The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Rules
BILL: SB 258
INTRODUCER: Senator Perry
SUBJECT: Interstate Safety
DATE: February 7, 2024
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Shutes Vickers TR Favorable
2. Parker Stokes CJ Favorable
3. Shutes Twogood RC Pre-meeting
I. Summary:
SB 258 prohibits a driver from operating a motor vehicle in the furthermost left-hand lane on a
road, street, or highway having two or more lanes allowing movement in the same direction with
a posted speed limit of at least 65 miles per hour. A driver may drive in the furthermost left-hand
lane when overtaking and passing another vehicle, when preparing to exit the road, street, or
highway, or when otherwise directed by an official traffic control device. This provision does not
apply to authorized emergency vehicles and vehicles engaged in highway maintenance or
construction operations.
A violation is a noncriminal traffic infraction punishable as a moving violation. The statutory
base fine is $60, but with additional fees and charges, the total penalty may be up to $158.
The bill may have an indeterminate fiscal impact on state and local government.
The bill takes effect January 1, 2025.
II. Present Situation:
Under Florida law, a vehicle must be driven upon the right half of the roadway, except:
When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction under the
rules governing such movement;
When an obstruction exists making it necessary to drive to the left of the center of the
highway, provided any person so doing yields the right-of-way to all vehicles traveling in the
proper direction upon the unobstructed portion of the highway within such distance as to
constitute an immediate hazard;
REVISED: BILL: SB 258 Page 2
Upon a roadway divided into three marked lanes for traffic under the rules applicable
thereon; or
Upon a roadway designated and signposted for one-way traffic.
1
Upon all roadways, any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic must be
driven in the right-hand lane then available for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand
curb or edge of the roadway except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in
the same direction or when preparing for a left turn.
2
On a road, street, or highway having two or more lanes allowing movement in the same
direction, a driver may not continue to operate a motor vehicle in the furthermost left-hand lane
if the driver knows or reasonably should know that he or she is being overtaken in that lane from
the rear by a motor vehicle traveling at a higher rate of speed. This does not apply to drivers
operating a vehicle that is overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, or is
preparing for a left turn at an intersection.
3
Upon any roadway having four or more lanes for moving traffic and providing for two-way
movement of traffic, a vehicle may not be driven to the left of the centerline of the roadway,
except when authorized by official traffic control devices designating certain lanes to the left side
of the center of the roadway for use by traffic not otherwise permitted to use such lanes, or
except as permitted to drive around an obstruction. However, this may not be construed as
prohibiting the crossing of the centerline in making a left turn.
4
A violation of the above laws is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving
violation.
5
The statutory base fine is $60,
6
but with additional fees and surcharges, the total
penalty may be up to $158.
7
There are at least eight states where traveling in the left lane on certain roads, streets, and
highways is prohibited except for turning and passing.
8
Most states, like Florida, require slower
traffic to keep right.
9
1
Section 316.081(1), F.S.
2
Section 316.081(2), F.S.
3
Section 316.081(3), F.S.
4
Section 316.081(4), F.S.
5
Section 316.081(5), F.S.
6
Section 318.18(3)(a), F.S.
7
Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers, Distribution Schedule of Court-Related Filing Fees, Service Charges, Costs and
Fines, Including a Fee Schedule for Recording (December 2022), at p. 42, available at
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.flclerks.com/resource/resmgr/advisories/2022/22bull098_attach_2_2022_dist.pdf (last visited
January 18, 2024).
8
Bodine, Rachel and Walker, Daniel, Is left lane driving allowed in your state? (June 29, 2022), AutoInsurance.Org,
https://www.autoinsurance.org/keep-right-which-states-enforce-left-lane-passing-only/ and Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, State “keep right” laws, https://www.mit.edu/~jfc/right.html (last visited January 18, 2024).
9
Id. BILL: SB 258 Page 3
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill amends s. 316.081, F.S., to prohibit a driver from operating a motor vehicle in the
furthermost left-hand lane on a road, street, or highway having two or more lanes allowing
movement in the same direction with a posted speed limit of at least 65 miles per hour. The bill
provides exceptions authorizing a driver to drive in the furthermost left-hand lane when
overtaking and passing another vehicle, when preparing to exit the road, street, or highway, or
when otherwise directed by an official traffic control device. Additionally, this prohibition does
not apply to authorized emergency vehicles and vehicles engaged in highway maintenance or
construction operations.
For purposes of this provision, the term “furthermost left-hand lane” excludes a high-occupancy-
vehicle lane or a designated left turn lane. The furthermost left-hand lane is considered the lane
immediately to the right of such high-occupancy-vehicle lane or left turn lane in these instances.
A violation of this provision is a noncriminal traffic infraction punishable as a moving violation.
The statutory base fine is $60, but with additional fees and charges, the total penalty may be up
to $158.
The bill takes effect January 1, 2025.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None. BILL: SB 258 Page 4
B. Private Sector Impact:
The bill may have an indeterminate negative impact on individuals who violate this
provision. An individual cited for violating this provision may be subject to a penalty of
up to $158.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill may have an indeterminate negative fiscal impact on the Department of Highway
Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), which will need to update its driver handbook,
driver license test question bank, driver improvement course curricula, and the Uniform
Traffic Citation manual to reflect the change in law.
10
Additionally, the DHSMV and
local law enforcement may need to conduct training on the law change.
The bill may have an indeterminate positive fiscal impact on state and local government
that receive revenue from the traffic fine.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends section 316.081 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
10
DHSMV, 2024 Legislative Bill Analysis: SB 258 (November 1, 2023) at p. 3 (on file with the Senate Criminal Justice
Committee).