Trooper Declared A National Hero After Stop Of Slow Left Lane Driver Goes Viral
by AndrewBlakeIndiana State Trooper's text about pulling over a slow driver in the left lane has gone viral.
Versailles, IN – An Indiana State Police sergeant is getting national acclaim after he tweeted that he had pulled over a slow driver in the left lane.
“I stopped this vehicle today for a left lane violation on I-65,” Sergeant Stephen Wheeles tweeted June 16. “The driver had approximately 20 cars slowed behind her because she would not move back to the right lane.”
“Again …,” Sgt. Wheeles continued, “if there are vehicles behind you, you must move to the right lane to allow them to pass.”
The tweet had 78,000 “likes” and 4,600 comments in the first three days on Twitter.
The reaction on Twitter to Sgt. Wheeles was overwhelmingly supportive.
“Wow .. I am overwhelmed,” Sgt. Wheeles tweets after his post went viral. “You are all amazing!!! Just trying to do my part to make the roadways safer for the traveling public.”
“Someone write his superiors so he can get himself a raise,” The Official Dirty White Boy Twitter account tweeted.
“Now that’s a tweet I can agree with,” Sgt. Wheeles responded.
“Yooooooo, do you wanna come to Hawaii and tell everyone that??” Kaya tweeted.
“As long as I could tell them from a beach chair with my feet in the sand,” Sgt. Wheeles said.
One of the commenters included race car driver Graham Rahal, whose father Bobby Rahal won the 1986 Indy 500.
“This guy is my hero,” Rahal tweeted. “Fast lane cruisers are one of my biggest frustrations.”
Former NFL star Troy Aikman even chimed in.
“Finally!” Aikman tweeted with a thumbs up emoji.
Someone asked Sgt. Wheeles on Twitter if they could be ticketed for being in the left lane even if they were going the speed limit, according to the Charlotte Observer.
Sgt Wheeles stated, "The spirit of the law is that since many people drive well above the speed limit, it creates an 'accordion effect' as traffic starts backing up behind the slower vehicle. This is where many of our crashes occur on the interstates. It’s all in the name of safety."
Do you think that slow drivers in the left lane should be ticketed? We'd like to hear from you. Please let us know in the comments.
29 Responses
Burgers Allday
Jun 23, 2018 Well said dusty103
EixieWidow
Jun 22, 2018 I like the video where the trooper gets behind a slow driver in the left lane on a 3 lane interstate , turns his lights on them, they move to the right lane, he turns his lights off and goes on about his business. It was pretty funny.
Gregm19
Jun 21, 2018 Driving in the left lane, even if going the posted speed limit, is against the law. It;'s called the Slow Poke Law in Georgia. If you force people to pass you on the right (making the situation even more dangerous) should an accident occur the at fault party would be the person holding up traffic in the left lane. If cars behind you wish to go faster (even if they are breaking the law by speeding), you do not have the right to impede the traffic flow. You MUST get out of the left lane. Left lane is for passing only, not cruising along at your speed and will.
dusty103
Jun 21, 2018 This guy is a prime example of idiots driving too slow in the wrong lane and deserved what he got. But there are many idiots on the road who think if you're going slower than they, even when going over the speed limit, that they have a right to force you to move over. These two-faced road ragers want to force you to obey the law while they break the law by SPEEDING! So long as you are going at least the speed limit you are entitled to use the left lane. And if the speeders are in such a hurry then they can pass on the right. What does it matter if they break the passing law when they are already breaking the speeding law? Two-faced!
Burgers Allday
Jun 21, 2018 If I am in the left lane it is because I am passing someone, so the police vehicle behind me has to wait while I pass driving the speed limit. Not cool to ticket for that.Would give police far too much discretion to ticket for normal freeway driving
Memaw187
Jun 21, 2018 Slow drivers are just as much of a traffic hazard as speeders
realDonaldTrump
Jun 21, 2018 No you fool boogers allday, get the fuck outta the way!
61mouse
Jun 20, 2018 @ Burgers Allday Anytime I see a LEO pull up behind me out of respect I get over to the right lane ASAP . Just as I moved over if they were on the side of the road with their lights on again out of RESPECT ( and before it came law in most states)
Flipsr427
Jun 20, 2018 Wish they would do this in California. Seems that everyone in the state wants to "cruise" in the fast/left lane!
Pat1978
Jun 20, 2018 Uarew...Left turn issue is usually covered in the statute. Burgers... Don't hang out in the left lane and you'll be fine. If you can't understand that, you're probably a hopeless fool.