WASHINGTON 鈥� Coming up on a driver going slowly in the left lane can be infuriating and the surprise can lead to safety issues if faster-moving drivers swerve around or act on their road rage, so a Virginia bill would add a fine for drivers who block the 鈥渇ast lane.鈥�
While slow-moving drivers are supposed to stay to the right, there is no penalty for violating the rule in Virginia.
The bill, set for approval in Virginia鈥檚 House of Delegates after it advanced Monday to a final vote, would make a violation a $250 fine.
鈥淪imply put, a penalty behind it that shows that we understand the seriousness of this problem and that we鈥檙e going to be serious about actually enforcing it,鈥� said Del. Israel O鈥橯uinn, a Republican who represents Washington County.
Northern Virginia Democrats Del. Kaye Kory and Sen. Scott Surovell are co-sponsoring the bill, providing some bipartisan support.
O鈥橯uinn said Monday the change would address 鈥渁 particularly pervasive and ever-growing problem鈥� of cars going 鈥済rossly under the speed limit in the left lane.鈥� He hoped the new penalty could encourage more drivers to move over and cut down on road rage from drivers who come up behind slowpokes.
Maryland law is similar to Virginia鈥檚 current law, with a ban on driving slowly in the left lane that does not carry a specific penalty. Police can pull drivers over for it though to look for other violations.
