thousands of others who are hauling azz and need to get somewhere without YOU obstructing lanes with your stupid crap!

NBC Washington meteorologist Doug Kammerer said that winds were gusting at about 40 mph that day.

Ohmigosh! So YOU decided that you could drive slow in the left lane because the winds were blowing so hard. Here's your wake up call: Drive in the RIGHT lane if you feel endangered!! Just direct your broom out of the left and allow the less paranoid drivers to keep the traffic flow moving.

“The reason [the ticket] is silly is because it's sending the wrong message,” said John Townsend of AAA Mid-Atlantic. “And that is, ‘We will tolerate you driving at more than the speed limit, but it you drive below the speed limit, then you’re penalized for that.’”

Penalized for driving slower in the passing lane. Hence the word: PASSING. You don't get it do you John? Oh well, go ahead and raise her rates anyway since she's an offender.

The driver has filed a complaint with Maryland State Police and plans to fight the ticket.

While police said they can’t comment on this specific ticket, they said that driving too slowly can impede traffic, and that anyone who wants to fight a citation can do so in court.

Good luck in court. She'll probably get her 'get out of jail free' card for PR purposes and go back to obstructing traffic in the left lane because she's so 'right'. There is this unwritten law of the jungle out there you will have to deal with, in case you didn't notice. Enjoy being tailgated by the crazies out there and endanger yourself and others because YOU think you get to make the rules. Enjoy!

Wanna see the world pass you by? Drive the speed limit on any given major roadway in America.

While I can understand her reasoning, I can also understand the cops. She should have moved over.

A drivers license is a "Privilege" and many do not understand let alone know or understand this fact.

She will lose her case because she has not followed the proper procedures its that simple. If this lady would only pickup a drivers manual and read up on the laws she would see where she has erred and then just accept it and move on.

She was a danger to other drivers by holding up the flow of traffic yet she just cannot see that. She also stated that she had "slowed down" to be safer because of adverse weather conditions which a meteorologist said were wind gusts of up to 40 mph at the time she was tagged but she had only reduced her speed by a mere 2 mph which is ridiculous all by itself when all she had to do to avoid all of this was to move over to the slower lane to the right which would have made it way safer for everyone but she didn't do that and still doesn't get it which is sad and also unsafe and why she was ultimately tagged/ticketed.
Hopefully she will learn her lesson and move on but I dought it.

She sounds like the type of driver that is scared of certain driving conditions and that in itself is danger to other drivers because we sometimes do not get much time to see what these drivers are going to do next which usually isn't what an experienced driver would do. If the weather conditions at the time were so horrible the trooper would have known this and not bothered her.

There are way to many drivers out there doing just what she did and they are getting away with it but hopefully that changes very soon. She got caught and now she should just pay her ticket and get on with life, plus brush up on the drivers manual.
I myself read up on drivers manual yearly just so I can keep up with any changes that may happen as its my butt if I get a ticket and I know I wont get national news coverage just because I think I am right and the law is wrong.

Driving is a privilege and is earned and not a right just because you pass a test.

Bob-2112 - You are again proving that you are in fact the problem. This time with your mentality. So since you feel that it is more relaxing to drive in the middle lane (which you should note that a lot of us only have two lane highways to use. This issue is not a major one on 3+ lane highways), the rest of us need to just think like you. Driving a little faster is not all about getting somewhere fast. 55mph is horribly slow for most advanced drivers. Driving around 70mph is a more relaxing drive to me personally, but I am not going to demand everyone drive as fast as me, just move your relaxing slow driving self on over to the right lane, that's all we ask.

Look for other states' left lane laws here:

http://www.mit.edu/~jfc/right.html

The cop was probably stuck with me in a mile long blood clot caused by this buffoon. Or maybe that was the other jerk that was clogging up traffic. I suppose it could have been any of them! They space themselves out about every two miles or so (the frequency of complete and utter madness). They just don't get it.

It's about lane courtesy, people. Not just the left lane. Allow people to be mobile on the highway. Here are some general rules (feel free to add):

1) pay attention to driving (not all your other distractions -put down your PHONE, iPad, Sudoku, rubiks cube, etc.). When did driving get so boring people felt the need to multitask at the wheel? DRIVE!!

2) don't stay in somebody's lane change space. I like to be able to change lanes somewhat freely without some d1ck racing to stay in my blind spot - like a hemorrhoid.

3) If you see traffic is backing up behind you - even if it's because the jerk to your left, GET OVER! Everyone is responsible for keeping traffic flowing.

janellect - First off, my comment was partially joking, which you would obviously never get. Second, this kind of driver in the story is the one who risks people safety by causing traffic jams. If everyone stayed clear of the left lane, us speedsters could drive 80mph uninterrupted to our destination. In fact, if they invent a way to make every car on the highway go the same speed, they could set it to 80mph and there would never be a traffic jam or accidents. Slow drivers are the major cause of traffic accidents on the highway. It may not get reported that way, but you can believe it was the original cause of the accident.

This sounds silly on the surface but most states have statutes that require you to move to the right lane, especially if you're going slower that the posted speed limit.

If she was impeding traffic, she was creating a dangerous situation by forcing other drivers to go around her, the ticket is deserved.

Any bets on whether she was driving a Prius? At least half the time I see one of these people clogging up the left lane, it's someone driving a Prius. I agree with Stan, it's like they have taken it upon themselves to slow everyone else down. There are signs every few miles that clearly state "Keep Right Except To Pass". If you're not passing someone or briefly pulling to the left to allow someone to merge from an on ramp, stay in the right lane.

Besides, if someone wants to go faster, let them. Let them clear out all of the speed traps for you.

This should happen more often, being an inconsiderate jerk should not be tolerated when driving. If you are not competent enough to drive,at least, the speed limit, then surrender your license.

Failure to yield to someone breaking the law should not be an actionable offence.

So you think that clogging up the passing lane when you're not passing is acceptable as long as you're doing the speed limit? What if the person trying to pass you is doing so because they or a passenger of their car is having a medical emergency? Would you feel so smug about potentially letting someone die because you feel that people should be able to "enforce" the law by playing games in traffic? Let the cops enforce the law. That's not your place. If you want to enforce the law than feel free to call the police academy and give it an honest go.

Bob-2112

"Am I not breaking the law fast enough for you?"

Technically the speed LIMIT is 65, not 70, 75 or 90. If you're going to choose to break the law and speed, YOU have to figure out a way around her. She should have moved over, out of courtesy. But if you're going over 65 especially during dangerous conditions...YOU'RE breaking the law too. Seriously folks, when you grow up and get older/have kids you'll understand. The freeway is not yours alone, take a deep breath, calm down and safely pass.

In Virginia:

http://www.mit.edu/~jfc/right.html
46.2-842.1 requires vehicles in the left lane to yield to faster traffic; State Police say this applies even when faster traffic is speeding.

JS in SD - just where in the article does it say she is an "old lady". Disgusting how people call elderly folks old. Least the elderly folks had respect for their elders. I bet they never called anyone an "old lady". Some of you will be lucky if you live to be elderly.

You just assumed she was old because she was driving slow. ASSume.

She needs to change her MD plates in for some FLA plates

JS in SD - just where in the article does it say she is an "old lady". Disgusting how people call elderly folks old. Least the elderly folks had respect for their elders. I bet they never called anyone an "old lady". Some of you will be lucky if you live to be elderly.

I've seen some people with think skin get all bent about nothing before, but WOW. FYI, elderly means old.

