Fined for Driving in The Right Lane

Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 09:11
Last edited 31/01/2020 - 09:22 by 1 other user

Hi,

I was driving from Sydney to Brisbane and was pulled over. Was fined for going 129 in a 100, driving excessively in right lane and not displaying P plates. First ever offence, thankfully, the cop waived the P plates so I kept my licence. The cop car had a full orange bonnet I’ve never seen before and I think was hiding as I did not pass on highway.

At that speed, from a parked position, how long could the officer see I was in the right lane for? Not even a minute, which I feel is ridiculous haha.

I understand the law is keep left unless overtaking but was taught that the left lane is the slow lane and right lane is the fast lane. As I was going basically 30 over the speed limit, I was not going slow and impeding traffic at all.

I will obviously just cop the fine but do you guys think the punishment is excessive? Speed limits are lower here than other countries, fines are higher, starting to believe the revenue raising spiel.

Automotive

closed Comments

saintpotter on 31/01/2020 - 09:47

You're an absolute idiot. I hope the police read this, track you down, and fine you for those P plates they let you off on. Absolutely no regard for the laws of this country. You sir, deserve the coronavirus.
- Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 10:00
  
  -1
  
  I’m guessing you road rage, which is far more dangerous than anything I did.
  - saintpotter on 31/01/2020 - 11:17
    
    Nope not much, BUT the moral is don't speed, follow the rules on the road and if you need to put P plates on - then put them on.
Skramit on 31/01/2020 - 09:50

+8

100% troll post, even if the facts as described are true. Trolling because OP knows exactly the reaction he's going to get.
- Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 09:57
  
  -2
  
  Perhaps the fact that people are doubting the facts indicate the punishment is excessive? I didn’t think so many people would defend the keep left rule when I wasn’t going slow - which is the only real reason for it.
  - oscargamer on 31/01/2020 - 10:02
    
    Do you only comply with laws you agree with?
    
    You might understand that a government that is elected, generally produces laws that most of the population agree with. The laws generally are for the betterment of society as a whole.
    
    There are however, special individuals that think they are either
    a) above the law
    b) only laws they agree with, need to be adhered to
    c) sovereign citizen types
  - Skramit on 31/01/2020 - 10:06
    
    You broke the law. Why is the punishment excessive?
    - rickxs on 31/01/2020 - 11:40
      
      hey-troll post
      
      .
  - tomsco on 31/01/2020 - 10:09
    
    +3
    
    Perhaps the fact that people are doubting the facts indicate the punishment is excessive?
    
    No, they doubt the facts as they fail to believe anyone could be so stupid.
brendanm on 31/01/2020 - 09:56

+5

You have to be more subtle when trolling. Either drop the P plate bit, or lower the speed to 106 or so.
- Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 10:00
  
  -1
  
  I guess that’s why people have a negative reaction to the scenario. Some people believe on taking it easy on p platers, others believe they should be punished harder. I think a lot of people here have that convict mentality where they just obey and don’t question. The speed thing is to show that I wasn’t going slow and thus the right lane thing is unjustified imo.
  - Archi on 31/01/2020 - 10:03
    
    +1
    
    until someone does exactly the same thing you did and hurts someone close to you… your view will change
    - Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 10:15
      
      -1
      
      Australia’s fixation on speed has been shown to be ineffective. Poor driver training is far more likely to hurt a loved one. Driving in the right lane will never hurt a loved one.
      - tomsco on 31/01/2020 - 11:21
        
        +2
        
        @Emerald Owl: You admit you committed three offences. You show a distinct lack of critical thinking. For that, no one will listen to you.
        
        As it is, you're driving 30km/h faster than cars that are literally a meter or so to the left of your car. That is dangerous. Stop being so fixated on the right lane law and focus on how you can improve yourself as a mutual user of our roads.
  - brendanm on 31/01/2020 - 10:48
    
    No, it's just the combination of all three things that is stupid. I've said many times that the fixation on speed is stupid, but the times when I've been done for speeding I haven't complained, as I knew what the repercussions were. Right lane is for overtaking, if you weren't overtaking, you were breaking the law. They should do more people for it.
- Porker on 31/01/2020 - 10:07
  
  I do hope it's a troll. If it's all true, then I'm not sure what OP expects after breaking several road rules all of which are commonly known to have applicable fines/demerit points.
  
