JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday vetoed a bill that would have targeted people who were driving slow in the left lane.
The bill, approved by the Florida Legislature earlier this year, would have prevented drivers from using left lanes unless they were passing other motorists. Violators would have been subject to a fine of up to $158.
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Certain exceptions would have included exiting off the road, or highway, and being directed by law enforcement.
But DeSantis had issues with the language and said the bill could have increased congestion in Florida’s urban areas because drivers may have decided to not use the left lane at all out of fear of being ticketed.
“The language of this bill is too broad and could lead to drivers in Florida being pulled over, ticketed, and fined for driving in the furthest left lane even if they are not impeding the flow of traffic or if there are few or no other cars in the immediate area,” DeSantis wrote.
Senate sponsor Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, said his goal was to prevent motorists from using right lanes to pass slower traffic in left lanes.
“In 2023 alone, there were 4,027 violations as a direct violation of passing on the right,” Perry said.