I hate drivers who drive like this. MOVE OVER!!! Stay in the right lane. Glad she got a ticket. Road courtesy is nice.

Bob-2112 said "Seriously try out going slower for a week and see it really is a more peaceful drive."

I do drive slow, at exactly the speed limit. But I NEVER do it in the left lane, except in those rare circumstances where it is legally required or if I am passing. I'm a truck driver, but I also drive that way in my personal car. Nobody is complaining about her speed, only that she was doing it in the left lane. That puts everyone else in a difficult position. She's driving 2 mph under the speed limit, so no one else is allowed to drive the speed limit, as passing on the right is illegal. Who is she to dictate that EVERYONE else must drive under the speed limit?- such arrogance is breathtaking. Why anyone would defend her actions is beyond me. It's simple; if the cars to your right are moving slower than you, you're in the correct lane. If they're moving faster than you, you need to move over. What about that is so hard to understand?

Good job officer! Glad to see how many others agree. Want to go slow, move to right. I can't believe the idiot from AAA defended this. Complete joke. Not to mention the headline is total BS. She got a ticket for "camping" in the left lane or whatever the local AHJ calls it. Would love to see more of this. As long as she was in the lane for the proper length of time/distance and going under the limit and didn't move over with no other clear reasons preventing her from doing so then she got what she deserves. I'll be nice and say fine, no other violations then you get a warning. I hate the speed traps and other coffer stuffers as much as everyone else but this is a problem that needs addressed and law that needs enforced more. It would solve alot of traffic problems IMO. That and more stringent driving tests and retests after certain age.

It is time

I just want to say, bless all of you rational people that support this ticketed menace to the roads! I've been living in this area for 16 years and every day as I'm trying to get home from work, I'm cursing these mouth-breathing "campers" that piddle along in the left lane with 20 cars stacked up behind them. Got a permit for that camp site sunshine?!?! This has got to be the worst region in the country for these idiots that never learned that the left lane of a multilane highway is for PASSING. I've traveled most of the states by car and motorcycle and there are places that you would get run off the road for being such an inconsiderate moron.

MRI_Virginia - you are spot on and when VA implemented that ordinance several years ago, I was hoping Maryland would follow suit. Maybe now they are starting to get with the program. They have my full and unconditional support to ticket for this as much as possible.

Buy the ticket, take the ride!

Well I see both sides to this one, if she was holding up traffic then yes if you read the rules of the road you have to go with the flow of Traffic and if traffic is going over the speed limit then you have to go with it or get out of the way.

Yet for me and the freeway I take, there is not much traffic. I go 5 to 6 MPH over the speed limit on a two lane freeway. Right lane is for slow traffic and traffic entering and exiting the freeway. Yet I stick to the fast lane, but I will not move over to the right lane for some idiot doing 80 or higher do to I'm not willing to move over and get caught up with traffic going 40 to 50 MPH, when I am already going 5 to 6 MPH over the speed limit. If you are in that much of a hurry that is your problem, not mine you go around and deal with the slower **** cars.

Next time leave sooner and you will not be late.

Should have lied and called it fifty.

RM fields .... great video link. I love what the cop did to herd the car out of the fast/passing lane and then went on. Thanks for sharing.

I wish more people who just 'sit' in the left lane would get more tickets!! They think they are driving safe but what they are doing is creating a higher, unsafe environment. This creates situations were faster traffic must swerve from lane to lane to avoid these drivers. More times than not, they are on the cell phone. If in this persons explanation that it was windy and she did not feel safe, why was she even on the roadway. There are plenty of other roads she could have been on!! No pity. I wish more police officers would do this!!!

I would have sped up to 69 to see what would have happened next, actually...

OMG this happens daily to me, more so than ever before. This and drivers who don't feel the need to signal any more are the two biggest drivers of road stress for everyone. It si always one car that decides everyone behind them should follow their lead. If i didn't have a brand new ride i would so be considering bumping them out of the way, safely of course, sic.

Then leatherneck you do deserve to be ticketed.

I hate left lane bandits as much as anyone, but this isn't an easy ticket to support because driving too fast for current conditions, even if you are driving the speed limit, is also a ticketable offense.

The cop should have given her a warning, unless he had video proof that she would not move over when there was space for her to do so in a safe manner, and was purposefully traveling in the left lane to impede the flow of traffic.

It does not matter if you are going 180 mph. If you are not actively passing, move to the right.

JunkHead... I also agree with you about the "roids" you mentioned who hang out in blind spots...DO NOT ride next to or next to but slightly behind(Blindspot) other vehicles...I think some of the people who do this are hoping for an injury, maybe they want Percocet ?

But what about the winds? She might have had to suddenly reduce speed due to heavy crosswinds and not had opportunity to move over.

Another thing, as someone who has lived all my life in severe winter country, concentrating vehicles in right lane during storm causes buildup of snow on the left lane. If you try to pass a car in the right lane you discover you have to reduce speed 5-10 mph or even more to avoid losing control on snow/ice buildup in the left lane. So you're stuck regardless what lane you use. This is one downside of keeping traffic to the right.

I hope you are ticketed promptly Leatherneck.

People that drive in the left lane and are not actively passing are not fit for society and belong in an institution for corrective therapy.

About time someone forced slow drivers out of the left lane. As far as not being able to move over to the right lane...if she was doing 65 MPH she should have been in the right lane to begin with unless she was passing someone. But then again, if everyone was passing her on the right and keeping her from moving to the right, she was in the wrong lane to begin with.

There are drivers out there that should be permanently parked in their driveway instead of out on the highway. I think she's a candidate for that role.

People who drive in the left lane also wait till the cashier is all done ringing up their 30 items in the 20 or less checkout to begin pulling out their wallet(In the old days that is when they would start writing Wal-Mart on their check when they knew the whole time in line they were in Wal-mart)

They need some good ADHD meds(Meth)

"she was pulled over and cited for failing to move right"

Sorry, I do not understand the headline? She was ticketed for not moving over.... speed has little to do with the issue.

For all those saying she shouldn't have been ticketed. Really did ya think to read the article first before posting, in some state it's the law, or are you one of those that only follow the laws you like. For those that think they're too important to move over, there's road etiquette and then there's retards, enough said.

Letherneck must be from Nevada, they don't move for no one.

Oregon would make a killing in tickets IF (if only) they would enforce it here. The only thing worse is the speed limit laws here. 55 for trucks and 65 for cars. What a cluster that is. That messes up trafic worse than the campers in the left lane.

It's common sense people...don't camp in the laft lane.

@honestdebate
Your statement "I've seen some people with think skin get all bent about nothing before, but WOW. FYI, elderly means old." might have more umph to it if it made sense. People with THICK skin usually don't get bent out of shape. BTW I'm not bent out of shape. I just get tired of the people calling the elder generation old lady, old man etc. Just disrespectful. My opinion, that's all. And I am by no means old. I guess my mom and dad just taught me right.

That's right! Move your slow driving *ss out of the fast lane! I give a thumbs up to the officer!! Move it over or get a ticket, I'm all for it!

justme -

Way to not have enough sense to pick up on a typo. But you do have thin skin if you got mad about people calling elderly people old. I didn't say it, you did.

I'll stick to the right lane. But don't complain when I cut you off to make my left exit.

She was slowing traffic so the officer couldn't write citations for all the people trying to speed. Had to meet his quota somehow.

