'Road rage bill' author tries with new name
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published January 13, 2007
TALLAHASSEE - Drivers who cruise slowly in the passing lane - backing up traffic and inciting "road rage" in one lawmaker's opinion - would have to move out of the way if his bill that has failed repeatedly becomes law.
State Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, thinks this time, his "Highway Safety Act" will pass. It would require drivers to move out of the left lane on multilane roads if they are approached from behind by a speedier driver - unless they are passing another car or making a left turn.
The bill died in committee in 2004 and 2006, and was vetoed by Gov. Jeb Bush in between.
Bennett will meet with new Gov. Charlie Crist next week to talk about his bill.
"People have just misunderstood it," Bennett said. "It's not to encourage speeding. It's truly to smooth the flow of traffic. Maybe people won't get quite as frustrated when they're trying to deal with traffic."
To smooth its passage, other supporters convinced Bennett that it should be given its new name instead of its old title, the "Road Rage Reduction Act."
Current law makes it illegal for drivers to impede traffic, but Bennett said it hasn't been enforced. Under the new bill (SB 536), failure to move over would be counted as one of the offenses that can make up "aggressive careless driving," which carries with it a fine of $100 for the first offense and a penalty of between $250 and $500 for subsequent offenses.
The House bill will be sponsored by freshman Rep. Michael Scionti, D-Tampa, Bennett said.
Other lawmakers have seen Bennett's proposal as rewarding speeding at the expense of law-abiding citizens. And in his 2005 veto message, Bush said, "The predominate shortcoming of the bill is that it seeks to provide relief for those traveling at high rates of speed, or possessed of emotional intemperance, at the expense of cautious and careful drivers."
Ernie Duarte, a spokesman for the Florida Highway Patrol, hadn't seen the bill and wouldn't comment Friday.