Oregon Drivers
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 21,465
Likes: 114
From: Hillsboro OR
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Washington already has a "left-lane bandit" law on the books. From what I see on I-5 where it is 3 lanes in each direction, the WSP doesn't really make enforcing that law any sort of priority. Just like the laws against hand-held cell phones and texting.
Same with enforcing truck speed limits. Drove down to Portland last week and there were times I would have to run at 75 to pass big trucks. If I tried cruising down the freeway at 10 over where the speed is 70, I would be in the cop's sights. Truckers can do 10 over with no real fear of getting a ticket.
Same with enforcing truck speed limits. Drove down to Portland last week and there were times I would have to run at 75 to pass big trucks. If I tried cruising down the freeway at 10 over where the speed is 70, I would be in the cop's sights. Truckers can do 10 over with no real fear of getting a ticket.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,606
Likes: 88
From: Sammamish WA
Washington already has a "left-lane bandit" law on the books. From what I see on I-5 where it is 3 lanes in each direction, the WSP doesn't really make enforcing that law any sort of priority. Just like the laws against hand-held cell phones and texting.
Same with enforcing truck speed limits. Drove down to Portland last week and there were times I would have to run at 75 to pass big trucks. If I tried cruising down the freeway at 10 over where the speed is 70, I would be in the cop's sights. Truckers can do 10 over with no real fear of getting a ticket.
Same with enforcing truck speed limits. Drove down to Portland last week and there were times I would have to run at 75 to pass big trucks. If I tried cruising down the freeway at 10 over where the speed is 70, I would be in the cop's sights. Truckers can do 10 over with no real fear of getting a ticket.
I had a brief conversation with a State Trooper regarding the left lane bandits. He told me it's very difficult to enforce because as soon as he pulls into the left lane, everyone moves over to the right. It sounds as though the proposed Oregon bill might be a bit easier to enforce if it's simply a matter of someone "poking along" in the left lane without passing. I believe the Washington law has more to do with impedeing traffic and holding up 5 or more cars.Still I hope it passes. (sorry, lousy pun, I know) Even if only a few tickets are handed out, over time one would hope some of the dunderheads on the freeways might get the message.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The WSP said they stopped over 14,000 cars for a left lane violation but only wrote just over 1400 tickets. WTF good does it do to put a law on the books then only write up 10% of the stops? It sure isn't that way with speeding tickets 
In Germany there is a very strict left lane law (Rechtsfahren) on the Autobahn and it's rigidly enforced. Not only do cars get pulled over by the German state police, most of the speed enforcement is electronic using sensors and cameras. There are sections of the Autobahn that have speed limits. Pics of the driver and the license plate along with the specific violation are mailed out. They have a strict policy of suspending a license if a driver gets too many tickets.
I think Sweden and Norway have a traffic fine schedule that is based on a percentage of a citizen's annual salary. Somebody that makes something like $250K can easily get a $10K fine for speeding.
In Germany there is a very strict left lane law (Rechtsfahren) on the Autobahn and it's rigidly enforced. Not only do cars get pulled over by the German state police, most of the speed enforcement is electronic using sensors and cameras. There are sections of the Autobahn that have speed limits. Pics of the driver and the license plate along with the specific violation are mailed out. They have a strict policy of suspending a license if a driver gets too many tickets.
I think Sweden and Norway have a traffic fine schedule that is based on a percentage of a citizen's annual salary. Somebody that makes something like $250K can easily get a $10K fine for speeding.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 4,287
Likes: 1,156
From: Green and Wet Western Oregon
2023 C7 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2018 C6 of Year Winner
Sen. Burdick doesn't have the common sense to research Oregon Statutes and find that there are already laws on the books regarding the very subject she is proposing. Just another lame attempt to legislate away a problem that has been with us since the first divided highway was opened. I hate left-lane bandits too, but what good is passing another law going to do when we only have one State Patrolman on duty for every 100 miles of freeway? It's just like the tools driving and texting - you ever see one of them pulled over and ticketed?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,868
Likes: 770
From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
[QUOTE=MisterMidlifeCrisis;1583238363]For your viewing pleasure:
That WAS beautiful.....