Wow, are people hot under the collar over this! So would she have gotten the same ticket if she'd been doing 65 or 66mph? And yeah, sometimes even when I'm in the right lane only doing 7-8 mph over the posted limit, I feel like I'm crawling and just not speeding quite enough for all the @!$%#s that are too important to Slow TF Down

Are you kidding -- this is the cause of your road rage? Nobody likes a slow driver in the left lane, but if this is causing you "road rage" you're the problem, and kind of an a**hole.

I can see theree are about 100 morons here that don't obey the speed limit so feel this woman deserves to be ticketed. Unless there is a minimum speed sign posted she did absolutley nothing wrong. the speed limit is the MAXIMUM speed you can legally travel not the ONLY speed you can travel.Although she probalbly should have moved over she was not required to. She was after all going 62. 3 MPH slower will get you where your going what 4 seconds later ? Give me a break people. She and others like her are not the reason for accidents it is people driving beyond thier skill level and thinking they are professionals. With the wind gusting 40 MPH she was most likely the only safe driver on the road that day the way it sounds.

It is admirable that over 99% of the people posting understand "what the left lane" is used for. Some will never grasp what proper driving is all about. They are usually preoccupied by the phone, pedicure appointments, or when will her husband fill the car up with gas. These people are dangerous and should be reminded every once and a while that THEY DO NOT CONTROL THE ROAD OR ANYTHING ELSE. She should be given "public service time" that requires her to be sent to accident scenes after road rage accidents along with a stiff fine. Her actions are the cause of many of these accidents. Roadway obstructions like this should be punished severely.This is something ALL STATES should make it a priority to enforce.

might be she just has to much turtle in her...for life in the fast lane...but she could have talked herself out of the ticket...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqg_rb59WYE

justme-1425428

I'm 71 and that's elderly. BUT, I am not old.

.

Just a note...the speed limit was 65 so really she was not obstructing traffic. The left lane is for passing...not speeding. You could just as easily be given a ticket for doing 66 in that lane by a cop having a bad day. Oh and the common thought that they have to give you 5 mph over the posted limit...lol tell that to a cop getting divorced who just found out his ex is about to rape him in court or some other fun situation like that...find out what they really have to give you.

I am continually amazed at the number of people who seem to think that the signs that say "Slower Traffic Use Right Lane" don't apply to them. A good rule to follow is if more than two or three cars pass you on the right, you should be in the right lane.

Post the sign:

"Long Term Barge Moorage - Right Lane Only" (maybe the left lane SUV/pickumup nappers will get it - maybe they won't). In every state I've driven in are the ubiquitous "Slower Traffic Move right" or "Stay Right Except To Pass" signs. Do these require further explanation?

To put in more elementary terms; if you aren't overtaking the traffic in the lane to your immediate right - you're in the wrong lane.

What is so difficult about getting the hell out of the way?

@chris-2252558

Has anyone ever heard of an accident caused by a motorist going almost the speed limit?

Yes. Usually people who are holding up traffic are completely oblivious to their surroundings or harbor hostility toward other drivers. In the first case, they often cut people off unintentionally or change lanes into them. In the second case, they cut people off unintentionally or force others into adjacent lanes. These are only 2 of many examples that I could come up with but both are dangerous situations that cause accidents.

If that was the case then semi trucks would be causing a crap load of accidents by moving in and out of the left lanes!!!!!

They do, that's why many of the states that have the "keep right except to pass" laws, also have ones written to make it illigal for "semi trucks" to enter the left lane.

Personally, I wish we all had to take the written exam(computer test, could even be done online) each time we renew our license, or every 5 years. If everyone knew the actual laws of the road, and were a bit more coureous to others in general, we would be much better off.

1. I don't like slow drivers hogging the fast (passing?) lane any more than those many irate posters who have already weighed in here on the subject.

2. There's not enough information here to tell if she was really impeding traffic.

3. Speed limits, often absurdly low, are indeed the law. So, by that rule, she was impeding drivers who wanted to go at 64 or 65 mph. But we do know that isn't reality on the roads.

4. Windy. Different circumstances. Still not enough info.

5. Why wasn't she just given a warning? Not enough info.

6. Ahh, but the clincher, since this happened in Maryland: Was the officer carrying a gun, or just a pop tart chewed into the shape of a gun?

We do not live in a police state! I repeat! We do not live in a police state!

The Democrats in Md. will screw anyone to get funds. She most likely have to add some Tax money to teh fine. Tax and Spend Democrtas have never allowed a posible tax go unnoticed.

@ Bob-2112:

"For a test, I drove 65 in the middle lane. It still took an hour and I mostly avoided the above issues"

You totally contradicted yourself...you're so busy trying to argue your point, that you're not paying attention to what you're saying!

I'm so glad your test drive worked out for you in the middle lane...where you were supposed to be if you're not passing!!

Do you get it now, Bob-2112?? It's not difficult!! If you're not passing, stay out of the left lane!! Don't be a rude roadhog...we all have to share the road.

GOOD JOB TO THE POLICE OFFICER WHO TICKETED THIS TROUBLE-MAKER!! WISH THERE WERE MORE OF THESE TICKETS ISSUED...WOULD HELP OUT THE REST OF US WHO KNOW HOW TO DRIVE!

My gawd so many responses and mostly 'get out of my way', 'your too slow in the fast lane', etc.

First off, let me be clear- this lady probably deserved a ticket.

But have any of you thought about what you do on the freeway? Everyone haulin' so much ass all the while complaining about the price of gas. Trying to go 90 on the freeway, when you will always encounter trucks or slow drivers or other obstacles to going 90 means you never get to go a steady speed. You are constantly yo-yo-ing your speed up and down, sucking gas and getting terrible mileage. Usually about half what you would if you ran a steady 70.

I know it feels slow. But it really isn't. Try it on your commute or whatever section of highway you drive repeatedly. If you knock a few mph off your 'target' speed you get there within 3-5 minutes of if you try to drive 90.

Save a little gas. Stop supporting terrorism. A lot less stress too.

You know, 'stress'- that thing so many of you called road rage.

@Airborne_DAD:

Sounds like you're a "left lane cruiser". The only people who complain about "left lane cruisers" are left lane cruisers. If you're a right lane cruiser, left laners are not in your way. The only people they can possibly impede are those others in the left lane who want to go faster than them.

Legally speaking, the speed limit is exactly that: a limit. You cannot legally drive faster than that (regardless of the lane). Even when passing, you are not supposed to exceed the limit. Technically, all lanes except the left have varying allowable speeds, up to but not exceeding the limit. The left lane has ONE speed, the posted limit (in this case 65). However, considering all the possible variables, I do not see 2 MPH as a significant difference to warrant a citation.

BTW, I am a "left lane cruiser". I never complain about anyone "only" doing the limit in the left lane. I'm smart enough to realize they're legal. If I come up on such a person (obviously I must be going faster than them), I do the logical and perfectly legal maneuver of passing them to their right. I have absolutely no problem with this.

One of my favorite types of drivers are the ones who will catch up to me (I'm normally at 10 over the limit) and ride my tail for MILES, even though there are ample opportunites to pass me on the right. These people have no problem with A) speeding and B) tailgating (two of the most commonly ticketed offenses), but won't pass on the right because they think that's illegal. Even if it was, you're already speeding and tailgating. Why do you suddenly become Joe-law-abiding-citizen when it comes to passing on the right?

