Gov. Kathleen Blanco signed legislation into law June 24 allowing law enforcement officers in Louisiana to ticket drivers who hold up traffic by lingering in the left lane.

The new law, previously SB765, is intended to stop motorists from using the left-hand lanes of multilane highways if they are not passing other vehicles.

Rep. Roy Quezaire, the bill’s House sponsor, said the provision is aimed at stopping “rolling roadblocks.”

“Folks just stay in that left lane, and you can’t get around them,” Quezaire, D-Donaldsville, told The Advertiser. “You are taught in driver’s education that the left-hand lane is for passing, and the right-hand lane is for slower traffic.”

Motorists who travel in the left lane at the same speed or slower than vehicles in the right-hand lane could be fined as much as $175 and/or sentenced to up to 30 days in jail. Subsequent violations could result in a fine up to $500 and/or up to 90 days in jail.

The new law applies specifically to roads outside of municipalities where the posted speed is at least 55 mph.

It will take effect Aug. 15. Until then, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will begin posting “Slower Traffic Keep Right” signs.