Left lane law by state: when you can drive in the left lane

• Drive in the right lane and use the left one to pass. That is legal in every state.
• Done passing? Move back right when it is safe. In the passing-only states, staying left is an offense even at the limit (in some, only when someone is behind you).
• Someone coming up fast behind you in the left lane? Move right and let them by. Several states require it whatever your speed.
• Exceptions everywhere: turning or exiting left, heavy traffic, a closed or blocked right lane, and following signs or police.

In these 20 states the law keeps every driver out of the left lane except to pass (and to turn or exit left), on the roads named:

• Alabama: on interstates: no more than 1.5 miles in the left lane without passing; elsewhere slower traffic keeps right.
• Arkansas: on any multilane highway.
• Colorado: on highways with two or more lanes each way and a limit of 65 mph or more.
• Delaware: on SR 1 and I-495, unless no vehicle is within 100 feet behind; elsewhere slower traffic keeps right.
• Illinois: on interstates and freeways, when a vehicle is behind you.
• Kansas: on highways outside cities: the right lane with two lanes each way, out of the far-left lane with three or more.
• Kentucky: on limited-access highways of 4 or more lanes with a limit of 65 mph or more; elsewhere slower traffic keeps right.
• Louisiana: on all multilane highways.
• Maine: on limited-access highways with a limit of 65 mph or more.
• Massachusetts: on all roads, when the right lane is available.
• Michigan: on roads with two lanes each way; on freeways with 3 or more, any lane.
• Mississippi: on roads with two or more lanes each way.
• Missouri: on highways with two or more lanes each way.
• Montana: on roads with two or more lanes each way outside cities, and on interstates everywhere.
• New Jersey: on all roads with marked lanes.
• Oklahoma: on highways, except city streets and county roads that are not interstates or turnpikes.
• Pennsylvania: on limited-access highways with two or more lanes each way, unless posted otherwise.
• South Carolina: on controlled-access highways, when a vehicle is behind you.
• Tennessee: on interstates and divided highways with two or more lanes each way.
• Washington: on roads with two or more lanes each way.

These states do not ban the left lane outright, but a driver in it must give way: move right when overtaken, or not stay there holding up traffic.

• Florida: on roads with two or more lanes each way: leave the far-left lane when you are being overtaken.
• Georgia: on roads with two or more lanes each way: move out of the passing lane when faster traffic approaches.
• Indiana: on roads with two or more lanes each way: leave the left lane when you know you are being overtaken; on interstates, drivers below the limit use the right lanes.
• Minnesota: on roads with two or more lanes each way: move out of the left lane to let another vehicle pass.
• Nevada: on controlled-access highways: below the limit, leave the left lane when overtaken.
• New Hampshire: on multilane roads: no staying in the left lane when it holds up traffic.
• Utah: on roads with two or more lanes each way: move right when overtaken.
• Wyoming: on controlled-access highways: no long stretches in the far-left lane that hold up traffic.

In Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin, the law follows the national model: a vehicle going slower than the normal speed of traffic keeps to the right lane, except to pass or turn left. A driver keeping up with traffic may use the left lane. Alaska and Maryland measure against the speed limit instead (in Maryland, only 10 mph or more below it can be ticketed), and Texas lets the state post "left lane for passing only" signs, which then apply.

Most statutes set no amount of their own; the general traffic penalties apply. Where the law or its fine schedule does:

• Delaware: $25 to $75, then $57.50 to $95.
• Iowa: $135.
• Kansas: $75.
• Kentucky: $20 to $100.
• Louisiana: $150 for driving below the limit in the left lane; $250 and $350 for repeats within 12 months.
• Mississippi: $5 to $50.
• New Hampshire: $50 plus penalty assessment.
• New Jersey: $100 to $300 and 2 points.
• North Dakota: $20 and 2 points.
• Oregon: $265 (Class B violation).
• Rhode Island: $100.
• South Carolina: up to $25, not on the driving record.
• Tennessee: $50.
• Virginia: $100.
• West Virginia: up to $100, then $200, then $500.
• Wisconsin: $30 to $300.

Separate from the left lane laws, several states keep heavy trucks out of the far-left lane on highways with three or more lanes each way: for example Washington and Pennsylvania (over 10,000 lb), Missouri (over 48,000 lb, urban highways), North Carolina (26,001 lb and up, 6 or more lanes) and Connecticut (where posted). Michigan limits trucks over 10,000 lb to the two right lanes.

Every rule here comes from the state's statute or administrative code, read on the legislature's site (or an archived copy of it, dated in the sources), Georgia's driver manual and the Colorado State Patrol. We could not read New Mexico's statute on an official page, so its row says so. Two-lane road rules, HOV and express lanes and local ordinances are not covered.