63 in a 65....by the looks of it, the people on this thread think she should be sitting in a court room in Aurora CO next to el psycho carrot top waiting to be tried

so as long as you have a car that is going more than the speed limit, safety is not a concern...and hey, the people on this thread wouldn't even stop if a baby was walking across the left lane...they deem it as "their Lane" and heaven forbid we mess with people who so desperately need to get somewhere, probably to fatty mc fatty fast food joint, and absolutely need the left lane.

because that is the god lane...you know it belongs to mothers/fathers who drag their child around because they cant even wait long enough to let their kid tie their own shoes...before the car door is slammed on them, they are chucked into a seat and zoom zoom crazy mom and dad are desperate for their Mc D's....don't dare get in the way of those who use the left lane...you might end up in prison...or dead...because hey folks...speed is all that matters in this case...run over ppl who cares. mow them down...as long as your in the left lane.....your god.

Give that officer a promotion.

digitalnoise Comment collapsed by the community

That's worthy of a warning, not a ticket.

The signs that say "Slower traffic keep right" or "Left lane for passing only" are warnings just like the woman that asked a cop for a warning on speeding, and he replies "there's warnings all up and down the highway, they say speed limit 55."

Only a $90 fine?

In Texas they'd execute her by morning.

@roadlesstraveled

Your post is full of false opinions. A majorty of the replies you're complaining about are from people who do get right when they are not passing, or move right when someone comes up behind them. We need more people on the road to do this. I would be willing to bet a majority of those people are more aware of their surroundings and other people on the road than the "left lane sitters" being complained about.

Re: those of us who are in that "more aware of their surroundings" crowd

"wouldn't even stop if a baby was walking across the left lane" first off, this is a highly unlikely scenario, but I'll run with it. If there's a baby walking across the lane, traffic likely isn't moving because there's been some sort of massive accident and a baby has somehow been thrown clear of the pileup and is now wandering around the highway.

If we're going to be satirical though(I believe you don't actually think there are babys walking across the highway on a regular basis) we would simply see the baby coming up, because we are more aware, and change lanes to avoid the baby. Or, we wouldn't be sitting in the left lane in the first place because the lane to the right is clear of obstruction.

I don't know what to say about the last section of your post; it doesn't make any sense at all.

Dear chris-2252558 you are clearly one of those idiots who only reads the heading of the article before commenting, please do us all a favor and discontinue your internet service. She was ticketed for failing to move out of the PASSING lane, she was going under the speed limit in the PASSING lane! If she felt so unsafe she should have been in the slow lane until getting to an exit where she should have parked her car and waited for the wind to die down or taken slower side streets home.

@Bob-2112:

I agree with you. In fact, I've got a sticker in my rear window specifically there for these types of people. It reads "I'm not driving too slow, you're SPEEDING". If the speed limit +10 is too slow for you, call 911 and report me. Just make sure you leave YOUR info so the cops can ask you what speed is fast enough for you.

@cannonballer:

The problem with the "slower traffic keep right" signs is they don't explain "slower than what?". Slower than the speed limit? OK, that leaves me out. Slower than the fastest car? That advocates speeding.

Although I don't like left lane piggies either. The public needs to become aware traffic tickets are mainly NOT for public safety. TRAFFIC TICKETS SUPPORT INCOME FOR PUBLIC FUNDS AND TO PAD THE INCOME OF INSURANCE COMPANIES. Locally, we have had such a drop in traffic citations that our local government is under budget and now focuses on the length of your grass in the Summer and shovel walks within 72 hours after a snowfall.

Most of these posters sound like the same a holes that want to drive at whatever speed they want to, regardless of the posted speed limit. The same ones who will tailgate, flash lights and make obscene gestures at you, at any speed if traffic prevents them from getting around you. And is does not matter what lane or the speed being driven.

Speeders cause a lot more accidents those drivers driving the posted limit. If more people obeyed traffic laws there would be fewer accidents, lower insurance rates and so on.

But this is America full of more entitled people than ever before and plenty of lawyers just waiting for the opportunity to defend them and put money in their pockets.

And yes I have done my share of exceeding the speed limit in the past. But over time I have learned that not only is it safer to stay within the speed limit it is cheaper to as well.

I have no problem with those who complain about those staying in the left lane. However, I wish I could know the percentage of those complaining who, if the truth were known, also stay in the left lane, but think "they" are entitled to do so, because they are driving faster than everyone else.

If you complain about the left lane hog, and are always sure that you switch to the right lane yourself every time you finish passing a car, then I have absolutely no problem with your complaint. All I ask is that those who are pointing out the error of others, shouldn't feel they are the owners of that lane either, just because they choose to break the speed limit.

Toll road in Austin, Tx has speed limit of 80 and 85 depending on location and there is always somebody in left lane going 60 and refusing to move over.

VERY DANGEROUS !!!

WmTRiker: I want a sticker that says: If you're willing to pay for my speeding ticket then by all means tailgate.

As to your second comment.... I think common sense and a drivers manual take care of the sign issue you speak of.

i drive so slow that turtle's...flip me off...this is road rage...in backwoods arkansas...

This is delicious... these comments! I read the article which I found had little implication to the headline. I'm with you all about the slow-pokes in the passing lane.

Add my vote... and I love the comment congratulating the police officer. Now we need to do the same out west :)

Good for the cops! ...

Who are kidding - you road queen! - you could had easily driven on the right lane but you decided on the left lane to purposely slow the rest of us and show us off how special you are, and damn it! - 'I'm entitled!' Bitch!! ('bitch' is another name for a female jerk.)

LOL honestdebate - has nothing to do with a typo. It has to do with you not knowing what the saying of thick skin means. You used it wrong. I just your post may have a more umph to it if it was used right - which it wasn't. I make typos every day. I don't call people on them. I guess I do have thin (not thick - if I had thick it wouldn't bother me - get my drift?) skin when I hear some people (usually nothing but punks) calling elders old lady old man. And like I said before, no where in the article did it say the woman's age. Some people shouldn't make assumptions.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get out of the left lane is the passing lane!!! If there are cars traveling faster than you, MOVE OVER!!!

go get'em highway patrol...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_wLVCLPx0M

As usual, msnbc throws up a completely misleading headline. She didn't get a ticket for going too slow, she got one for camping out in the fast lane.

We have to be the rudest drivers in the world and I wish more people would get ticketed for this.

@moonlight-3825736:

As I said in another post, I drive 10 over the limit (with the cruise set) in the left lane. I have gone through radar traps like this without being stopped. I've had cops come up behind me...and go around on the right. I've never been stopped for this, even though I know I could be (but only for the 10 over, not for "impeding traffic").

As for the "slower traffic keep right", common sense would indicate that that applies to slower than the speed limit, as anything faster is illegal and any cop who stops someone for impeding faster than the limit traffic is advocating speeding. I don't do this to act as some sort of "vigilante", I do it to keep me from weaving in and out of traffic. Since the right lane is generally slower than the limit, and I am 10 over it, I am usually 10+ MPH faster than the right lane, thus I would constantly be weaving around them if I routinely drove the right lane. And since no one can legally catch me, I can't impede anyone. Simple logic. (If you're in so much of a hurry that 75 in a 65 zone is not fast enough for you, go around or report me).

Heres a question for all you morons who are like "yeah she was in the left lane not going fast enough!" and the like. If she was doing 63 in a 65 how much MORE are YOU going to do to pass by her???? Only got 2mph there before YOUR SPEEDING! yeah we really need to get her off the road and keep morons like you on the road doing 90 because you think your a badass, or just don't care who you crash into when you lose control...

Okay...as a former police officer...here is the skinny.

