In a move that has drawn considerable attention, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed legislation aimed at imposing stricter regulations on left-lane driving while, at the same time, signing into law a controversial measure that allows the killing of bears under certain circumstances. The vetoed traffic bill, had it passed, would have made driving in the left lane for anything other than overtaking illegal on roads with speed limits of 65 mph or higher, as per WTSP.
The FOX 13 News report details that Governor DeSantis has instead approved HB 87, which authorizes residents to kill bears if they feel threatened or in danger to their lives, pets, or property. The bill draws a parallel to the state's ‘Stand Your Ground’ defense law, a policy that has been historically contentious and subject to widespread debate.
The rejected bill regarding left-lane driving, known as House Bill 317, received overwhelming support in the legislature, being voted in by 37-0 in the Senate and 113-3 in the House. Under the bill, a noncriminal traffic infraction would have been imposed on drivers who used the furthest left-hand lane, except for overtaking or exiting the road, with fines totaling up to $158. DeSantis, however, expressed concerns over the bill's implications, stating, "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 are," in his veto letter, according to WTSP.
This decision marks the third time such a bill has been defeated, with the 2020 and 2022 versions also not coming to pass. DeSantis has further justified his veto, suggesting that the bill, intended to reduce traffic slowdowns, could inadvertently cause congestion. Motorists might avoid using the left lane altogether for fear of being cited. As it stands, Florida recommends using the left lane only for passing, and it is already a requirement to merge right for faster-approaching traffic, whatever the speed limit happens to be, as mentioned in ABC Action News.