  If OP thinks the fines are excessive, then drive in a manner that doesn't attract police attention, ie. in accordance with the road rules.
Simoneee on 31/01/2020 - 10:02

I will obviously just cop the fine but do you guys think the punishment is excessive? Speed limits are lower here than other countries, fines are higher, starting to believe the revenue raising spiel.

The punishment for three offenses is not considered excessive. It's to prevent you from breaking the laws again. Comparing other countries? There are many factors that affect this such as, traffic laws are not heavily enforced, police have more important matters, and our wages are higher than most countries meaning fines will be higher.
Summoner on 31/01/2020 - 10:02

I feel the fine should be higher after seeing your post and comments…
nxllson on 31/01/2020 - 10:06

+6

DisabledUser1001010110111000101010101 is imminent, I can feel it.

You're describing your fines as if you're on a German autobahn. This is Australia, going 30 over the speed limit should've got you disqualified immediately & your car impounded. Obviously you're making up the story and what was said never happened.
- Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 10:12
  
  Was not going 30 over the speed limit. Perhaps Australia should follow the autobahn model?
  - Caped Baldy on 31/01/2020 - 10:19
    
    Correction: you were not caught going 30 over the limit.
  - Screamingeagle on 31/01/2020 - 10:20
    
    Perhaps Australia should follow the autobahn model
    
    Many of our highways and freeways are simply not in good/safe enough condition to allow for an unrestricted speed limit.
  - brendanm on 31/01/2020 - 11:08
    
    No. Most of our roads are crap.
    - [Deactivated] on 31/01/2020 - 11:13
      
      No it's not. We're a drought stricken country and those roads hold a lot of water.
  - CocaKoala on 31/01/2020 - 11:50
    
    Was not going 30 over the speed limit. Perhaps Australia should follow the autobahn model?
    
    Yeah, perhaps. But until then, drive within the speed limits and do not endanger the lives of other people on our roads. Or better yet move out of Australia like you said you were going to do. That would be a win for everyone.
  - singlemalt72 on 31/01/2020 - 12:35
    
    Autobahns are not the answer for Australia - while people are fast to quote the lower death rate (22 per 1000 injury crashes) on autobahns versus rural roads (29 per 1000 - European figures) they forget to factor in that they are far from comparing apples to apples.
    
    The primary reason for the lower death rate is that as well as building the autobahns, authorities built a network of advanced care trauma hospitals along the routes with airborne medical response teams that can be at most accidents in minutes, not something we would ever be capable of delivering in Australia.
    
    Higher speed does equate to more accidents and higher speed does equate to worse accidents without other mitigation factors.
  - bigbluefish on 31/01/2020 - 13:00
    
    +2
    
    Having driven on an autobahn their system works partially because Germans have really good highway discipline(they will stay to the right when not overtaking even going above 220kmph).
    
    So your driving would've gotten you fined even on an autobahn.
87percent on 31/01/2020 - 10:16

+3

"Was fined for going 129 in a 100, driving excessively in right lane and not displaying P plates. First ever offenceS"

fixed it for you…
- Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 10:16
  
  Thanks lol.
p1 ama on 31/01/2020 - 10:37

Can't afford new glasses but can afford driving like an idiot.
Ozzie15 on 31/01/2020 - 10:37

+3

About time someone is booked for driving in the right lane for no reason.
Good on ya officer!
- Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 10:42
  
  -1
  
  So even if they are not impeding traffic, you don’t like people in the right lane? Why?
  - [Deactivated] on 31/01/2020 - 11:12
    
    +3
    
    So even if no one is impeding your way, you don't like the left lane? Why?
    - Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 12:25
      
      That would involve more lane changes which is more dangerous than staying in one lane/
      - [Deactivated] on 31/01/2020 - 12:45
        
        @Emerald Owl: Being in the wrong lane is more dangerous than changing lanes.
netsurfer on 31/01/2020 - 10:43

One of my colleagues is never worried about getting a speeding ticket. You know why? He told me that he doesn't speed. It's well known that freeways for interstate travel have speed cameras and mobile police cars.
You would lose some demerit points as well. The excessive fine will hopefully stop you from speeding. Yes, a lot of things are more expensive here, but no one tells you to speed.

