It does not matter if the left lane is only for passing. If the driver was going the max speed limit, then unless someone else was speeding (including the cop) the driver could not have been possibly impeding the flow of traffic. Speeding is more dangerous than being in the left lane, and if the policeman was doing his job to protect and serve he'd have a) been going the speed limit himself and b) pulling over those other cars looking to pass as they'd have been speeding. Instead, I assume the policeman was simply a power-hungry jerk and wanted to harass someone for a minor, meaningless, offense. Waste of everyone's time as it ended up. There go taxpayer dollars down the drain.

12:14 I know because (as I stated earlier in the thread) they were stopped directly in front of me

11:52, this is OP. Yes, I've been pulled over many times in this area, but the most serious of all the charges was speeding at 25 mph over the speed limit and that was only once. Granted I've been pulled over 4-5 times for exceeding the speed limit, but it was at speeds lesser than 25mph and it was over the course of 20 years. I don't know how that compares to most people in this area though. The other charges were for things like obstructed tag, tail light out, no hands-free device....but I've never gotten a ticket for driving the posted speed limit. Or for traveling in the left lane..mabybe because I was driving a bit faster in other instances...idk

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so happy to hear they are actually pulling people over for this. The left lane squatters on GW parkway suck.

And help create dangerous situations

+1

It’s so dangerous.

Stop whining and just stay right, pass left. It’s not that hard, OP.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Again, there were many cars driving in the left lane... not just passing, but driving. As a matter of fact, the cop pulled over another driver for doing the exact same thing just a few minutes later, so clearly everyone isn't aware that this is actually a law. And for those saying I would have known a cop was behind me had I been paying attention....well, I WAS paying attention to what was before and behind me, but I was driving a small car and the cop was in a huge SUV. The sirens were not visible to me due to the height disparity between our vehichles so I had no idea a police car was behind me. Anyway, lesson learned on my part. Thanks to all who offered civil and informative feedback.

How do you know that?

Anonymous wrote:I am so happy to hear they are actually pulling people over for this. The left lane squatters on GW parkway suck.

And help create dangerous situations

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While the cop may have acted inappropriately, driving 50 mph in the left lane of the GW Pkwy is stupid.

It's not against the law.

It is in Virginia

OP here. Again, there were many cars driving in the left lane... not just passing, but driving. As a matter of fact, the cop pulled over another driver for doing the exact same thing just a few minutes later, so clearly everyone isn't aware that this is actually a law. And for those saying I would have known a cop was behind me had I been paying attention....well, I WAS paying attention to what was before and behind me, but I was driving a small car and the cop was in a huge SUV. The sirens were not visible to me due to the height disparity between our vehichles so I had no idea a police car was behind me. Anyway, lesson learned on my part. Thanks to all who offered civil and informative feedback.

Keep in mind, OP stated "I've been pulled over numerous times for various minor traffic violations."

I've been pulled over twice in my life -- I'm 55.

also, use your mirrors regularly... you shouldn't need a cop to put on a siren to know who is behind you. maybe a driving class refresher would be helpful to you?!

He did his job which is to inform you of the law. He doesn't have to be your friend while doing it. You should be grateful he didn't give you a ticket, instead, even though you clearly questioned/pushed back, he gave you a warning. these people do not have easy jobs so why escalate the situation. Rather entitled to feel you get to file a complaint against someone who did not even give you a ticket when he could have.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is crazy. She broke the law by driving the maximum speed limit? Come on.

She broke the law by riding unnecessarily in the passing/left lane.

This. I’m surprised so many people on this thread don’t know this law. The left lane is for passing only.

I will bet that every single poster who didn’t know this is from Virginia.

OMG this.

Anonymous wrote:Someone in Maryland is trying to make the left lane for passing only. It is NOT the law in Maryland. So people saying all states have this law are just as ignorant as the OP, especially since they live in the DC Metro area and should know Maryland law!
https://wtop.com/maryland/2020/03/md-lawmaker-wants-slowpokes-out-of-left-lane/

“Several other states already have this bill,” said Parrott. “Actually a majority of states do. We’re only one of five states … that has weak or no laws talking about the left lane.”

Maryland does have a law regarding the left lane, it’s just much weaker than those in other states. See the MIT link posted early in the thread for more information. I fully support any efforts to strengthen and enforce this law.

I am so happy to hear they are actually pulling people over for this. The left lane squatters on GW parkway suck.

OP, you have no business being on the road, trying to play cop, driving recklessly like you did. The cop said it in the nicest way possible, and this time you were very, very lucky. WTH are you complaining on here?