TULSA -- The Tulsa Police Department is responding after the Oklahoma left lane law has gone into effect Nov. 1. They want to clear up any misconceptions about getting a citation within the city of Tulsa.
Read the full news release below:
"The Tulsa Police Department has been inundated with questions about the amended Oklahoma left lane law, which was primarily intended for highway application. We would like to clear up some confusion on the law and clarify what actions can be made by Tulsa Police Officers.
Municipal Officers cannot write citations for state traffic laws when there is not a municipal ordinance mirroring the same law. If need be, municipal officers can enforce the state law by an arrest but those incidences would be rare.The City of Tulsa does have a city ordinance that is similar the State’s left lane law. The ordinance is Title 37 Section 640 A which states “Whenever any two-lane street has been divided into marked lanes for traffic, the driver of a vehicle shall drive in the lane nearest the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway when such lane is available for travel, except when overtaking another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn.”
This ordinance has been enforceable for several years although it is rarely cited by Tulsa Police Officers. In the last three years this citation has been written 89 times in the City of Tulsa. 2015 – 30, 2016 – 33 and 2017 (YTD) – 26 citations. Due to the natural flow of traffic on city streets the application of this ordinance is limited."
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