My guess is a NSW police got you so he waived the missing P plate. If you get caught by polices in other states, you might get no mercy.
Herbse on 31/01/2020 - 10:44

+2

Picture of the fines now or close the thread.
- Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 10:50
  
  The fact so many people think this is a troll suggests the situation is unreasonable. Yet I am getting an overwhelming negative response.
  - Herbse on 31/01/2020 - 10:53
    
    +1
    
    So, no proof then?
    - Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 10:56
      
      -1
      
      I’d post them to keep the thread open, but it’s too much effort to keep you happy. Do you believe getting fined for driving in the right lane is the troll part?
  - brendanm on 31/01/2020 - 11:09
    
    It's unreasonable for you to be legitimately complaining about it, not the fines.
  - Ace Ventura on 31/01/2020 - 11:40
    
    +1
    
    Or, on the flip, the fact that so many people think this is trolling, suggests that your reaction and defense of your actions are unreasonable.
    - Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 11:56
      
      And how’s would uploading the fines correct that?
      - Ace Ventura on 31/01/2020 - 12:10
        
        @Emerald Owl: Never said it did, refuting your claim that the situation is unreasonable.
s732 on 31/01/2020 - 10:46

+3

I feel like there are a certain category of infringements that police normally don't bother with but when you've been pulled over for a more serious one (speeding) then they will stack them all up.

I'm surprised they let you off for the plates.
[Deactivated] on 31/01/2020 - 10:55

was taught that the left lane is the slow lane and right lane is the fast lane.

Bad teacher.
- netsurfer on 31/01/2020 - 11:04
  
  +2
  
  Nah, bad student. The teacher didn't teach him that way. He re-interpreted the rules and made up his own. Do we really expect a teacher to tell OP that don't bother putting the P plate, and it is AOK to speed (129KM/hr) at 100 zone. Also, after getting caught, whinge on OZB.
  
  Honestly, OP, if you chose to speed, and not bothered showing your P plate, at least man up and accept you made mistakes, rather than blaming our system is punishing people speeding with a big fine.
  - Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 11:12
    
    I was taught fast lane and slow lane. I interpreted keep left unless overtaking as if you are not passing the cars on the left than you should not be in the right lane. I honestly didn’t think speeding in the right lane was illegal. I thought overtaking was another word for passing. I find it silly that you have to keep going back into the left lane when there is no one behind you in the right. Obviously, I know speeding by itself is illegal.
    
    I was taught speeding and p plate rules. Obviously we should expect driving teachers to teach that speeding is illegal.
    
    I have accepted that I broke the law. Honestly, a warning that if I do it again I will be fined would have been enough to change my behaviour.
    - [Deactivated] on 31/01/2020 - 11:19
      
      The law dictates that the fine has to be issued. You were speeding over 10kmph, you do not qualify for a warning.
      
      So, it's not for the lack of systematic leniency, you simply put yourself in a scenario where even your best friend had to issue you a fine.
    - Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 31/01/2020 - 11:29
      
      +2
      
      You were taught wrong kid.
      
      Whoever taught you needs a paddlin'
Bargain Slut on 31/01/2020 - 11:00

+5

keep left unless overtaking, not keep left unless you're speeding…

I wish more people were fined for doing this.
- Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 11:02
  
  -1
  
  I seriously don’t understand this. It it just because you like to see pointless regulations imposed?
  - netsurfer on 31/01/2020 - 11:08
    
    You don't get it. Basically, the police was saying, you stayed on the right lane for such a long time, don't bother telling him a BS excuse that you were trying to overtake some cars (and ask for leniency that way).
    
    Reality is that:
    
    if you drove at 100KM/hr on the right lane, there is nothing the police could do about it.
    
    Even if you drove 129KM/hr on the middle or left lane, the police would have fined you anyway.
    
