GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 827*

 

 

Short Title:      Use of Passing Lane/Increased Penalty.

(Public)

Sponsors:

Representatives Duane Hall, Bradford, Hardister, and Murphy (Primary Sponsors).

For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.

Referred to:

Transportation, if favorable, Judiciary I

April 13, 2017

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to expand the prohibition on operating a motor vehicle in the leftmost travel lane of a controlled‑access or partially controlled‑access highway at less than the speed limit or when impeding the steady flow of traffic and to increase the monetary penalty for committing a violation of that prohibition.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑146 reads as rewritten:

"§ 20‑146.  Drive on right side of highway; exceptions.

(b)        Upon all highwayscontrolled‑access and partially controlled‑access highways, any vehicle proceeding at less than the legal maximum speed limit or impeding the steady flow of traffic shall be driven in the right‑hand lane then available for thru traffic, or as close as practicable to the right‑hand curb or edge of the highway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn.a lane other than the inside lane next to the centerline or median of a multilane highway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when making a left turn. A person who violates this subsection is guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine of two hundred dollars ($200.00). For purposes of this subsection, a person is "impeding the steady flow of traffic" if the person knows or reasonably should know that he or she is being overtaken from the rear by a vehicle traveling at a higher rate of speed.

(e)        Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, when appropriate signs have been posted, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle over and upon the inside lane, next to the median of any dual‑lane highway at a speed less than the posted speed limit when the operation of said motor vehicle over and upon said inside lane shall impede the steady flow of traffic except when preparing for a left turn. "Appropriate signs" as used herein shall be construed as including "Slower Traffic Keep Right" or designations of similar import."

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2017, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.