Des Moines, IA- The Iowa Senate has passed a bill that would establish a $135 fine for motorists caught lingering too long in the left-hand lane.
Radio Iowa reports that Senator Mike Klemish of Spillville says under current Iowa law, drivers are to mostly stay in the right-hand lane unless they are passing a vehicle.
“Any vehicle driving less than the normal speed of traffic must be driven in the rightmost part of the road,” Klemish says. “The bill strengthens these provisions already in Iowa Code by requiring all vehicles to drive in the rightmost lane unless undergoing certain driving procedures.”
That means using the left lane only for passing, to avoid some obstruction in the right lane, or to take an exit that requires driving in the left lane.
The bill passed on a 38 to 8 vote.
Senator William Dotzler of Waterloo, who was one of the no votes, says he’s concerned about the safety of cyclists riding along the side of city streets with two lanes of traffic in both directions.
“If you’ve got a line of cars compressed in one lane, then as a driver, you’re looking at the backside of those vehicles and you cannot see a bicyclist on the side of the road,” Dotzler said. “It’s dangerous.”
If the bill becomes law, police and state troopers could issue warnings for left lane loitering during the 1st 12 months, then the fine would take effect on July 1st of next year.
Senators have also unanimously passed a bill that would make it a felony to call 911 and falsely report a mass shooting, a hostage situation or some other allegation that would prompt a massive law enforcement response.