    Yes, we know it is more about revenue at the end of the day, but the police knew that you won't contest the fine, especially he let you off the hook on not showing the P-plate (which you won't lose your license). True, you've been taken advantage by the police, but hey, no one told you to speed.
    
    Man up. You were driving over the speed limit. Right lane, left lane was only a minor issue. Don't try to spin it into you were driving in the right lane too long. Check your fine, pretty sure you were fined for speeding. If for some reason you believe you were wronged, then go to court and contest, rather than whinging on OZB.
    - Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 11:18
      
      I was in the right lane because there were slower cars in the left. It’s not bs.
      
      “ if you drove at 100KM/hr on the right lane, there is nothing the police could do about it.”
      This makes no sense. The whole point of my post is that I was fined for driving in the right lane. This fine would still apply if I was going 100.
      
      I received a fine for speeding and another fine for driving in the right lane. I think you’re confused.
      - netsurfer on 31/01/2020 - 13:53
        
        @Emerald Owl: That's because you did not disclose another piece of information. On the freeway / highway, there are keep left unless overtaking signs. Those highways / freeways for travelling between interstates have lots of those signs.
        
        Again, you really don't have a good track record: speeding, not putting your P plate, driving on the right lane for a long time.
        
        That's why you are a P-plater.
  - [Deactivated] on 31/01/2020 - 11:09
    
    +3
    
    It's not pointless.
    
    You never know when someone has to actually use the right lane, say for life saving purposes.
    
    It would be a shame if emergency services or personal emergency scenarios turn catastrophic because of your ignorance and arrogance.
    - Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 11:14
      
      -1
      
      Come on, I would move out of the way for any car. Don’t make it out as though ambulances can’t get through. I would hear And see them coming long before.
      - [Deactivated] on 31/01/2020 - 11:16
        
        @Emerald Owl: And if it's not an ambulance?
        
        Someone's life or something important enough, something that someone is willing to forfeit their license and attend court, is now going to be in your hands simply because you are hogging the right lane and may not be paying attention.
        
        Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 11:24
        
        @[Deactivated]: I was getting in the left lane if there were any cars behind me.
        
        [Deactivated] on 31/01/2020 - 11:26
        
        @Emerald Owl: The cops cannot detect intention.
        
        (Neither can you).
  - wannagrababargain on 31/01/2020 - 14:00
    
    This is why people are calling you out as a troll, you are continually trying to bait people into a pointless argument. There's zero concept of "slow lane" and "fast lane" in the road rules, it is simply "keep left unless overtaking." Yes this does mean you have to keep going back to the left, and yes even if you are not speeding and in the right lane for more than a reasonable time (say ~1 minute) you are breaking the law and the cops can fine you (which they seem to be doing more of these days because it has become a problem).
    
    Whether this law "makes sense" or not is not an issue you are going to gain much traction with here or with any cop on the side of the road or in any magistrates court in Australia. There's plenty of other road rules that might not make much sense, but that's not a reason to ignore them. The law is applied universally to make it simple to understand and follow, even if it doesn't "make sense" to do it at all time. It's curious how some laws suddenly don't "make sense" once someone runs afoul of them and gets fined lol.
87percent on 31/01/2020 - 11:15

+1

going 129 (really you were going 130+), you should have lost your license.. IMO
El cheepo on 31/01/2020 - 11:18

Just because you speed in the right lane doesn’t mean everyone does.
It’s meant for overtaking slower drivers not using as an additional lane.

If everyone used it as an additional lane (for what ever reason) it would no longer be an overtaking (fast) lane.
- Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 11:20
  
  It would no longer be a fast lane if people weren’t driving fast. I was driving fast.
  - El cheepo on 31/01/2020 - 11:42
    
    Ok madmax, enjoy your short trip to licence suspension
wiipantz on 31/01/2020 - 11:21

The way you drive, troll and talk your gonna see way more orange bonnets. Other colours too, probably with your face next time. I'm surprised the book wasn't thrown at you to throw you off the road troll/ menace.
Despite soo many issues with this post, you don't even know basic road rules and yet chose to engage in risky behavior not only to yourself but to others, bugger off mate and it will be good when your license is revoked.
TEER3X on 31/01/2020 - 11:24

