Speed is actually the greatest cause of the slaughter on the highways. As Canned Heat used to say, “Speed Kills.” Although that was a song about “Amphetamine Annie.” Maybe speed kills … twice.

As for your other pet peeve, that’s a common sight down here in the Deep South.

June 13th, 2008 at 12:26 pm

I would concede that the “…in compliance with the law…” statute would be interpreted to mean driving the speed limit, but hardly 10mph under it. Assuming car #1 was actually driving below the speed limit, it was guilty of impeding traffic. And yes, that includes driving 1mph below the limit.
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Once again I reiterate to you “reasonable” and “normal”. Your argument has many flaws. So many flaws that I do not have time to address them all. Driving 1 mph below the speed limit is not “unreasonable” or “unnormal”. No one who is a professional (judge or officer) is going to enforce such an idea.

So - impeding traffic by varying your speed while under the speed limit (i.e. not necessary for being in compliance with law, since you could go faster and still be within the law) is illegal.
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You made this part up. This is not in my traffic code book. This is your interpretation and unless you are a judge or a legislator I guess you are going to have to live with it.

June 13th, 2008 at 8:03 am

Umm… Stober - look again:

Minn. Stat. s. 169.15
No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law or except when the vehicle is temporarily unable to maintain a greater speed due to a combination of the weight of the vehicle and the grade of the highway.

So - impeding traffic by varying your speed while under the speed limit (i.e. not necessary for being in compliance with law, since you could go faster and still be within the law) is illegal.
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Ummm, No, once again. Driving below the speed limit is not illegal even if you are adjusting speeds. Look it up. Key words here are “reasonable” and “normal”. This law can be argued so many different ways that it would make your head spin. Ultimately it is left to the OFFICER to interpret was is “reasonable” and “normal”. Most freeways have a minimum and maximum speed. You can fluctuate as much as you want on these road as long as you stay within the limits. On a highway there are minimum speeds usually, but they are typically not posted, so you would have to research what the exact rules are in each situation. Yes, I will say a car driving 20 mph in a 55 mph zone or a bicycle taking up a lane of traffic and not letting traffic pass, this would be a clear example of impeding traffic. More often than not in my experiences as an officer it is the idiots who are tailgating and speeding and trying to drive aggressive that have caused the majority of the problems. Car #1 as Roadguy has described by his actions has done absolutely nothing unlawful.