In MOST (not all...but most) states, the left lane is NOT there for you to cruise along in at your own leisure. Whether you are doing the speed limit or not is not the issue. Now...having said that...some things come into play here. In many states, (and more are coming along) the far left lanes are designated as "DIAMOND" or carpool lanes, and those can be used as long as you are NOT impeding traffic by going UNDER the speed limit. The NEXT lane to the left now becomes the "left lane" for other traffic, and the laws re: left lane travel apply to that lane.

IF you choose to drive in the left lane and sit in it, you had better be sure you are watching your rear view mirror for two reasons.
A) you had better be the fastest thing in that lane, and NOT be impeding traffic. If someone comes up behind you...move over.
B) if you ARE the fastest thing in that lane, and you are over the speed limit...you WILL be subject to a ticket for excessive speed.
C) cutting in front of someone who IS impeding your flow, and then trying to "educate them" by slowing down, flashing your turn signal at them or showing the one finger salute is considered aggressive and/or road rage and can get you an overnight stay in the city/county bed & breakfast. pass the offender and be on your way.

Most likely what happened was the following:
The officer pulled up behind her and she was not doing the speed limit. She may have been paced at some point even slower than 63 MPH. When he pulled her over to speak to her about it, she probably gave him the same attitude as some of those who have commented above...insulting and derogatory with her conversation towards him. Thus, he did what he was allowed by law to do...invited her to discuss the issue with a judge.
She was wrong. Pure plain and simple. More than likely...her mouth got her in trouble more than her driving. That's the way it usually goes with these sorts of tickets. No cop in his right mind wants to give someone a ticket for such an offense...it just isn't worth the trip to court on your day off. But...when the mouth speed exceeds the brain speed of the offender...sometimes the only way to deal with it...is to issue the "stop and see the judge" invite.

Stay out of the left lane unless you're passing. In fact...in some states...the 18 wheeler rigs are PROHIBITED from ever being in the left lane of a 3+ lane hiway.

Sorry but I disagree. The "slow" on the left lane annoy me too, but the ones that drive like aggressive manaics are scary. Much more accidents are caused by the latter. I live near Maryland and the drivers on the highway are speedy. I'm not surprised the law has begun to support these speeders. If you speed like your life depends on it, it will!

I soooooo wish they had this law here in the UK.

One of the biggest driving shocks I received when I moved here was that people routinely drive 20 miles or more BELOW the speed limit...without penalty! On motorways, on two lane roads (even two lane roads where the speed limit is 60mph by the way!) anyplace, anytime, any weather conditions.

Everyone else just drives around them.

And I don't mean once in a while...I mean loads and like, ALL the fricken' time!

This country is full of really, really, really old people. All of whom managed to get their driving licence before there was any kind of testing involved. And now the rest of us are expected to accomodate their inablility to keep up. I really don't understand this as there is amazingly huge amounts of public transportaion here and everyone gets a FREE PASS to use said public transportation when they reach 65 years of age.

Goodness I miss the good 'ol USofA.

The "fast lane" or the "passing lane" is not meant for SPEEDING...which is exceeding the speed limit. Most highways have a range of speeds...from 45mph to 70mph. Driving 2 mph under the posted speed limit is not impeding traffic IN ANY WAY. Unless the cop had his lights and sirens going, she is under NO OBLIGATION to get out of his way. She will win this in court.

The rest of you idiots whining about her camping out in the fast lane are exactly what's wrong with our society today.

Most likely what happened was the following:
The officer pulled up behind her and she was not doing the speed limit. She may have been paced at some point even slower than 63 MPH. When he pulled her over to speak to her about it, she probably gave him the same attitude as some of those who have commented above...insulting and derogatory with her conversation towards him. Thus, he did what he was allowed by law to do...invited her to discuss the issue with a judge.
She was wrong. Pure plain and simple. More than likely...her mouth got her in trouble more than her driving. That's the way it usually goes with these sorts of tickets. No cop in his right mind wants to give someone a ticket for such an offense...it just isn't worth the trip to court on your day off. But...when the mouth speed exceeds the brain speed of the offender...sometimes the only way to deal with it...is to issue the "stop and see the judge" invite.

See above comment referring to idiots. As you claim to be a former police officer, it amazes me that you can't understand simple concepts like "she's not doing anything wrong if she's traveling at 99% of the posted max speed and others wish to violate the law and it hinders them from doing so." Speeding is breaking the law...advocating it as a "former police officer" makes you a complete douche.

I think the officer had too much time on his/her hands. However; I can understand the reasoning. Ever since I was a child, for as far back as I can remember and I am 47, I was always told the left lane is the passing lane. It has received that name for 2 reasons. 1) it is the lane that people who are driving the max can use to pass people who are driving under the maximum posted speed. Her driving 2 mph under prevented people driving 65 from passing her safely in the passing lane. Also it can be used to make a left hand turn safely. 2) No one is supposed to be using the far left lane if there is 1 or more lanes on the right of the far left. As long as the flow of traffic allows you to travel in a lane right of the far left, without impeding the flow of traffic, the far left lane should be open and available for emergency vehicles, and vehicles driving faster than the right hand lanes but not exceeding the posted maximum speed, at all times. It is not a commuting/traveling lane.

No matter how fast your going in the left lane (lets say she was going 75 instead) there are always the idiots trying to drive 90. You can't even legitimately pass in the passing lane without seeing people driving 90 weaving through traffic on your right. Running late? You should probably leave earlier.

the herd is getting larger baaa

I must have missed the part that she was in the left lane. That would be improper lane usage.

@J R Browenstein

The "fast lane" or the "passing lane" is not meant for SPEEDING... Unless the cop had his lights and sirens going, she is under NO OBLIGATION to get out of his way. She will win this in court.

You've misinterpreted the traffic laws, or just don't know the ones that relate to this incident. "Keep right except to pass" zones mean just that. Keep right except to pass. "Slower traffic move right" Key word being "traffic," needs to move right for someone behind them. I refer to the word traffic because that doesn't mean slower cars move right, slower drivers move right, or people driving under the speed limit move right. It means slower traffic. People going slower than the traffic around OR behind them.

It's not your responsibility to slow everyone else down or set the pace. It takes you ten seconds to move to the right and allow someone else to pass you. Let them take responsibility for themselves. Someone going 5 or 10 mph faster than you is not creating any more danger than yourself. The speed "limits" are there to give everyone on the road a pace to keep. If they weren't there, people would drive in a much wider range of speeds, making the road even more dangerous.

It is widely known, accepted, studied, etc. by independent groups, law enforcement, and the governing bodies that set the speed limits, that people will drive at whatever speed they are comfortable (generally)within 10mph of the posted speed "limit" on highways. Using the "well you shouldn't be driving faster than me anyway" argument is old and tired. People like you talk of the people speeding as being selfish and inconsiderate of other drivers, when you are doing the same to everyone else by demanding they not drive faster than YOU feel comfortable.

@obama's my zero

No matter how fast your going in the left lane (lets say she was going 75 instead) there are always the idiots trying to drive 90. You can't even legitimately pass in the passing lane without seeing people driving 90 weaving through traffic on your right. Running late? You should probably leave earlier.

"Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone driving faster than you is a maniac?" -George Carlin

Whether you like the guy or not, it's the truth for a majority of people. If someone wants to go faster than you, move to the right and let them by. People not moving to the right force the people driving at a faster pace to weave in and out of lanes.

"You should probably leave earlier" My mom used to say that, and this idea is completely unintelligent. There's a pretty good chance that if someone is in a hurry it's because they are running late in the first place and, therefore, couldn't leave earlier.

