Slow Left-Lane Drivers Could Do Jail Time Under New Law

Left-lane cruising isn’t just annoying. In some states, it can result in a fine, and in Louisiana, repeated offenses could lead to jail time.

So what does that mean for regular drivers who sometimes camp out in the passing lane because the right lane is rough or busy? Short answer: more states are spelling out when you must keep right, what “impeding” looks like, and how penalties stack up.

What Louisiana changed

Louisiana tightened its keep-right rule on multilane highways. The statute says you may use the left lane to overtake, to prepare for a left turn, or when right-hand lanes are congested, but you may not impede a faster vehicle behind you in that lane. Drivers going slower than the normal speed of traffic must use the right lane.

The law now escalates penalties for slow left-lane driving. Public reporting around the law’s 2025 update summarizes fines of $150 for a first offense, $250 for a second, and $350 and/or up to 30 days in jail for a third offense within a year. The jail provision targets repeat behavior, not a one-off mistake.

A practical note: the Louisiana code also lays out when passing on the right is allowed and where passing is limited, which matters when traffic stacks up behind a left-lane blocker.

How other states treat left-lane “camping”

Laws vary, but most states require slower traffic to keep right and treat lingering in the passing lane as “impeding” or a similar offense. Here are a few examples:

Louisiana
The recent Louisiana law (Act 24, effective August 1, 2025) is one of the harshest. Drivers going even 1 mph below the posted speed in the left lane can get fined $150 on the first offense, $250 on the second, and $350 or up to 30 days in jail on the third within a year. What makes it stand out is that jail time is explicitly on the table for a non-violent motoring violation, once somebody is a repeat offender.

Texas
Texas doesn’t have a left-lane statute labeled “camping,” but courts do interpret “impeding traffic” to include slow driving in the left lane under certain conditions. The typical fine is up to $200, and if the slow driving contributes to a crash or hazard, it could escalate to reckless driving charges.

Indiana
Indiana Code § 9-21-8-2 requires slower traffic to stay on the right half of the roadway unless overtaking, turning left, or for other exceptions. Fines can go up to $500 (plus points) in some cases for persistent violations.

Why This Matters on the Road

Flow and predictability

Left-lane campers force passing on the right or encourage tailgating and abrupt lane changes. States try to reduce those ripple effects by making the left lane a place you move through, not live in. Montana’s keep-right language is a clean example of this approach.

“But I’m doing the speed limit.”

Several statutes focus on impeding faster traffic rather than your exact speedometer reading. In Louisiana, even a driver near the limit can violate the rule if they block overtaking vehicles in the left lane. That is the key distinction drivers often miss.

Hazardous right lanes and safety exceptions

Personally, I’ll drive in the left lane if the right lane road conditions are bad, which often happens. Of course, if a vehicle is catching up, I’ll move back to the right. Most states allow temporary use of a different lane to avoid hazards, debris, or damaged pavement. The expectation is that you move back right when it’s safe. Michigan, for example, has lane-use statute that acknowledges limited exceptions like preparing for a left turn or avoiding special hazards.

Practical Takeaways for Drivers

• Use the left lane like it was designed: Treat it as a passing lane, not a place to camp out. Once you’ve overtaken another vehicle, move back to the right when it’s safe.
• Speed isn’t the whole story: Even if you’re at the speed limit, you can still be cited for “impeding” if traffic piles up behind you. Louisiana’s law makes this clear.
• Exceptions exist, but they’re temporary: Damaged pavement, debris, or a closed lane may push you left, but statutes expect you to return right as soon as possible. Michigan law even spells out “special hazards” as a valid reason.