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Md. Bill Would Punish Left Lane Lingering With Fine Up To $250

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A new bill in Annapolis would fine drivers if they're going too slow on a highway.

While there is concern this would encourage aggressive driving, others are all for the change.

The delegate who introduced this bill says it's all about common courtesy. If you're driving too slow, then you've got to move over. It's a move he believes could prevent road rage.

Highway dangers often spin out of control when drivers are angry at other drivers, which may have been the case just days ago in Missouri.

A dash cam video captures a car flipping on the interstate. Witnesses say it was a case of road rage.

Delegate William Folden from Frederick County says those kinds of accidents are the type of disaster he's trying to avoid, so he's pushing for a new law that would encourage slow drivers to move out of the far left lane, get fined up to $250 dollars.

Del. Folden does not think the bill will encourage speeding.

Folden is a retired police officer and says when slower drivers move over, traffic will flow smoother, and drivers won't be tempted to lash out at drivers they think are too slow.

"It's very easy. Move over if you're not passing anybody, it's a driver courtesy. This is a very encouraging driver courteous behavior of our drivers. That's all this bill is," says Del. Folden.

For motorists who have to share the highways with each other, there is no shortage of opinion on this subject.

"People that get over in the left lane and wind up going like five, ten, miles below the speed limit, it just slows everything down and then it causes back-up on the highway," says Tybar Middlekauff, from Annapolis

"I'd rather them enforce no texting and driving and find a way to monitor cars that are texting and do some type of ticketing for those," says Diane McClatchy, from Annapolis.

"I think that's more important and a better use of time than worry about those poor people who want to drive over the speed limit and can't," she says.

The bill goes to the senate later this week. If it passes, it would not apply to HOV lanes or a driver who's using the left lane to exit.

AAA  Mid-Atlantic says it has not taken an official stance on this bill.

A violator would be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of $75 for a first offense, $150 for a second offense and $250 for a third or subsequent offense.

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