@ Digital,

The left lane is the fast lane. Think about it for two seconds. If you aren't going FASTer than the car you are trying to pass, how exactly are you supposed to pass it. The speed limit is still the speed limit, that is true but if the speed limit is 65 and you feel the safe speed is 63, you shouldn't be in the left lane. The right lane is for those who feel the need to go slower than the speed limit.

Almost every comment I've read is completely ignorant. It's called a speed LIMIT, it doesn't matter what lane your in, right or left, you cannot go more than 65 miles per hour. If your so impatient to get somewhere than drive on the shoulder. It's the exact same concept as driving above the speed LIMIT and passing someone. I hope she fights this ticket, which is absolutely ridiculous as are most of you.

SM101-1978723: You missed my point, but I can see why. That fact that you need to YELL AT ME using all caps is a surefire indicator of your road rage. Someday you will grow up have kids and realize that all that panting and frothing you do while driving is simply not worth it. I encourage YOU to get out of the left lane, quit speeding and tailgating, and enjoy the drive. If you need to speed to get to where you're going, not only did you plan your trip poorly, you're putting the rest of us drivers in danger. It's arrogant to think you're the only good driver on the road. But time and maturity will eventually sink in.

Her ticket should be for 1 dollar. Speeding should cost you 10% of your gross income.

Scooter - the only one that is ignorant is you. Had you read all the comments like you claim you would see that the real issue wasn't the speed as much as it was driving in the left lane. Most states have laws against this unless you are passing, even if you are going the speed limit. If she was in the right lane nothing would've happened. But something did happen like it should've, she got a ticket, and even more so since she was under the stated limit and in the left lane. By your logic she should've gotten a ticket anyway since she wasn't going the speed limit, if you want to get real technical. I agree some people need to chill and slow down but those that can't at least go the stated limit need to follow the law and get in the right lane so those that want to go the limit or faster if they chose can, that is between them and the law unless they are doing something to directly affect you. Now I did say before if she didn't have any prior violations then let her off with the warning but it needs to be clear why she was originally ticketed, left lane camping, not speed alone.

For the record, I tend to exceed the speed limit some, but I only use the right lane to pass. But jeez, I'm LMFAO at all the righteous indignation!!! You guys are hilarious.

You're all whining about how she's breaking the law by staying in the left lane (true) which is stopping you guys from breaking the law by exceeding the speed limit. Someone want to explain why it's ok for you to break the law by speeding, but it's not ok for her to break the law by staying in the left lane? Pot, meet kettle! (It's called hypocrisy)

Let me guess what your answer is going to be - you are just going with the flow, doing what others are doing. Well, based on the amount of crying going on here, apparently most of the rest of the country camps out in the left lane, so she's just doing the same thing as "everyone else" as well.

Y'all need to lighten the fork up before you bust a blood vessel or something.

I hate slow drivers in the left lane more than probably anyone here...but giving her a ticket? That's ridiculous. Why does the government deserve to receive money for her slow driving? Why don't the ACTUAL drivers she potentially slowed down (by driving too slow in the left lane) get this money? Why doesn't ANYONE challenge this concept in our society, that the government profits off of this BS?

Also, in many states, the posted speed limits on highways are prima facie speed limits. Under good conditions, one can legally exceed them. It is possible to defend a ticket by showing that the conditions warranted additional speed. However in practice, most cops won't even write you a ticket until you're well above the posted limit.

The point remains, travelling slowly in the left lane is a far bigger danger to the safety and lives of other travelers than travelling quickly in the left lane. There are 7 billion people on this planet. Get over yourself and learn to drive cooperatively. That means slow traffic needs to keep to the right.

Silver Graphite said: "Someone want to explain why it's ok for you to break the law by speeding, but it's not ok for her to break the law by staying in the left lane?"

Technically by law speeding is not okay, and thus speeders get ticketed all the time. Staying in the left lane for sustained travel, REGARDLESS OF SPEED, is also illegal. This offense is just as deserving of ticketing as speeding.

Looking at things from a matter of courtesy rather than law, her left lane behavior inhibits the driving of others whereas speeding does not. This is why speeding is "ok" and left lane lollygagging is "not ok."

I must amend part of my previous post regarding the law in respect to left lane travel. This varies from state to state, and in the case of Maryland, the specifics can be read here:

and I suppose speeding inhibits another driver if you make them wreck, so nevermind everything I said.

The headline of the article is misleading, but as the article states:

she was pulled over and cited for failing to move right

The officer was CORRECT to cite her! She was impeding traffic. If I'm driving on the highway I SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO USE THE RIGHT LANE TO PASS ANOTHER CAR PERIOD! Furthermore, most states have signs posted on the side of their highways stating that the left lane is for passing only or slower traffic should stay in the right lane. Regardless of whether it actually posted though, it's BASIC RULES of driving on the highway. If you were able to get a driver's license you should know this. If you're ASININE and INCONSIDERATE enough to impede traffic and not move over to the right lane, you're a danger and you DESERVE to get a ticket!

Just wish they would enforce that law on tractor trailers that get in the left lane to pass knowing they are coming up to hill and will slow way below the speed limit and knowing cannot get back into the right lane due to traffic.

Proxy

I totally agree...especially when there are signs posted specifically stating that these truckers are to stay in the right lane!

For all of you stating that she was impeding traffic, WTF do you know? Do you have a crystal ball that can see that stretch of road in the past? You don't know how fast the traffic was moving in the right lane. The right lane traffic may have been travelling at 60 mph, and if it was, then at 63 mph she was passing in the passing lane and not impeding anybody.

Ron B-2757074

The article I read states:

The driver, who didn't want her name used, told NBC Washington she was driving in the left lane of I-95 in Laurel last Friday when she was pulled over and cited for failing to move right.

According to the citation, she had been driving 63 mph in a 65 mph zone.

I know cops can sometimes be jerks, but in this instance I seriously don't believe he would have pulled her over and cited her if she wasn't impeding traffic. I stand behind the comment I posted above (#1.159).

its a bull sh*t ticket, I-95 is a 4 lane highway in Maryland, and depending on the time of day, speeds drop to 10 miles an hour in the passing lane and all the other lanes, but you can't find a cop when someone is illegally cutting in and out of traffic during rush hour. Just another miserable aspect of living in The Peoples Republic of Maryland.

It is a valid ticket. Here the left lane is a passing lane, with lots of slower traffic keep right signs. If you are not going 85 get out of the fast lane. If your driving 63 on the interstate get a life. I see speed here of 120 in the fast lane. Some people drive 100 and talk there way out of tickets. My brother in laws first car would go well over 200. He drove 54 miles in 13 min. I drove 22 mile in 13 min and thought it was fast. My car said 110 at 3500 rpm red line was 7000.

I'm a little disheartened to see so much stupidity in the comments of an NBC story. You guys are beginning to look like the rednecks of Yahoo. Is it so hard to google the actual traffic laws? Well, since I have, here they are:

This happened in Maryland, which has one of the most lenient laws regarding the left lane of any state. Maryland requires you to move right only if you are driving 10 miles below the speed limit. Clearly, she was driving only 2 miles under, and if it is true that it was a windy day, that was the safest decision and was probably the normal speed of traffic, making her decision legal even under the Uniform Vehicle Code. If she is telling the truth about what happened, and she was not intoxicated behind the wheel or something, and this ticket is not dismissed, I will want to know why. Sounds like some cop is desperately trying to fill a quota with an arbitrary rule that only exists in his head.

