🚀 go-pugleaf

Olin Murrell wrote:
> 
> Clark Simmons wrote:
> >
> > Olin Murrell wrote:
> > > This, of course, is Really Good Reason #4,612 to simply allow speeders to
> > > get on by, down the road and away from YOUR car.
> > >
> > > You (the generic 'you') really have no clue "why" they want to go faster
> > > than you, just that they do. If you can pull over safely, it costs you
> > > nothing, and really does add to overall road safety.
> >
> > No, I have no clue for why someone wants to exceed the posted limit
> > except in the case of a bona fide emergency, nor do I care except when
> > it directly affects me.
> > >
> > > The simple fact is, you left lane campers can come up with all the
> > > rationalizations you wish for your actions, but they really amount to a
> > > lower form of vigilantism, and they ARE illegal. People HAVE been
> > > ticketed for obstructing traffic in Texas, and CAN be again. Because some
> > > cop claims "there's no such law," merely points to how ignorant some
> > > officers can be.
> >
> > I know on no one who has been ticketed for driving the posted limit in
> > the left lane and failing to yield to traffic approaching from the
> > rear.  Nor have you. And you won't, because it's perfectly legal.
> > Perhaps you can cite something to the contrary.  I've made cites showing
> > the legality of it from a pretty authorative source.
> 
> OK, Clark. How about the Texas Department of Public Safety. Two officers
> there have confirmed the existance of a Texas law that clearly states
> obstruction of traffic is a ticketable offense. How about a pretty widly
> published story several years ago, along your very route (San
> Antonio/Austin)? Seems two guys decided they'd save all the out of
> towners the hassle of having to visit the Selma City Hall, so there they
> drove, right down I-35, at 55mph, then the posted speed limit in that
> famous/infamous little burg. Only problem was, one of the cars stuck in
> the five or six mile long traffic jam behind them was a DPS trooper, who
> got out onto the service road to see what was going on. When he found
> out, he pulled them BOTH over, and wrote them a ticket for, guess what,
> obstructing traffic! And, guess what? It stuck and they paid whatever
> fine the court levied.

  There had to be more to it than that.  The portion of I 35 through
Selma is hardly 5 or 6 miles long in itself.  This seems to have been a
blantant attempt to impede traffic. 
> 
> > >
> > > It's true that such tickets are rarely written, mostly in favor of the
> > > more easily defended "speeding" tickets, but consider this. Relatively
> > > few "failure to yield right of way," "improper lane change," and
> > > "improper speed for conditions" tickets are written either. Does that
> > > mean these actions are any less dangerous? I don't think so, and
> > > obstructing traffic leads to increased frustration levels, which
> > > dramatically increases the danger level on the roads.
> >
> > The simple reason that it's not required for a driver driving at the
> > posted limit in the left lane to pull over for traffic approaching from
> > the rear is because its safer than lane weaving.  And it is the law.
> > >
> 
> Ah, Clark, have you noticed what's being talked about is the OBSTRUCTION
> of traffic. If you're driving down a stretch of freeway, with very little
> traffic, then most folks will pass you on the right with no more than a
> ponderous glance. It's when somebody is driving along at the same speed
> as the car next to them that obstruction of traffic can occur. And, I'm
> sorry if your sources have misled you to believe that is not a ticketable
> offense, at ANY speed, above or below the posted limit, because it most
> assuredly is one in Texas.

  No, what we're actually discussing is whether or not it's required for
a driver driving at the posted limit to move to a right lane to allow a
driver to pass in the left lane when he's exceeding the posted limit. 
Delibertly obstructing traffic is a ticketable offense.  Driving the
posted limit in the left lane is not obstructing traffic.  I'm not
advocating obstruction of traffic.
> 
> --
> Olin Murrell
> Austin, TX
> olin@bga.com
> http://www.realtime.com/~olin

-- 
Clark, Still Free in Round Rock!

It's better to die standing on your feet in liberty,
Than to live crawling on your knees in tyranny!
---
Emiliano Zapata