slow vehicles; left lane; violation

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text confirms ADOT may assess points but does not detail how many total points lead to license suspension; that is determined by other laws.

SB1626: Points for Driving Slowly in the Left Lane

This bill allows officials to add two points to a driver's record if they drive slower than normal traffic while staying in the left lane.

What This Bill Does

• Adds two points to a driving record for violating rules about slow vehicles on roadways.
• Applies when a person drives at less than normal speed in the farthest left lane available without passing another vehicle.
• Requires drivers moving slower than traffic to stay in the right-hand lane or near the curb, except when passing or preparing for a left turn.
• Updates defensive driving school courses and state examination materials to include information about these rules.

Who It Names or Affects

• Drivers who travel slower than normal traffic in the left lane without passing.
• The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), which can now assess points for this violation.
• Defensive driving schools and exam writers that must teach these rules.

Terms To Know

Driving record

An official list kept by the state showing a person's traffic violations, accidents, and points.

Points assessment

Adding numbers to a driving record that can lead to higher insurance costs or license suspension if too many accumulate.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not state the exact dollar amount of fines for this specific violation, only that civil penalties exist under general traffic laws.
• The text states the law becomes effective on a 'general effective date' but does not specify an exact calendar day.

Official Summary Text

SB1626 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
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COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1626

slow vehicles; left lane;
violation

Purpose

����������� Authorizes the
assessment of two points against a person's driving record for driving a
vehicle on the left half of a roadway at a slower speed than normal traffic.

Background

�����������
On
all roadways of sufficient width, a person must drive a vehicle on the right
half of the roadway, except: 1) when overtaking and passing another vehicle
proceeding in the same direction; 2) when the right half of a roadway is closed
to traffic while under construction or repair; 3) on a roadway divided into
three marked lanes for traffic; or 4) on a roadway designated and signposted
for one-way traffic. On all roadways, a person driving a vehicle at a less than
normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then
existing must drive the vehicle in the right-hand lane or as close as
practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when
overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when
preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway
(
A.R.S.
� 28-721
).

����������� The Arizona
Department of Transportation (ADOT) may assess points against the driving
record of a person who violates civil traffic laws or drives under the
influence (
A.R.S.
� 28-1526
). Unless otherwise provided, failure to adhere to state traffic
laws constitutes a civil traffic violation which carries a civil penalty of up
to $250 (A.R.S. ��
28-121

and
28-1598
).

����������� There is no
anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.

Provisions

1.

Allows ADOT to assess two points against the driving record of a person
who drives at a slower than normal speed of traffic in the farthest left lane
and fails to overtake and pass another vehicle.

2.

Becomes effective on the general effective date.

Prepared by
Senate Research

February 16,
2026

KJA/hk

Current Bill Text

SB1626 - 572R - S Ver

Senate Engrossed

slow vehicles; left
lane; violation

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1626

AN
ACT

Amending section 28-721, Arizona Revised
Statutes; relating to traffic violations.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 28-721, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
28-721.

Driving on right side of roadway; driving on shoulder;
exceptions; education

A. On all roadways of sufficient width, a person
shall drive a vehicle on the right half of the roadway except as follows:

1. When overtaking and passing another vehicle
proceeding in the same direction under the rules governing the movement.

2. When the right half of a roadway is closed to
traffic while under construction or repair.

3. On a roadway divided into three marked lanes for
traffic under the rules applicable on the roadway.

4. On a roadway designated and signposted for one-way
traffic.

B. On all roadways, a person driving a vehicle
proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and
under the conditions then existing shall drive the vehicle in the right-hand
lane then available for traffic or as close as practicable to the right-hand
curb or edge of the roadway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle
proceeding in the same direction or when preparing for a left turn at an
intersection or into a private road or driveway.
If a
person violates this subsection, the department may assess two points against
the person's driving record.

C. In an age restricted community that is located in
an unincorporated area of a county with a population of more than three million
persons, a person may drive a golf cart or a neighborhood electric vehicle on a
paved shoulder that is adjacent to a roadway or as close as practicable to the
right-hand curb or edge of a paved roadway if there is no delineated paved
shoulder.

D. Defensive driving school courses that are offered
by defensive driving schools operated pursuant to chapter 8, article 7 of this
title and traffic survival schools operated pursuant to chapter 8, article 7.1
of this title shall include educational information relating to subsections A
and B of this section. The department shall include information
relating to subsections A and B of this section in any of the department's
examination, information and education materials.
END_STATUTE