N.J. bill could making hogging the left lane a crime

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WASHINGTON – A New Jersey senator wants to make sure slower drivers stay to the right in the Garden State.

A bill in the New Jersey legislature would double the minimum fine for slowpoke drivers from $50 to $100, and the maximum fine would rise from $200 to $300.

It was recently approved by New Jersey’s Senate Transportation Committee.

The man behind the plan, State Sen. Donald Norcross, says such drivers create “an unsafe traffic situation” on the road. He hopes the legislation will help fight road rage.

New Jersey’s “keep right” law is already one of the toughest in the U.S.

In D.C., drivers traveling “at less than the normal speed of traffic” must stay to the right or face a $50 fine.

Virginia has a rule that’s nearly the same as the District’s, but the fine is $30.

Maryland’s Transportation Code says “any vehicle going 10 mph or more below the applicable maximum speed limit” or “at less than the normal speed of traffic” must be driven in the right-hand lane. The fine is $90.

WTOP’s Michelle Basch contributed to this report. Follow Michelle and WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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