Most states abide by the Uniform Vehicle Code, which states that a car driving below the general speed of traffic should move right. The general speed of traffic does not refer to the one car trying to speed and tailgating you. It refers to the speed the vast majority of cars on the road are going. The reason the law was written that way is because, at the time it was written, speed limits were enforced, so the general speed of traffic was the speed limit AT THE FASTEST. Today, many people think the speed limit is the slowest one should be allowed to go, including this cop.

8 states have passed laws in recent years making their left lanes passing only lanes. These are brand new laws, and the reason you people in those states keep being reminded that the left lane is for passing only is because drivers who have been on the road a long time aren't used to that, as well as drivers from any of the other 42 states. They are used to the left lane being the fast lane. It is only a passing only lane in 8 states, and a fast lane in the other 42.

I'm happy she got a ticket. These freaking people who drive slow in the fast lane deserve it! What's worst of all is when they're side-by-side with another idiot just like them! I call it a "rolling road block."My personal strategy is to get right on their rear bumper and stay there until they either move over or space opens up on the right to pass them then immediately cut over in front of them and slow down even more. Just so they can see how they like it.

@oh oh oh

it is not a valid ticket, going 85 in a posted 65 is illegal you moron, alos that would mean going slower than 65 is acceptable. You can't have it both ways, exceeding the limit and receiving a ticket, or going slower than the posted "Limit".

You people need to account for number of lanes before stating this lane is for this or that. In the standerd 3lane system, center is for cruising speed, leftmost is for passing and rightmost is for merging and exiting. Road rage is caused by everyone who doesn't understand they are idiots behind the wheel of a machine they believe is a human right and not simply just another selfish toy.

@Timoh... people in a hurry, because they are late, are always late and in a hurry. After all, if it is rare that you are late it's not a big deal and no one cares. It's the guy that's late everyday that speeds, he's in a hurry because he's been warned.

Usually you are only impeding traffic if three or more cars are backed up there is not a minimum speed limit in most States because condition may require you to proceed at a slower rate of speed in your lane. Speed limit is posted for you in most States and you can not exceed this limit. If she argues the weather and no backed up traffic that can be proved she should win.

danimyl wrote:

"Traffic laws on U.S highways should mirror that of the Audubon in Germany..."

AHHHhh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

It's "autobahn", bird-brain. A-U-T-O-B-A-H-N

WmTRiker wrote

I do the logical and perfectly legal maneuver of passing them to their right. I have absolutely no problem with this.

But this is not legal in many states, such as Michigan and New Jersey. You can be ticketed for passing on the right.

"You should probably leave earlier" My mom used to say that, and this idea is completely unintelligent. There's a pretty good chance that if someone is in a hurry it's because they are running late in the first place and, therefore, couldn't leave earlier.

I'd agree that your mother did you no favors...but her advice is sound. You clearly just don't understand what she was trying to get you to understand. Your lack of planning doesn't give you the right to endanger others sharing the road by speeding. You mother obviously couldn't overcome your narcissistic personality disorder and get you to understand that you SHARE the road with other and endangering them because you are a mor0n isn't a rational justification. Driving on a public highway isn't a video game...and putting others at risk because you're too much of a douchebag to plan and/or organize you life to the point where you don't need to speed doesn't mean your mother is an idiot. It just means you are.

It's just a ticket...

He IS a mad plumber!

Yes, it's anarchy, plumber. You poor thing. Too many methane fumes apparently.

Watch that plunger..

Too bad she declined to use her name in the article. I would bet on a massive twitterbomb!

It's "lose" and "you're". TY

State law says that slower traffic must keep right. She did not. Also, in NJ, the left lane is a passing lane, not a driving lane.

She was ticketed because driving slow in the passing lane creates a very dangerous situation for other drivers. If she wants to drive safe, she needs to obey the rules and stay to the right when going slower than others.

These are not new laws designed to earn the government money. They have been on the books for decades. Laws like these aren't only in NJ either. I'd bet your state has similar laws, at least requiring slower traffic to stay left. They are laws for a reason.

She can fight this, but she will lose.

He's a mad plumber who didn't read the article.

Nice try, though.

Has everyone forgotten your drivers ed class, the fast lane still requires you to drive under the speed limit. The passing lane means you can pass but cannot exceed the speed limit. The cop is a fascist.

Reno, Please try to absorb the words I'm typing on my COMPOOTOR! She was not cited for not going the speed limit. She was cited for failure to keep right while doing so, impeding the flow of traffic. I hope more people get nailed for doing this. There's an absolute infestation of left lane loafers here in NC. This lady doesn't have a leg to stand on. I hope she gets hammered with the fine AND court costs. Some folks need to learn a lesson! Driving correctly should be second nature. But, some dopes just can't figure it out.

A few things people posting comments need to learn

The differences between:

Their - There - They're

Then - Than

Lose - Loose

Heel - Heal

Where - Were - We're

Weather - Whether

.

The different meanings between:

Someone being "intelligent" and someone being "informed"
MSNBC used to have a section "How Smart Are You" and I complained every time I saw it that a recap of past news events had nothing to do with a person's "intelligence" but only with whether or not they were "aware" of various news stories of the preceding days. Maybe enough of us complained. Maybe they just tired of it. But I haven't seen it in a couple of years.

It's really hard to accept a person's arguments or points when they cannot even communicate effectively.

Damn! That's another:

Accept - Except

Plumber------I am a retired plumber and I do not know what it means to" Loose your listens" and how that relates to "Loosing your job" ?

Please let us know so we can better understand your viewpoint.

I am not trying to be an English 101 professor like the other douches above me. I just want to know.

Plumber----I am with you on the financially crippling the working people,I just don't understand that one thing.Please respond.

I can't stand all of these fines either(She did deserve some action though)

Rich people are not affected the same way with fines therefore it is not fair.

I think rich people should have to pick up trash on the side of the road for breaking traffic laws....Kind of like the slavery the working man is forced into today.....

I am with you plumber..But maybe have a friend help you rant on the WWW.

Wow, musta been a leaky faucet. That's one mad plumber.................

When the DRAINO goes bad...who ya' gon'a call...

She should have been cited.The far left lane on the highway is the legal lane to drive slower than the speed limit.The far left is for driving the speed limit.If a person is tailgating you in the far left lane,even though you are driving the speed limit or over the limit,you are required by law to pull over and let that motorist pass.I have been stuck behind these type of people many times and it gives me great joy to see a person actually cited for impeding traffic.

Yeah... I'm glad there's a little tyranny being brought down on this yahoo.

I'll be she was in that lane to "teach everyone what the speed limit really was"... which was in fact tyrannical.

Bob-2112 Comment collapsed by the community

"Your slow driving is the problem, not my speeding, road rage or tailgating." Great argument.

People need to step back and seriously do some testing. I live an hour from my parents. I used to go 74 in a 65 zone to get there in 60 minutes. I'd have to contend with left lane hogs, yo-yo drivers, sheep drivers.

For a test, I drove 65 in the middle lane. It still took an hour and I mostly avoided the above issues.

When gas was over $4.00, I drove 60 in the middle lane. Almost everyone passed me, but I never had to turn off the cruise or battle other drivers. It took 1 hour 2 minutes.

You speeders think you're getting there faster and safer, but you're not and you cause much of the problems on the road...far more than the left lane hog. Seriously try out going slower for a week and see it really is a more peaceful drive.

I'm sorry Bob, maybe your clock is broken.

