The Police State in the Rearview: Why Louisiana’s Left-Lane Bill Is More Than a Traffic Law

By The Bayou Insider Staff

When the Louisiana Senate Transportation Committee unanimously approved a bill to fine—and even jail—drivers for staying too long in the left lane, it may have seemed like a commonsense fix to an everyday frustration. We’ve all been stuck behind that one car cruising 65 in the passing lane, forcing a line of traffic to build behind them like water behind a dam. It’s annoying. It’s inconsiderate.

But is it criminal?

Under this new bill authored by Senator Jay Luneau of Alexandria, the answer is increasingly “yes.” The legislation removes the previous allowance for drivers traveling within 10 mph of the speed limit to use the left lane, making it illegal to linger there unless actively passing another vehicle—regardless of how fast you’re going. The penalties? A $150 fine for the first offense, $250 for the second, and $350 and up to 30 days in jail for the third offense within a year.

Yes, you read that right: jail time for driving in the left lane.

This may be framed as a traffic safety measure, but it reeks of something else entirely: the steady march toward a police state.

Criminalizing the Mundane

When did we decide that everyday, non-aggressive driving habits warranted not just tickets, but criminal penalties? What’s next—jail time for not turning fast enough at a green light? For forgetting to use your blinker in a turn lane?

We already live in a world filled with speed traps, ticket quotas, and AI-powered traffic cameras monitoring our every move. Now the government wants to turn your lane choice into a reason to stop you, fine you, and—if you’re “non-compliant” enough—haul you to jail.

This isn’t about traffic. It’s about control.

Discretion or Discrimination?

One of the most dangerous aspects of laws like this is how much subjective power it gives law enforcement. What does “not actively passing” look like? Two seconds behind the car in front of you? Ten? Are you supposed to slam on your brakes and merge right every time your cruise control drops below a certain threshold?

Laws that rely on officer interpretation become tools for selective enforcement. That means they’re used when the officer wants to use them—not necessarily when they’re needed. And we’ve seen far too many examples across this country of how those selective stops turn into escalations, especially in communities that already feel targeted or over-policed.

Louisiana’s Authoritarian Drift

Let’s be honest: this is part of a bigger pattern in Louisiana.

This state has passed legislation consolidating executive power, clamping down on protest rights, expanding police presence in schools, and now—criminalizing lane choices. Each move on its own might seem justified. But together, they paint a picture of a government that increasingly sees its citizens not as free individuals, but as problems to be managed.

The good old boys in Baton Rouge aren’t draining any swamps—they’re just building a deeper one with more cameras, more rules, and fewer rights.

Manufactured Consent

Senator Luneau claims the public supports the bill, and maybe he’s right. But support gained through irritation isn’t the same as informed consent. People are annoyed by slow drivers, so they’ll cheer on a law that “gets them out of the way.” But do they realize they’re also cheering on higher fines, more stops, more surveillance, and more ways to land in jail for a non-violent traffic behavior?

When government solves our frustrations with force, we should be very cautious about applauding.

From Citizens to Subjects

If this sounds like an overreaction, ask yourself this: when was the last time a government gave itself power and then gave it back? When was the last time a law designed to “help with traffic” didn’t end up feeding the revenue machine or increasing state control?

The truth is, freedom isn’t lost all at once. It’s chipped away. Ticket by ticket. Camera by camera. Law by law.

And now, lane by lane.

This isn’t just about roads. It’s about rights. It’s about whether we’re going to live in a state that treats us like adults—or manages us like livestock. Whether we’re citizens—or just subjects of an increasingly unaccountable, increasingly punitive government.

If you care about liberty, it’s time to wake up.

Because once the police state gets into the left lane, it doesn’t slow down—and it doesn’t merge right.

If you feel the same way, call your legislator and ask them why we’re passing jail-time laws for lane usage while crime still runs rampant in our cities.