WA state patrol pulling people over for going to slow....cool.

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by Noah930

But it sounds like what MRM did was out of kind heart, not maliciousness.

I'd have done the same (if no risk of being rear-ended).

Years ago, my then wife and I were driving on a two-lane interstate in Alabama on our way to her parents in FLA. We and the semi ahead of us were the only two vehicles on the road and were both doing the speed limit. I pulled out to pass the semi and the semi pulled out and blocked me. WTF? So I moved back to the right lane and so did the semi. So, again, I pulled out to pass and, same thing; the semi moved to the right lane as soon as I did.

I waited a minute, then tried to pass again, with the same results. I was pissed, thinking the semi driver saw the CA plate on the front of our car and was giving us a hard time.

Then we went under an overpass, under which was parked an Alabama state trooper! We continued on down the road and around a bend and the semi driver blinked his lights and waved us to pass.

Thinking back, it was about mid-day and I should have stayed behind him until he pulled into a truck stop, then bought him lunch.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by darisc

thinking Back, It Was About Mid-day And I Should Have Stayed Behind Him Until He Pulled Into A Truck Stop, Then Bought Him Lunch.

+1

[Superman]

Jeff and Noah: Yes, the legislature makes the laws. Yes, administering agencies should be dutiful. Obedient. When you think you are seeing a failure on the part of the administering agency, perhaps you imagine the cause of your perception is the agency's arrogance and deliberate disobedience. Instead, at least in many cases, your perception is developed from less information than the agency uses in making policy decisions.

I know a number of states have wanted to target passing lane squatters, and I know they are fearful these citations will be more difficult to support in court. Sure, if there are no cars around for miles then it's a slam-dunk citation. But if there are no other cars around, there might be a foul but not a harm. It is precisely when other cars are nearby that passing lane squatters need to be culled out. And if there are other cars nearby, the motorist can make a reasonable argument they WERE passing while in the passing lane. While being tailgated. At 68 mph.

Another common reason why agencies do a poor job of some task, or fail altogether, is funding. I have been in the meetings. Agencies sometimes, honestly, no kidding, they have to decide what they are NOT going to do. If each thing costs $200,000, there are five things, and the actual budget is $600,000, the agency has to either decide to do five things poorly, or three things effectively. Yes, an agency can legitimately not do something they are mandated to do. If doing that thing is either impossible or would erode an even more important mandate.

Jeff, I have the impression you would be a fine addition to those difficult policy discussions and decisions. I think you would bring some very sharp and effective and perhaps imaginative inputs to those discussions. And I think you would be much more satisfied that they are REAL discussions of REAL problems and that the solutions are unfortunate, at times.

[gatotom]

WOW I have died and gone to heaven.

I do my driving thru this state and in the last couple yrs, I swear most drivers are on prozac, they are driving 10 miles per hour under the speed limit and when you safely pass them in a passing area, they beep their horn or flash their lights at you for being whatever.

I am always amazed at traveling faster up I-5 and pass most cars doing maybe 6-8 over in the right lane cuz all the bozos need to be in the left lane clogging up the traffic. I believe that its some stupid game they play because they have no life.

Maybe that old saying is true...if you eat all your peas on the plate and say your prayers at night, when you die you will go to heaven in the state of Washington.

Ding, I'm outa here, time for a drink.

[artplumber]

Originally Posted by steve911

+1 on all the above.

Anyone notice that almost no one understands that a flash of the headlights from behind means MOVE OVER? More times than I can count, I've come up behind a slower moving vehicle and flashed my brights nicely (several times) and the maroons just sit in the left lane. Even when I then go around on the right and glare at them do I get a glimpse of understanding.
Clueless (and not just in WA).

Actually, in OR I believe that flashing the lights can lead to you being reported for "aggressive driving"/road rage and even a fine. You can be reported by the other driver, not even a cop is req'd

[Paul K]

I've always been surprised at how few folks move right after they've passed someone here in the US. In Europe, the reason you can go 80+mph bumper to bumper is because everyone uses their turn signals every maneuver, and everyone passes them moves out of the way. This news is definitely a step in the right direction, yet here in Oregon they just changed the rules to allow you to pass on the right under certain conditions. I hate doing that because I know the guy in the left lane is going to drift over when I'm in his blind spot. Oh, and +1 for the WA. drivers who stay in the left lane the whole time!

Cheers,

Paul.

[Brian Cameron]

[teenerted1]

Originally Posted by artplumber

Actually, in OR I believe that flashing the lights can lead to you being reported for "aggressive driving"/road rage and even a fine. You can be reported by the other driver, not even a cop is req'd

well the time i flashed a slow moving unmarked police car in Oregon he didn't pull me over.

he was going below the speed limit in the left lane, i had been following him for some time wanting to get past the slow cars in the right lane. he wouldn't budge so i high beamed him a couple of times. he just flashed his hidden rear red/blue lights and waved his little finger, i guess to say. "No I'm not moving." he did speed up though and when we were ahead of the line to the right i moved over to finish my pass of slow moving Oregon residents

oh yea i was driving a U-haul truck at the time. so if you guys down there in duck land cant keep up with a piece of junk rental truck, MOVE OVER!

[Mule]

Originally Posted by gatotom

WOW I have died and gone to heaven.

I do my driving thru this state and in the last couple yrs, I swear most drivers are on prozac, they are driving 10 miles per hour under the speed limit and when you safely pass them in a passing area, they beep their horn or flash their lights at you for being whatever.

I am always amazed at traveling faster up I-5 and pass most cars doing maybe 6-8 over in the right lane cuz all the bozos need to be in the left lane clogging up the traffic. I believe that its some stupid game they play because they have no life.

Maybe that old saying is true...if you eat all your peas on the plate and say your prayers at night, when you die you will go to heaven in the state of Washington.

Ding, I'm outa here, time for a drink.

It's all that liberalism destroying their brains.

[Jim Richards]

FL blue hairs give you the finger when you flash your lights or tap your horn to try to get them to move right. Some nasty ol' grannys there.

[KFC911]

They're from NY