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LEGISLATURE Oregon legislators go after slow drivers Comment By Saul Hubbard The Register Guard MailTribune.com By Saul Hubbard The Register Guard Posted Apr. 22, 2015 at 8:29 PM By Saul Hubbard The Register Guard Posted Apr. 22, 2015 at 8:29 PM » Social News SALEM — Oregon lawmakers are attempting to tackle one of motorists’ biggest pet peeves: drivers who “hog” the left lane by refusing to get over and allow faster traffic through. On Tuesday morning, the House narrowly approved a bill that would ratchet up pressure on those slow drivers. House Bill 3414 would make the fast lane “pass only” on Oregon highways and any road with two or more lanes and a speed limit of more than 45 mph. Currently, only heavy trucks and campers are required to get out of the fast lane if they’re not passing another vehicle. Under HB 3414, violators could face a traffic fine of between $260 and $1,000. The proposed new rule wouldn’t apply when the road is congested. Drivers also wouldn’t risk a citation if they were preparing to turn left, allowing other vehicles to merge from an on-ramp, or avoiding an emergency situation. The bill passed 33-26, with six Democrats and 20 Republicans voting “no.” It now heads to the Senate. Left-lane dawdlers or “hoggers” are a well-known cause of irritation for some motorists. Ten other states, including Washington, have therefore explicitly limited the left lane to “pass only.” A similar bill was introduced in the Oregon Legislature in 2013, but it failed to advance. Rep. Ken Helm, a Beaverton Democrat, said HB 3414 would make roads safer by reducing road rage incidents. It also would make it less likely for drivers to try to dangerously pass on the right. “A lot of Oregonians are frustrated with those folks who are so clueless or inconsiderate” that they slow traffic by staying in the left lane, Helm said. But opponents said the proposal was superfluous because state law already prohibits drivers from impeding “the normal and reasonable movement of traffic” by traveling too slowly in the fast lane. “Why do we need a law on top of a law?” asked Rep. Sal Esquivel, a Medford Republican. Helm said that in Washington state, 14,000 citations were issued last year to drivers staying in the fast lane. Should the Oregon bill become law, the state Department of Transportation would spend $80,000 on new signs educating drivers about the change. Rep. Phil Barnhart, a Eugene Democrat, said that with the built-in exemptions, the bill was “very reasonable policy that should have been in effect for a long time.” Rep. Jeff Barker, an Aloha Democrat, argued that many drivers considered lane “hoggers” by some are in fact driving at or around the posted speed limit, while those attempting to pass are driving faster. “I’m not sure how this bill would work in those cases,” he said. By Saul Hubbard The Register Guard MailTribune.com By Saul Hubbard The Register Guard Posted Apr. 22, 2015 at 8:29 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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