Bill Text: NC H827 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Use of Passing Lane/Increased Penalty
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-06-20 - Re-ref Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House [H827 Detail]
Download: North_Carolina-2017-H827-Amended.html
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2017
H 2
HOUSE BILL 827*
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/24/17
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Short Title: Use of Passing Lane/Increased Penalty. |
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Sponsors: |
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Referred to: |
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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.
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(b) Upon all highways controlled‑access
and partially controlled‑access highways, any vehicle proceeding
at less than the legal maximum speed limit 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
then available for thru traffic, 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.
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(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. Notwithstanding G.S. 143C‑5‑2, there is appropriated from the Highway Fund to the Division of Motor Vehicles of the Department of Transportation the sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2017‑2018 fiscal year to be used to provide education to the public on compliance with G.S. 20‑146, as amended by Section 1 of this act.
SECTION 3. G.S. 20‑146(b), as amended by Section 1 of this act, shall be enforced by warning ticket only until November 30, 2018.
SECTION 4. This act becomes effective December 1, 2017, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
