Not even sure what the point of riding the fast lane is. The right land is specifically meant for you to go slower/cruise... drivers who coast in the passing lane are either ignorant or jerks, not really a middle ground.
Ive said this before I'll say again, doing this kind of shit in Oklahoma won't fly. There is a 500 dollar fine for cruising in the passing lane here and cops are eager to give it out even still today as it took the public ignoring 2 fine increases to figure out that they were serious about it.
Sure forcing all the slower traffic into one lane rather than distributing it amongst ALL the lanes allows some people to drive 25 over the speed limit much safer, and the extra traffic loading in that outside lane shortens its lifespan by more than half (consider full rehab of one mile of one single lane is $1Million), AND that federal traffic laws say it is illegal to dictate right of way on the roads by freedom of choice... thus why you no longer see "slower traffic keep right"; but has anyone considered just putting a minimum speed limit .. asks the 4 traffic & highway engineers from TXDOT?
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· 5 years ago
What's your source on it being illegal to dictate right of way?
About 5 years ago when Texas came up with "Left lane for passing only", FHWA sent out a memo stating that states "shall not, in any way, dictate the lane preference of standard passenger vehicles except in cases of safety, mobility (the old 'slower traffic keep right') or as directed by law enforcement." They get around it by saying "safety, safety, safety." I had a project where a roadway speed was being reduced and the "left lane passing only" signs were to be removed; but remain b/c DPS requested them. Apparently these sigs give just cause to pull people over and search their cars. So technically, not illegal, just advised against in federal eyes; my bad for misspeaking.
Search their cars? How does a standard traffic violation immediately translate to search and possible seizure? I'm missing a piece of the puzzle here. Also, left lane passing only was originally suggested/dictated due to the size of Texas and the law is predominately geared towards/used for intrastate travel. If there are only two lanes, the left lane is meant to be a passing lane--not a 'go fast' lane. If you're talking about 3 or 4 lane freeways, highways, or tollways it might not be illegal to go 10 under in certain areas while riding the left lane--but it can absolutely be dangerous. Going slower doesnt imply safety.
Slower traffic keep right signs are all over Oklahoma. As seen in my above comment, they can very well fine you for cruising in the passing lane and will do so with gusto.
@interesting oh, we have one DPS officer in our area who searches literally EVERY car he stops.
I personally used to ride the inside lane of my divided 4 lane highway because of all the trucks blowing the stop signs on the side roads. Lost count how many I would have T-boned if I was outside lane. Now, I just drive 10 under in outside lane or follow an 18 wheeler.
Ha ha ha, who is going to call them on it? This going on years now. Hell, if someone refuses the trooper to search, he declares "probable cause" and has a second trooper come take the passengers aside while he searches. "Sued"... LOL dude.
Yeah all due respect I dont know where you are at in Texas but troopers can and have been sued for something like that. Plus most state troopers are now required by law to have video and audio going. I also personally know several state troopers and they're not going to willy-nilly perform a vehicle search. On the other side of the coin, it's extremely easy to sue and in most cases all it takes is a strict judge for that troopers entire career to be shot down the drain. Your response make me feel like you've got a really bad personal experience with this, did something happen?
Sounds like your experience is limited to your friends. My saying is "trust the professional, not the profession." Plenty of "cops" in law enforcement, "police officers" too. "Cops" might have 2 body cams and switch between traffic stops, any problem... ticket is "lost" and the cam shows only the stops before and after... back to back.
"Cops" may only stop traffic on the long stretches of road far from town, where people want to only get home before supper is cold... and no witnesses.
It's good you know trustworthy police officers, but dont say all are good, or above what this one has done; because he wears a badge too.
I never said they're all good, I've been pulled over by cops before who were either total doofs or in one case a total arse. I'm not sure you really read what I said or your personal opinion is clouding your responses. You're also making this sound like something out of a bad movie. If you're experiencing something like that in your town then you need to report it to the state troopers or even better the Texas Rangers. I will say that most people dont sign up to run towards the bullets, drunks, meth heads, and gangbangers for the crappy pay check and the possibility of getting their head blown off at a traffic stop. Yeah there are assholes out there, like with any organization or profession, but the majority of the folks out there signing up to be first responders are doing it to help their community with their own two hands.
One trooper I knew in my home town did the investigation of his cousin hitting a pedestrian which led to her death after 6 days in hospital. He declared the sun was in drivers eyes this no fault... even though the sun hadn't risen yet at time of incident. That trooper is now a Texas Ranger.
This is no proof mine, I have 2 dash cams and a written script of what to do if I ever get pulled over; approved by the local district attorney and the sherriff. They know about it too, and say "what can you do?" Cops in my county dont even bust drug dealers because they have legit businesses and pay taxes and generally dont cause trouble; neither their customers. Reporting things isn't how things are done around here. You can bitch about it, but quietly.
Then I would report it to the state department. Just the fact that he investigated an active case that his cousin/family member was involved with is a conflict of interest, against protocol, and technically illegal if it was a possible manslaughter. I'm extremely suspicious of the fact that he became a Texas Ranger--I'm also really weirder out that a state trooper was automatically assigned to the investigation and not a state investigator. The whole situation you just described sounds really weird.
Fruit of the poisoned tree, right? Any part of a legal process done illegally delegitimizes everything that it contributed to, and possibly the entire case from the outset.
I personally used to ride the inside lane of my divided 4 lane highway because of all the trucks blowing the stop signs on the side roads. Lost count how many I would have T-boned if I was outside lane. Now, I just drive 10 under in outside lane or follow an 18 wheeler.
"Cops" may only stop traffic on the long stretches of road far from town, where people want to only get home before supper is cold... and no witnesses.
It's good you know trustworthy police officers, but dont say all are good, or above what this one has done; because he wears a badge too.
This is no proof mine, I have 2 dash cams and a written script of what to do if I ever get pulled over; approved by the local district attorney and the sherriff. They know about it too, and say "what can you do?" Cops in my county dont even bust drug dealers because they have legit businesses and pay taxes and generally dont cause trouble; neither their customers. Reporting things isn't how things are done around here. You can bitch about it, but quietly.