Left Lane Hogs
01-05-2003, 01:57 PM
#32
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[quote]Originally posted by Ed Ruiz:
<strong>FYI: Here in the wonderful Commonwealth of Virginia it is ILLEGAL to flash your headlights or honk your horn at slower moving traffic. If caught doing either or both, you could get a ticket for "Aggressive Driving".</strong><hr></blockquote>
Let me say this- Ed is certainly correct on this especially as it relates to the State of Washington and Oregon. How do I know? Becuase I am dealing with this right now.
I was in a the far left lane of a three lane freeway in a 60 MPH zone. The two lanes ahead of me (far & center) had drivers doing 50mph with NO traffic in front of them. They maintained this sorry below limit speed to obviously ****-off a few drivers behind them. I then signaled and moved to the far rightlane to pass them and was observed by a Washington State Trooper on the other side of the median- changing lanes and passing slower moving vehcles on the right. I did nothing in my opinion that was negligent and I belieeve it is my right to observe the posted speed limit when nothing prevents me from doing so. WRONG!!! Those bastards called ahead and had me pulled over in the State of Oregon! There I was then informed that my move was considered aggressive in the officers opinion and a letter would be sent my attention from the prosecutor in the State of Washington charging me with "wreckless driving". For those of you who do not know...that is the TOP of the friggin'n heap and considered a CRIMINAL charge! This means my legal fees to get representation shot up to about $3500. However, if I lose it also means a 30 day license suspension and SR-22. You should also know that finding an "good attorney" to represent your case will be very hard if you have ever have speeding violations and have complicated matters for yourself moreso with a charge like agressive or wreckless driving, as the first thing I was told when I interviewed several attorney's for my case was they would refuse to take it if I had multiple speeding violations. Fortunately for me, I have never had a speeding violation, so I have a very good attorney willing to take my case (95% of her traffic cases were found in favor of the clients she has defended).
My advice to you is be very cautious when dealing with a left lane hog becuase the consequences could be severe...trust me very severe and incredibly expensive.
<strong>FYI: Here in the wonderful Commonwealth of Virginia it is ILLEGAL to flash your headlights or honk your horn at slower moving traffic. If caught doing either or both, you could get a ticket for "Aggressive Driving".</strong><hr></blockquote>
Let me say this- Ed is certainly correct on this especially as it relates to the State of Washington and Oregon. How do I know? Becuase I am dealing with this right now.
I was in a the far left lane of a three lane freeway in a 60 MPH zone. The two lanes ahead of me (far & center) had drivers doing 50mph with NO traffic in front of them. They maintained this sorry below limit speed to obviously ****-off a few drivers behind them. I then signaled and moved to the far rightlane to pass them and was observed by a Washington State Trooper on the other side of the median- changing lanes and passing slower moving vehcles on the right. I did nothing in my opinion that was negligent and I belieeve it is my right to observe the posted speed limit when nothing prevents me from doing so. WRONG!!! Those bastards called ahead and had me pulled over in the State of Oregon! There I was then informed that my move was considered aggressive in the officers opinion and a letter would be sent my attention from the prosecutor in the State of Washington charging me with "wreckless driving". For those of you who do not know...that is the TOP of the friggin'n heap and considered a CRIMINAL charge! This means my legal fees to get representation shot up to about $3500. However, if I lose it also means a 30 day license suspension and SR-22. You should also know that finding an "good attorney" to represent your case will be very hard if you have ever have speeding violations and have complicated matters for yourself moreso with a charge like agressive or wreckless driving, as the first thing I was told when I interviewed several attorney's for my case was they would refuse to take it if I had multiple speeding violations. Fortunately for me, I have never had a speeding violation, so I have a very good attorney willing to take my case (95% of her traffic cases were found in favor of the clients she has defended).
My advice to you is be very cautious when dealing with a left lane hog becuase the consequences could be severe...trust me very severe and incredibly expensive.
01-05-2003, 02:05 PM
#33
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I can echo Brendan's comments. It seems that EVERYBODY drives in the 2nd most inner lane (not the 'fastest' lane, but the one next to it). This compresses all of the traffic on a 4-5 lane highway into the leftmost two lanes where the slowest driver affects hundreds of cars in back of them. I don't even bother thinking people might get out of the way. (sarcasm on) It is their right to drive where they want and they do. (sarcasm off)
01-05-2003, 03:47 PM
#34
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C4,
That is a terrible story.
If you also own an SUV I suggest you sell it before the prosecution finds that out. Otherwise, they may try to seek the death penalty.
Good luck.
That is a terrible story.
If you also own an SUV I suggest you sell it before the prosecution finds that out. Otherwise, they may try to seek the death penalty.
Good luck.
01-05-2003, 11:00 PM
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Yes it is a very terrible story. I thought it valuable to give my personal experience on this issue than to have "bar room lawyers" here in the forum guess at what may be the case.
I am a living example, or "case study" if you will, of what could happen if you think you can manipulate a situation favorably for yourself when dealing with "left lane hogs". My advice is to put some distance between yourself and the left lane hog then signal and move to a lane where you can safely pass or observe the speed limit, anything else would constitute aggressive driving in most law enforcements observation of the matter.
Look my driving record is so squeaky clean that my insurance in my C4 is less than $100 per month (which is shockingly low for this car car in my area even at 39 years of age). Now with this incident it could seriously jeapordize my ability to get insurance for a long time. Once again, trust me, I don't care what state you live in, you never want to get cited for agressive or wreckless driving. In fact, in some states it is more than just a crimminal matter it ranks up there with drunk driving and could result in a felony on your record if you should be convicted. Think about that for a minute and let it sink in really good...is it really worth torching your lights, hammering your horn, or quickly passing a left lane hog creep?