Actually, Oregon already has an applicable Statute:
811.315 Failure of slow driver to drive on right; exceptions; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of failure of a slow driver to drive on the right if the person is operating a vehicle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing and the person fails to drive:
(a) In the right-hand lane available for traffic; or
(b) As close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
(2) This section does not apply under any of the following circumstances:
(a) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing passing in ORS 811.410 to 811.425.
(b) When preparing to turn left at an intersection, alley or private road or driveway.
(3) The offense described in this section, failure of slow driver to drive on the right, is a Class B traffic violation. [1983 c.338 §619; 1995 c.383 §57]
That WAS beautiful.....
Actually, Oregon already has an applicable Statute:
811.315 Failure of slow driver to drive on right; exceptions; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of failure of a slow driver to drive on the right if the person is operating a vehicle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing and the person fails to drive:
(a) In the right-hand lane available for traffic; or
(b) As close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
(2) This section does not apply under any of the following circumstances:
(a) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing passing in ORS 811.410 to 811.425.
(b) When preparing to turn left at an intersection, alley or private road or driveway.
(3) The offense described in this section, failure of slow driver to drive on the right, is a Class B traffic violation. [1983 c.338 §619; 1995 c.383 §57]
Last edited by Oh 2 Fun; Mar 2, 2013 at 06:30 PM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,305
Likes: 1
From: Red city in deep blue Oregon
St. Jude Donor '17
[QUOTE=Oh 2 Fun;1583260627]
Yes, but do you see the LEO's enforcing it much? I sure don't.
For your viewing pleasure:
That WAS beautiful.....
Actually, Oregon already has an applicable Statute:
811.315 Failure of slow driver to drive on right; exceptions; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of failure of a slow driver to drive on the right if the person is operating a vehicle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing and the person fails to drive:
(a) In the right-hand lane available for traffic; or
(b) As close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
(2) This section does not apply under any of the following circumstances:
(a) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing passing in ORS 811.410 to 811.425.
(b) When preparing to turn left at an intersection, alley or private road or driveway.
(3) The offense described in this section, failure of slow driver to drive on the right, is a Class B traffic violation. [1983 c.338 §619; 1995 c.383 §57]
That WAS beautiful.....
Actually, Oregon already has an applicable Statute:
811.315 Failure of slow driver to drive on right; exceptions; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of failure of a slow driver to drive on the right if the person is operating a vehicle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing and the person fails to drive:
(a) In the right-hand lane available for traffic; or
(b) As close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
(2) This section does not apply under any of the following circumstances:
(a) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing passing in ORS 811.410 to 811.425.
(b) When preparing to turn left at an intersection, alley or private road or driveway.
(3) The offense described in this section, failure of slow driver to drive on the right, is a Class B traffic violation. [1983 c.338 §619; 1995 c.383 §57]
Last edited by BAMvette; Mar 6, 2013 at 08:20 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,382
Likes: 37
From: Everett WA
St. Jude Donor '14
Exactly!
Sen. Burdick doesn't have the common sense to research Oregon Statutes and find that there are already laws on the books regarding the very subject she is proposing. Just another lame attempt to legislate away a problem that has been with us since the first divided highway was opened. I hate left-lane bandits too, but what good is passing another law going to do when we only have one State Patrolman on duty for every 100 miles of freeway? It's just like the tools driving and texting - you ever see one of them pulled over and ticketed?
In WA state when the law for texting was just a bill, there was and has been for a long time a LAW against "distracted driving" but they wasted my tax$$ to pass a law that seems to have no effect and was already covered in another un-enforced LAW. I am sure tickets are written for it but I see people doing it all of the time anyhow so there is no "fear" of being caught.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,855
Likes: 78
From: Sammamish WA
WA Events Coordinator
I drive I-90 / I-5 twice a day from Issaquah to Tukwila...and no one seems to be aware of this law. In my DD M3 or Vette its quite maddening when your used to SoCal 80-85mph...here its herd mentality of 60mph.