+1

Clearly if you got caught, you weren't going fast enough. I think there's a lesson in this, if you're going to speed, you need to do it right.
- TRANCE on 31/01/2020 - 12:06
  
  This is correct. Doing 129Km/h is just asking to get caught by the cops OP. Try 200+Km/h next time and the cop may not be able to catch up in time before you find an exit and hide in a back alley to lose the heat. Where did you learn to drive, haven't you played Need For Speed???
Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 31/01/2020 - 11:27

+3

Gr8 b8 m8 i r8 it 8/8
- [Deactivated] on 31/01/2020 - 11:29
  
  Bit l8
TrendyTim on 31/01/2020 - 12:13

+2

If you were not speeding, he probably would have issued you a warning, but the fact you were 30kph over the legal speed limit he punished you as much as he could (and went easy on you for the Ps).

The fact you blame speeding on the speed limit on being too low (which it may be but its the law, you cant pick and choose which ones you obey). With your attitude you should hand your license back until you grow up.
spackbace on 31/01/2020 - 12:14

Yep
TheOtherLeft on 31/01/2020 - 12:17

I hate people who hog the right and even middle lane (3+ lane road) on highways. I do move to the left lane unless overtaking but I end up overtaking people who sit in the middle lane if the right lane is occupied.

I would've thought 29km/h over the speed limit and a P plater would result in a loss of license?
Davo1111 on 31/01/2020 - 12:19

I understand my driving style was not in accordance with what the government wants.

Enough said.

Troll post is obvious btw
- Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 12:20
  
  I now understand that. Trolling would imply I’m lying?
  - Davo1111 on 31/01/2020 - 12:22
    
    +1
    
    no, trolling is deliberately getting a rise out of people.
JimmyF on 31/01/2020 - 12:24

+3

Was fined for going 129 in a 100, driving excessively in right lane and not displaying P plates

Oh look, another it wasn't my fault person.
- Emerald Owl on 31/01/2020 - 12:30
  
  -2
  
  No
  - JimmyF on 31/01/2020 - 13:02
    
    No
    
    Really?
    
    Hmmm
    
    The cop car had a full orange bonnet I’ve never seen before and I think was hiding as I did not pass on highway.
    
    At that speed, from a parked position, how long could the officer see I was in the right lane for? Not even a minute, which I feel is ridiculous haha.
    
    I understand the law is keep left unless overtaking
    
    I was going basically 30 over the speed limit,
    
    not displaying P plates
    
    Then you ask
    
    but do you guys think the punishment is excessive? Speed limits are lower here than other countries, fines are higher, starting to believe the revenue raising spiel.
    
    Yep classic 'not my fault' oh our speed limits should be higher, I shouldn't have to display P plates, how could he see I was in the right lane, even though I was. Its just revenue raising.
    
    Pay your fines, as a P plater doing all the above, they should have taken your licence off you.
cashless on 31/01/2020 - 12:35

+1

was taught that the left lane is the slow lane and right lane is the fast lane

Whoever taught you should also cop a fine too
SBOB on 31/01/2020 - 12:59

+2

Im always impressed by how some P platers have such impressive knowledge of the road rules, and immense driving experience, that they know so much better than everyone else and see no issue with, for instance,driving 30kmh over the limit :/

Imagine how good you'll be when you are in your twenties :/
- JimmyF on 31/01/2020 - 13:03
  
  how some P platers have such impressive knowledge of the road rules
  
  Yep agree, but love how they miss the shouldn't be traveling 30kms over the limit road rules though.
  
  Fun fact, if the OP wasn't speeding, they wouldn't have gotten a fine ;)
- jnewau on 31/01/2020 - 13:48
  
  I think most of them assume the P stands for Professional
dufflover on 31/01/2020 - 13:00

+2

There is one garaunteed truth in all this; OP is an idiot.
If trolling, they're an idiot.
If they are speeding and complaining like this, they're an idiot.
91rs on 31/01/2020 - 13:00

You're right, the punishment should have been to crush you in your car. Was it a Camry by any chance? I hear those love to hang out in the right lane but doubt that would make me doubt the speed part.
2/10 for Troll post.
Reggie74 on 31/01/2020 - 13:14

+1

The law is fairly straight forward in regards to this. Your interpretation of it as a relatively new driver doesn't mean it's unfair, it just means that after many years of driving you'll hopefully have a better chance of understanding of why it's been put in place.