74mph (miles per hour) for 60 minutes = 74 miles

at 65mph you'd have only gone 65 miles. That's a NINE mile difference. Do you not know where you're going?

at 60 mph for an hour, you'd have gone 60 miles, but you were driving for an hour and two minutes, which means you went 62 miles.

Math IZ hard, huh? Apparently for you telling time is even harder.

Kim Jong-Il

I'm sorry Bob, maybe your clock is broken.

74mph (miles per hour) for 60 minutes = 74 miles

at 65mph you'd have only gone 65 miles. That's a NINE mile difference. Do you not know where you're going?

at 60 mph for an hour, you'd have gone 60 miles, but you were driving for an hour and two minutes, which means you went 62 miles.

Math IZ hard, huh? Apparently for you telling time is even harder.

Maybe realizing that "going 74" is not always "74" when having to adjust to the differing flow of traffic that isn't always at "74," slower speeds on entering highways and leaving highways, differing speeds on residential and more congested side streets, and from where the distance starts and stops (point-to-point or is just the highway distance mentioned?,) "IZ" just too hard for you to comprehend? I'm sorry Kim, maybe your brain is broken?

I can't believe all of your comments about how she should have gotten the ticket!!! I'm a fast driver like the rest of you but she was only 2 mph under the speed limit and I think it is ridiculous that she got a freaking ticket for it! We,in my opinion all drive too fast anyway...it is a lesson I learned the hard way. Now,I set my cruise for the speed limit...my husband never even goes the speed limit because he's not in a hurry! Slow down and enjoy life...you only live it once!

I have to laugh at all of you people who think that if you are driving 80mph and someone ahead of you is driving 70mph in a 55mph zone and are consistently passing traffic on the right that they must move over so that you can pass them. I am sick and tired of going 10 to 15 miles over the speed limit and consistently passing vehicles and having some jerk behind me get right up on my a** in an attempt to make me cut off someone in the right lane so that they can pass me or they end up cutting someone off in the right lane because their exit is coming up and god forbid they have to be one car behind where they actually ended up. If I am in the left lane and consistently passing traffic in the right lane, I am not going to constantly attempt to go back and forth between cars on the right so someone who is speeding even more than me can pass me and no amount of tailgating, flashing of your lights, beeping of your horn or giving me the finger is going to make me attempt to move over between other slower moving vehicles just so that you can pass me. I should not have to slow down and get behind slower traffic just so that you can go faster when I am already exceeding the speed limit and passing vehicles on the right. You do not own the road any more than I do, your time is no more valuable than my time. It is not "whoever drives the fastest controls the passing lane".

That being said, I do agree that if she was going under the speed limit in the passing lane and people going the speed limit or above were either impeded or had to pass her on the right he was right in giving her the ticket.

Cleaning lady. I think you meant the right lane. The right lane is for travelling slowly (at least in the United States, it's probably the reverse in the UK) you travel slowly and enter and exit the highway in the right lane. The middle lanes are travel lanes and the left lane is for passing traffic. It is dangerous to other people for a driver to drive slowly in that lane. Yes, it can be easier to not think about driving, but that's not being responsible. For the privilege of driving, you need to understand and be responsible to yourself and the other innocent drivers on the road who can be endangered by your actions. Going slow in the left lane can lead to a series of events where accidents occur, and all the whining about how you weren't involved isn't going to make those accidents un-occur. Learn the law if you're going to drive on our highways.

Also, in many states, the posted speed limits on highways are prima facie speed limits. Under good conditions, one can legally exceed them. It is possible to defend a ticket by showing that the conditions warranted additional speed. However in practice, most cops won't even write you a ticket until you're well above the posted limit.

The point remains, travelling slowly in the left lane is a far bigger danger to the safety and lives of other travelers than travelling quickly in the left lane. There are 7 billion people on this planet. Get over yourself and learn to drive cooperatively. That means slow traffic needs to keep to the right.

Thanks ScubaGolfJim, KimJong-il didn't understand my post.

I get to where I'm going just as fast when I can cruise at a steady speed. If I am going 65mph the entire way and never hit my brakes, it takes about an hour.

If I am constantly accelerating and decelerating, passing and tailgating, cutting in and out of traffic and getting stuck behind legal drivers because I want to speed - even if I am trying to go 75, it doesn't get me there any faster.

Safety is more of a concern now, I also plan my trips better and realize that if I'm a few minutes late, it's my fault...not those who are driving legally and safely. But some people, like Kim will have to figure it out on their own someday. Until then, enjoy your stress-filled, dangerous commute, just don't cause someone else to get into an accident because of your poor planning.

On a funny side note, my buddy and another driver just got "disorderly conduct" tickets for flipping each other off while driving and following the guy back to his house. I'm surprised one of them didn't get shot. All over getting cut off... maybe he'll learn his lesson, he's 39 for goodness sakes, you'd think he'd know better.

If I'm driving the limit in the left lane and I'm passing slower traffic in the right lane(s) I'm NOT going to move to the right to let some jerk speed by me. Why should I have to slow down, make an unnecessary, inconvienient and possibly dangerous lane change to let a violator go by me, and then have to make another lane change and resume the legal posted speed?

You wanna speed? Go around me!

Or trying to get somewhere while being impeded in the left lane....

Too early in the month to be filling their quota. Unless they are planning a vacation at the end of the month.

No she needed to get the hell out of the left lane, the wind was blowing and she slowed? Why didn't she move over and slow, because she always drives in the left lane. A lot of states have similar laws and you must have a certain number of cars behind you to be cited, she had a back-up behind her. If you go down the road and the traffic is backing up, have you ever noticed that it starts moving again and there was nothing there? It's a mathmatical progression that is the result of enough cars on the road and a-holes' driving in the left lane that prevents traffic from moving and passing smoothly.

Stupid is as stupid does. I think even Forrest Gump would be smart enough to move to the right lane.

There is no such thing as a 'quota' on tickets for cops. Give me a break. What is dangerous, is driving in the left lane slower than 80...which is what everyone else in DC/Balto is doing.

She is the one who pumps her brakes while going uphill in the left lane with nobody in front of her.....When just letting off the accelerator would be suffice to slow down, which isn't needed anyway....I guess they just get scared....And if you are afraid you do not belong on the I nine fiver.

Reply To Stuffitlosers - you have to be one of those Bozos going slow in left lane! It doesnt matter your speed - when someone is behind you looking to pass or when you have finished passing - you move to the right lane!! IDIOTS like you have been screwing up traffic forever - and I hope you get the next ticket for the same thing as the old fat dumb frickin lady from Maryland!

People driving too slow in the left lane are more of a hazard than someone speeding. If she thought she ought to slow down because it was windy, then she should have thought to also move over into the slow lane where it's safer for slow drivers. Had to drive around a back up like this twice on my way to work this morning in PA, another state where impeding the left lane by driving slower is also illegal.

And what exactly is too slow? I purposely run 10, sometimes 20 miles over the speed limit in the left lane and people still pass me like I'm sitting still. There are too many idiots who act like it's a godamn race out there.

The way it was explained to me during drivers ed is the LEFT lane is for doing the speed limit and the RIGHT lane is for cars that can't mechanically do the speed limit like big trucks and old people. Nowhere does it say the left lane is the "drive as fast as you @!$%#ing can lane" and the right lane is the "drive the limit lane"

randy i would suggest that even if you are going over 10 or 20 miles over the limit and people are passing you then just move to the right, let them pass you on the left and if they get a ticket then so be it. impeding is impeding. again, the left lane passing lane was set up to allow the flow of traffic to flow freely and particularly so that emergency vehicles always have a means to get thru traffic