I am a living example, or "case study" if you will, of what could happen if you think you can manipulate a situation favorably for yourself when dealing with "left lane hogs". My advice is to put some distance between yourself and the left lane hog then signal and move to a lane where you can safely pass or observe the speed limit, anything else would constitute aggressive driving in most law enforcements observation of the matter.
Look my driving record is so squeaky clean that my insurance in my C4 is less than $100 per month (which is shockingly low for this car car in my area even at 39 years of age). Now with this incident it could seriously jeapordize my ability to get insurance for a long time. Once again, trust me, I don't care what state you live in, you never want to get cited for agressive or wreckless driving. In fact, in some states it is more than just a crimminal matter it ranks up there with drunk driving and could result in a felony on your record if you should be convicted. Think about that for a minute and let it sink in really good...is it really worth torching your lights, hammering your horn, or quickly passing a left lane hog creep?
01-06-2003, 08:18 AM
#37
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What are these "lanes" you folks keep referring to? When I think of traffic around here the picture that comes to mind first is "angry mob"
<img src="graemlins/icon501.gif" border="0" alt="[icon501]" />
<img src="graemlins/icon501.gif" border="0" alt="[icon501]" />
01-06-2003, 10:14 AM
#38
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Just think how bad it is when your towing your 928 Track car and your not allowed in the left lane. Most people don't realize that the center lane is the passing lane for trucks and trailers. It's not legal to pass on the right lanes in NJ, but sometimes I have no choice when someone in the center lane won't move over while I trailer.
I just wish there were stricter requirements to get a driver's licence, re-certification test 9written and driving) ever so many years and some standards across the US.
I just wish there were stricter requirements to get a driver's licence, re-certification test 9written and driving) ever so many years and some standards across the US.
01-06-2003, 11:15 AM
#39
Burning Brakes
John:
I agree with stricter requirements and testing for all drivers. Unfortunately, our (USA) economy is, to a great extent, driven (pardon the pun) by our mobile way of life. We figuratively (and in many cases - literally) live behind the wheel.
I think if laws were passed to make getting a driver's license more difficult, our economy would collapse or at least go into a deep recession that would take several years from which to recover .
I'm afraid the likelihood of having sensible driving laws passed or achieving an overall improvement of the average American's driving skills are utopian concepts.
I'm not an ugly American. I think we can and should learn quite a bit from our friends in Europe (and elsewhere), especially 'lane discipline'. However, it appears they're learning more bad habits from us than we're learning good ones from them. Case in point - they now eat more fast food (aka McDonald's). <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> <img src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" border="0" alt="[soapbox]" />
I agree with stricter requirements and testing for all drivers. Unfortunately, our (USA) economy is, to a great extent, driven (pardon the pun) by our mobile way of life. We figuratively (and in many cases - literally) live behind the wheel.
I think if laws were passed to make getting a driver's license more difficult, our economy would collapse or at least go into a deep recession that would take several years from which to recover .
I'm afraid the likelihood of having sensible driving laws passed or achieving an overall improvement of the average American's driving skills are utopian concepts. I'm not an ugly American. I think we can and should learn quite a bit from our friends in Europe (and elsewhere), especially 'lane discipline'. However, it appears they're learning more bad habits from us than we're learning good ones from them. Case in point - they now eat more fast food (aka McDonald's). <img src="graemlins/crying.gif" border="0" alt="[crying]" /> <img src="graemlins/soapbox.gif" border="0" alt="[soapbox]" />
01-08-2003, 02:41 PM
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I lived in Germany for a couple of years and flashing the lights was a normal way of getting people to move over and they did.
To say flashing your lights is rude is ridiculous. People in Virginia will stay in the left lane all day just because they can and they do not care if you flash your lights, turn on your turn signal, wave at them, hold up a sign they are going to stay in the left lane and do 45 mph on the interstate in the left lane because they can.
To say flashing your lights is rude is ridiculous. People in Virginia will stay in the left lane all day just because they can and they do not care if you flash your lights, turn on your turn signal, wave at them, hold up a sign they are going to stay in the left lane and do 45 mph on the interstate in the left lane because they can.
01-08-2003, 03:25 PM
#41
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Well you are not in Germany anymore Toto.......saying agressive driving is rude may be rediculous to you, but doing it is considered rude enough in many parts of the states to be illegal. Behave as you choose and reap the asociated rewards. Fact is you live in a crowded world, and different people have different reactions to being pushed. Being right is no excuse for acting like a jackass.
01-08-2003, 06:31 PM
#42
Burning Brakes
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Chuck928:
<strong>
To say flashing your lights is rude is ridiculous. People in Virginia will stay in the left lane all day just because they can and they do not care if you flash your lights, turn on your turn signal, wave at them, hold up a sign they are going to stay in the left lane and do 45 mph on the interstate in the left lane because they can.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">You and I may think it rediculous, but unfortunately Virginia's State Troopers have something to say about it, and the traffic court judge gets to get the last word, which usually backs up what the trooper says.
My advice to all traveling through VA, keep your hands off the horn and high-beams when approaching slower moving traffic. <img border="0" alt="[nono]" title="" src="graemlins/nono.gif" />
<strong>
To say flashing your lights is rude is ridiculous. People in Virginia will stay in the left lane all day just because they can and they do not care if you flash your lights, turn on your turn signal, wave at them, hold up a sign they are going to stay in the left lane and do 45 mph on the interstate in the left lane because they can.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">You and I may think it rediculous, but unfortunately Virginia's State Troopers have something to say about it, and the traffic court judge gets to get the last word, which usually backs up what the trooper says.
My advice to all traveling through VA, keep your hands off the horn and high-beams when approaching slower moving traffic. <img border="0" alt="[nono]" title="" src="graemlins/nono.gif" />