Florida Senate - 2024                                     SB 258
       
       
        
       By Senator Perry
       
       
       
       
       
       9-00462-24                                             2024258__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to interstate safety; amending s.
    3         316.081, F.S.; defining the term “furthermost left-
    4         hand lane”; prohibiting a driver from operating a
    5         motor vehicle in the furthermost left-hand lane of
    6         certain roadways, except under certain circumstances;
    7         providing applicability; providing a penalty;
    8         providing an effective date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Present subsections (4) and (5) of section
   13  316.081, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (5)
   14  and (6), respectively, a new subsection (4) is added to that
   15  section, and present subsection (5) of that section is
   16  republished, to read:
   17         316.081 Driving on right side of roadway; exceptions.—
   18         (4)(a) As used in this subsection, the term “furthermost
   19  left-hand lane” means the farthest, most left-hand lane, except
   20  that, if such left-hand lane is a high-occupancy-vehicle lane as
   21  defined in s. 316.0741, or is a designated left-turn lane, the
   22  furthermost left-hand lane is the lane immediately to the right
   23  of that high-occupancy-vehicle lane or left-turn lane.
   24         (b) On a road, street, or highway with two or more lanes
   25  allowing movement in the same direction and a posted speed limit
   26  of at least 65 miles per hour, a driver may not operate a motor
   27  vehicle in the furthermost left-hand lane, except when
   28  overtaking and passing another vehicle; when preparing to exit
   29  the road, street, or highway; or when otherwise directed by an
   30  official traffic control device. This subsection does not apply
   31  to authorized emergency vehicles and vehicles engaged in highway
   32  maintenance or construction operations.
   33         (6)(5) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic
   34  infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in
   35  chapter 318.
   36         Section 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.