Arizona could be next state to ticket left-lane lingering drivers

• Arizona House Bill 2235 proposes a $200 fine for drivers who camp out in the left lane on highways and interstates without passing other vehicles. It’s one of several such proposals in states nationwide.

• The House approved the bill with bipartisan support and it now heads to the Senate for consideration.

• Some oppose left-lane restrictions, citing potential safety issues and unintended consequences.

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Arizona could soon become the latest state to ticket drivers who camp out in the left lane on interstates and highways while watching faster-moving traffic pass them by. 

All states require drivers to keep right on multi-lane roadways unless passing a slower-moving vehicle, but several states allow law enforcement to ticket drivers who refuse to do so.

House Bill 2235, sponsored by Arizona State Rep. Teresa Martinez, R-Casa Grande, would impose a $200 fine for driving too slowly in the left lanes. The bill would also require signage on applicable highways, noting the fine.

“This bill is long overdue,” Martinez told House lawmakers in a committee hearing. “This is about safety on the highways.”

The bill was approved with bipartisan support by the House on Monday, Feb. 17. It now heads to the Senate for consideration. 

Nebraska has a similar law, but the fine is $238. Slow drivers in the fast lane in Indiana will pay the same. In Georgia, driving too slowly in the left lanes could cost you $1,000. Missouri, Florida and Minnesota also have legislation that would restrict the practice of lingering in the left lane. 

However, not everyone supports left-lane restrictions. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association said in a release that while the restrictions are well-intentioned, they can have unintended consequences.

“The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is opposed to restricting trucks from any lanes of traffic as this inevitably blocks entrance and exit ramps and impedes motorists from safely entering and exiting the roadway. Lane restrictions create a ‘barrier effect,’ decreasing safety by creating dangerous merging and lane-changing conditions, more aggressive driving, and ultimately increasing crashes.”