6/15/05-A bill intended to keep slowpokes out of the left lane on the state’s multilane highways has died.
HB12, sponsored by Rep. Stephen LaRoque, R-Kinston, remained in committee at the June 2 deadline for bills to advance from the chamber, effectively killing it for the year.
The bill would have given troopers more authority to ticket drivers who go too slowly in the left lane, blocking the normal flow of traffic.
“Upon any highway having four or more lanes for moving traffic and providing for the two way movement of traffic, no vehicle being driven slower than the normal speed of other vehicles … shall be driven in the leftmost travel lane,” LaRoque wrote.
The only exceptions to blocking the normal flow of traffic would have been for passing, left turns or exiting.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation would have been responsible for posting signs in certain locations that read “Left lane for passing only.”

3/30/05-A bill in the Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House Committee is intended to keep slowpokes out of the left lane on the state’s multilane highways.
Sponsored by Rep. Stephen LaRoque, R-Kinston, HB12 would give troopers more authority to ticket drivers who go too slowly in the left lane, blocking the normal flow of traffic.
“Upon any highway having four or more lanes for moving traffic and providing for the two way movement of traffic, no vehicle being driven slower than the normal speed of other vehicles … shall be driven in the leftmost travel lane,” LaRoque wrote.
The only exceptions to blocking the normal flow of traffic would be for passing, left turns or exiting.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation would be responsible for posting signs in certain locations that read “Left lane for passing only.”
For bill status, call (919) 733-7779.