H. B. 3249
(By Delegates Armstead, Walters and Lane)
[Introduced
March 20, 2009
; referred to the
Committee on Roads and Transportation then the Judiciary.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §17C-7-9 of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to the limiting the maximum
distance a vehicle can drive in a center lane which is clearly
marked as a left turn lane.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §17C-7-9 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 7. DRIVING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, OVERTAKING
AND PASSING, ETC.
§17C-7-9. Driving on roadways laned for traffic; penalty.
(a) Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more
clearly marked lanes for traffic the following rules in addition to
all others consistent herewith shall apply:
(1) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable
entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from such lane
until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be
made with safety.
(2) Upon a roadway which is divided into three lanes a vehicle
shall not be driven in the center lane which is clearly marked as
a left turn lane except in preparation for a left turn,
in which
case a vehicle shall not travel in the center lane a distance in
excess of seventy-five feet, or where such center lane is at the
time allocated exclusively to traffic moving in the direction the
vehicle is proceeding and is signposted to give notice of such
allocation.
(3) Official signs may be erected directing slow-moving
traffic to use a designated lane or designating those lanes to be
used by traffic moving in a particular direction regardless of the
center of the roadway and drivers of vehicles shall obey the
directions of every such sign.
(b) Any person violating
the provisions of this section is
guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be
fined not more than $100; upon a second conviction within one year
thereafter, shall be fined not more than $200; and upon a third or
subsequent conviction, shall be fined not more than $500.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prevent vehicles from
driving more than seventy-five feet in a center lane designated for
left turns.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.