Rode bike home from track day and got a ticket

[Falko]

Some cops just have a hair across their ass when it comes to bikes. They'll look for anything to nail you on.
Until cops start shutting down the left lane camping, they can't seriously enforce the passing on the right. Unless it is heavy traffic, you pass on the right then force your way back to the left. I must have passed 5 cars on the right yesterday coming back from RI. If I stayed behind the ones camping in the left, I would still be there.

[Degsy]

So I said "I didn't realize it but if thats what I did then i didn't mean to." Basic and respectable conversation both

That's the exact moment where you talked yourself into the ticket.

He baited you with the dashcam line and you folded. It may or may not have been a lie, but either way he isn't bringing dashcam footage to traffic court for a lane violation. You should have done what everyone should do in that situation, shut the fuck up. You may have thought it was respectful conversation both ways, but it wasnt. He pulled you over for a bullshit non dangerous lane violation in the hopes of getting something more from it. He baited you and you all but confessed. At that point he pretty much has to write the ticket.

[Degsy]

That sounded a bit like an attack on you. It isnt. I'm pissed you got a ticket and I feel sorry that you got stitched up.

[BMMCBR]

It's only passing on the right if you cut back into the left lane immediately. If you go a couple car lengths before returning to the left lane or don't return to the left lane at all its not "passing"

[Garandman]

On Sundays I stick to the far right lane as it is usually moving faster than the other two.

Sunday drivers think a bolt of lightning will strike them if they hit 71mph, so the concept of speeding up for a few seconds to complete a pass and get back in the middle lane is not on the agenda.

[South of Heaven]

The MSP are enforcing a new law now on I-90 (Mass Pike). There are electric signs everywhere that say "Left lane travel is only allowed when passing". That's another way they'll nail bikes because most bikes I see stay in the fast lane the whole time they're on the Pike. It never ends with these traffic laws....

[jasnmar]

It never ends with these traffic laws....

“The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.” - Cornelius Tacitus

[aldend123]

The MSP are enforcing a new law now on I-90 (Mass Pike). There are electric signs everywhere that say "Left lane travel is only allowed when passing". That's another way they'll nail bikes because most bikes I see stay in the fast lane the whole time they're on the Pike. It never ends with these traffic laws....

You mean enforcing an existing law? The left lane has been for passing since ... the dawn of highways. People have just been using it wrong, and enforcement has been minimal. Consider this a good thing, as they can focus on maintaining safe, proper driving over speeding. And it'll reduce the amount of people blocking the passing lane. Spread the word.

It's only passing on the right if you cut back into the left lane immediately. If you go a couple car lengths before returning to the left lane or don't return to the left lane at all its not "passing"

Is this your opinion, or based on some interpretation of traffic law?

[SVRACER01]

You mean enforcing an existing law? The left lane has been for passing since ... the dawn of highways. People have just been using it wrong, and enforcement has been minimal. Consider this a good thing, as they can focus on maintaining safe, proper driving over speeding. And it'll reduce the amount of people blocking the passing lane. Spread the word.

not to mention the possible reduction in aggressive driving/road rage.

[jasnmar]

Left lane for passing only varies by state.

[backinthesaddle]

That sounded a bit like an attack on you. It isnt. I'm pissed you got a ticket and I feel sorry that you got stitched up.

Nah no problem at all. I forgot a couple golden rules:
Never admit guilt
Don't talk too much
You might not talk yourself out of it, but you can talk yourself into a ticket

A coworker had the same citation (or complaint as they call it). She plead not guilty, went to court, state lawyer reduced it to $60. Not sure of insurance impact though.

[backinthesaddle]

It's only passing on the right if you cut back into the left lane immediately. If you go a couple car lengths before returning to the left lane or don't return to the left lane at all its not "passing"

That's why I still don't think I passed on the right. When told me I passed on the right I said I did? in the form of a question. He seemed put out that I didn't realize it was a pass. Again probably somewhere between his judgment of it and mine is the reality. Maybe I can get it written down like my coworker did.

[Falko]

I'd plead that you were traveling in the right lane and happened to pass the cars in the left lane.

[caloots]

I'd plead that you were traveling in the right lane and happened to pass the cars in the left lane.

hahahah i never woulda thought of that!!

so if you are in any lane other than the far left.. are you never pose to pass a car thats on your left ?? HAHAHAHA

[MattR302]

I'd plead that you were traveling at the speed limit in the right lane and happened to pass the cars in the left lane.

fixed.

[BMMCBR]

hahahah i never woulda thought of that!!

so if you are in any lane other than the far left.. are you never pose to pass a car thats on your left ?? HAHAHAHA

Exactly what I was getting at in my post.

[oVTo]

The MSP are enforcing a new law now on I-90 (Mass Pike). There are electric signs everywhere that say "Left lane travel is only allowed when passing". That's another way they'll nail bikes because most bikes I see stay in the fast lane the whole time they're on the Pike. It never ends with these traffic laws....

As others said, that's not a new law, it's been that way forever. Mass isn't the only place with those signs. There must have been at least 50 of these signs driving between Dallas and Austin on I-35 today:

[scottieducati]

As others said, that's not a new law, it's been that way forever. Mass isn't the only place with those signs. There must have been at least 50 of these signs driving between Dallas and Austin on I-35 today:

That sign has zero relevance to whether or not passing on the right is legal. We have those signs here in MA too, however you can pass on the right on any multi-lane road.

[oVTo]

The MSP are enforcing a new law now on I-90 (Mass Pike). There are electric signs everywhere that say "Left lane travel is only allowed when passing". That's another way they'll nail bikes because most bikes I see stay in the fast lane the whole time they're on the Pike. It never ends with these traffic laws....

That sign has zero relevance to whether or not passing on the right is legal. We have those signs here in MA too, however you can pass on the right on any multi-lane road.

Agreed, not relevant to the OP, but I was replying to (and quoted) SoH's post and the five replies on the MA signs and the topic of only using the left lane when passing. The point was that those signs aren't just a MA thing. I wouldn't have bothered but it was a recent thread tangent and was surprised by the number of signs along I-35E. And since I'm adding to my irrelevance - it seems like having signs every few miles worked better than one temporary electronic sign, there were very few cars 'parked' in the left lane.