The California & Pennsylvania “Slow-Poke” Laws – A Brief Comparison.

Written by Gregory Monte.

Back in April, I wrote a blog post about drivers who “take their cars out for a walk.”

Taking Your Car Out for a “Walk.” A Ticket for the Slow-Pokes.

I noted there that Pennsylvania’s Motor Vehicle Code, Title 75, Section 3364(a), regulates minimum speeds:

“… no person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic … at the first opportunity when and where it is reasonable and safe to do so and after giving appropriate signal, drive completely off the roadway and onto the berm or shoulder of the highway.”

Well, it turns out that California has a similar law: California Code, Vehicle Code – VEH § 21656.

“… any vehicle proceeding upon the highway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time, behind which five or more vehicles are formed in line, shall turn off the roadway at the nearest place designated as a turnout by signs erected by the authority having jurisdiction over the highway, or wherever sufficient area for a safe turnout exists, in order to permit the vehicles following it to proceed.”

Notice that I highlighted similar parts of each state’s law section.

Does it surprise you that California would allow FIVE motorists to pile up behind a slow-poke before he is required to move over?

Pennsylvania law requires the “car-walker” to pull over even if only one person is being inconvenienced.

I have written before about how Pennsylvania motor vehicle laws are much more reasonable than other states:

Speeding Tickets in PA – More Reasonable Than Many Other States.

Speed Traps – Alabama vs. Pennsylvania

NY vs. PA – Police Officer’s Testimony About Speed

Automated Speed Enforcement – It still sucks, but at least it is not arbitrary.

Here is yet another example.