By the way, have you ever thought of taking up go-karting?
crazyj on 31/01/2020 - 13:14

+1

entitled much?
picant on 31/01/2020 - 13:14

I do abide speed limits but think they are excessive. Australian roads are not much worse compared to Europe and I think it's safe to increase the speed limit to at least 120kmh. On the other hand it's ridiculous to have a speed limit of 100 or even 80 on small country roads.
- crazyj on 31/01/2020 - 13:16
  
  "what you think" has no relevance to road rules.
  - picant on 31/01/2020 - 14:03
    
    You are right. I'm speaking from personal experience. I lived and drove car for many years in other countries and can compare those with Australia.
[Deactivated] on 31/01/2020 - 13:24

Keep left unless overtaking is a dumb rule…

If I'm going at the max speed limit on a speedo-verified car, then there is no reason for it. No car should be overtaking me even on the overtaking lane. It's illegal to overtake by going over limit.

Obviously emergency vehicles are an exception but in that scenario, cars move over no matter what road or situation.
Jamesrulez1 on 31/01/2020 - 13:26

How did you not lose your license while speeding on provisionals?
Cheap Charlie1 on 31/01/2020 - 13:37

Very unlucky to be pinged for driving in the right lane.

I always drive in the right lane on freeways doing the speed limit so that no-one slows me down.

I know it's against the rules, but so is speeding and tailgating, which everyone seems to do.

I won't let any tailgater intimidate me. If you want to pass me, you have to go around me.

If I'm sitting in the right lane doing the speed limit, the person behind has broken the law speeding in order to catch up with me.

Tough luck if you suddenly want me to yield to you.
- apsilon on 31/01/2020 - 13:41
  
  +1
  
  You're not the police. If someone wants to speed it's not up to you to stop them. Don't be a (profanity) and move over when you're not passing.
ssjwill on 31/01/2020 - 13:46

I understand the law is keep left unless overtaking but was taught that the left lane is the slow lane and right lane is the fast lane. As I was going basically 30 over the speed limit, I was not going slow and impeding traffic at all.

So your logic is that you can break one road rule (speed limit) so the other rule doesn't apply? lol

Better get a lawyer son, you better get a real good one.
iTaco on 31/01/2020 - 13:49

Lmao small brain individual OP is.

Pretty hard to follow the rules isnt it. /s

And that moment when your doing 130 and fly into a tree/barrier/cause an accident will be deserved and hopefully you take nobody else with you.
netsurfer on 31/01/2020 - 13:56

OP, unless you can come up with proof that the entire freeway / highway you were travelling had ZERO "keep left unless overtaking sign", then just let it go. Used to drive interstate and recall seeing those signs regularly. To me, not to drive on the right lane unless overtaking is fundamental 101 when driving interstate. It's a long journey so it is risky if you don't obey the rules. It's been like that for years.

Actually, if you can prove that there is zero such sign, then you can take this matter to court.
- wannagrababargain on 31/01/2020 - 14:03
  
  No sign needed. If speed limit is 80k/hr or more on a multi-lane road then "keep left unless overtaking" is default.
  
  Signs are only required if limit is below 80km/hr but "keep left" needs to apply, or added (redundantly) on faster roads as a courtesy reminder for idiot drivers who still don't understand the rule.
smartazz104 on 31/01/2020 - 14:13

but was taught that the left lane is the slow lane and right lane is the fast lane

Whoever taught you that was wrong.

As I was going basically 30 over the speed limit, I was not going slow and impeding traffic at all.

An interesting justification for speeding.

I will obviously just cop the fine but do you guys think the punishment is excessive? Speed limits are lower here than other countries, fines are higher, starting to believe the revenue raising spiel.

Move to those countries maybe? No? Then pay the fine and follow the laws next time.
Moderatorscotty on 31/01/2020 - 14:13

I think OP would have already received the answer from the community. Time to close the thread.

Fined for Driving in The Right Lane

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