Everett Lynnwood Snohomish County DUI Attorney: Washington State Patrol addresses "left lane campers"

Everett Lynnwood Snohomish County DUI Attorney: Washington State Patrol addresses "left lane campers"

Comment:  I have to say, I support the WSP enforcing this particular offense. However, there is a fine line when considering whether this is an offense or not.  Hypothetically if a vehicle passes a vehicle traveling in the far left lane (passing lane) is that far left lane driver impeding traffic?  Probably not under the strictest sense of the law (and supported by case law).  Hopefully this enforcement won't be used simply to stop and check drivers for other reasons.  We'll see.

 

By Bill Sheets

The State Patrol is specifically addressing the "left lane camping" issue with a new YouTube video.

The police agency has created the video in its "Good to Know" series to help educate the public on the proper use of the left lane on state highways: www.youtube.com/user/wspgovandmedia.

"It was the intent of the Legislature that the left lane be used as a passing lane," Trooper J.J. Gundermann says in the video. "So any time you're on a state highway with two or more lanes in the same direction, the left lane is just that, a passing lane."

The State Patrol focuses most of its attention on driving behaviors that are likely to cause death or serious injuries, such as speeding, seat belt use and DUI, Gundermann says.

Still, the law (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.100) specifically states that "it is a traffic infraction to drive continuously in the left lane of a multilane roadway when it impedes the flow of traffic."
Troopers do ticket drivers for this violation, Gundermann says.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110308/BLOG17/110309842

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