DRIVERS could be hit with hefty fines for lingering in the left lane on the highway, as a new law comes in to force.
Motorists who persistently break the rules, which come into force on August 1, face jail time.
Motorists face fines for driving one mile under the speed limit[/caption]
Currently, vehicle owners who drive 10 miles an hour or more under the speed limit face fines of up to $100.
However, under the new law, the threshold will be lowered to just one mile an hour under the speed limit.
Drivers who are caught for the first time committing this offence will be fined $150.
However, if they are caught breaking the law a second or third time within a year, they face $250 and $350 fines, and up to 30 days in prison.
The law will apply to drivers in the state of Louisiana.
Highways ‘clogged up’
“The four-lane highways are getting clogged up with a lot of people who just want to ride in the left lane,” State Senator Jay Luneau said.
“That lane is intended to be a passing lane, so we’re hopeful to get traffic moving more smoothly.”
The senator added that the goal of the legislation is to “try and eliminate some of these accidents that we are seeing on the highways.”
“We put in there language that it gives the police officers discretion to ticket people that are driving side by side and blocking traffic behind them or intentionally driving in the left lane when there is no reason,” Luneau said.
“It makes people think about how they can adjust their driving habits just a little bit and make the flow of traffic a lot better.”
The new law will allow exceptions for drivers who are actively passing or making a left turn.
Toll increases
This comes as US drivers will soon be paying more for certain tolls as prices increase for a second time this year.
The changes are scheduled to take effect on July 6 and will apply to all vehicle classes.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will be charging drivers more at certain crossings, marking the second price increase since January.
New driving laws in 2025
Drivers across the United States are having to adjust to a slew of new road rules that take effect in 2025. Some of those include:
- Daylighting law prohibiting drivers from parking their cars within 20 feet of any crosswalk in California
- Stricter street racing penalties in California
- Changes to car seat age and weight requirements in Colorado
- Fines for failing to follow designated enter and exit areas for express lanes in Colorado
- Bans on handheld devices while driving in Colorado and Missouri
- Drivers allowed to have a digital copy of their license on their cell phones in Illinois
- Yield right of way to emergency vehicles in Illinois
- Drivers required to take a vision test to renew licenses in Kentucky
- School bus safety law in Oregon
- Vehicle safety inspections scrapped in Texas
New training law for young drivers
Motorists in Ohio who are under 21 will now have to complete a full education course to obtain a driver’s license.
Previously, drivers under 18 were required to complete a full driver’s education course, including 24 hours of classroom or online instruction, eight hours of driving with an instructor and 50 hours of driving with a parent or guardian – including 10 hours at night.
Furthermore, those aged 18 to 20 could skip formal driver’s education entirely if they passed a road test, or they could take a shorter four-hour course and abbreviated behind-the-wheel training.
The change now requires all drivers under 21 to complete a full driver’s education course, similar to the requirements for drivers under 18.
