If an Emmy Award-nominated PSA didn’t deter the left lane campers on State Route 347, maybe a change in the state law proposed by Maricopa’s senior House rep will.

State Rep. Teresa Martinez (R-Casa Grande) introduced House Bill 2235 last week targeting drivers who cruise and impede traffic in the passing lane. Some ultra-high-IQ intellectuals have managed to deduce that the passing lane is for passing, but far too many have failed to master this most brain-meltingly simple of traffic rules.

It’s this exact scenario commuting on Interstate 10 that inspired the idea for Martinez.

“What’s happening is we have lots of congestion, lots of back up because we’ll have one driver in the left lane who is going lower than the speed limit or semi-trucks that will drive in the left lane and not pass traffic,” she told InMaricopa.

She said this scenario and the lack of repercussions is aggravating for everyone, including state representatives.

“They just back up traffic and I think that’s where your road rage comes in and that’s where people really start getting frustrated because you have one guy who’s driving very, very slow,” she told InMaricopa.

Arizona law already requires drivers on two-lane highways to travel on the right side of the road except when passing a slower vehicle or when the right lane is closed — ARS 28-721 for the curious. But because the law is so ubiquitously ignored, Martinez saw a need to change it.

Her amendment as proposed is short and straightforward. It would require highways with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction to have a sign reading, “left lane for passing only, slow traffic keep right,” with an additional sign citing fines.

Violators would be subject to a $500 fine if caught, which is $100 pricier than getting busted driving solo in an HOV lane.

“I’ll be honest, $500 is a little steep but people don’t drive in the HOV lanes because that is a huge fine,” she said. “I think we have to adjust a fee of some sort so people won’t want to pay that, so people don’t want to get busted.”

This isn’t the first time Pinal County leaders have brought up the issue of turtle-speed drivers hogging the left lane.

In 2023, then-Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb produced the Emmy-nominated public service announcement video, “Left Lane Campers Busted!” addressing the issue.

“One of my pet peeves is people camping in the left lane,” Lamb said in the video, adding that such drivers not only impede traffic but are also “inconsiderate of others.”

He pulled over one driver for camping in the left lane on SR 347 and said most drivers give the same argument: they were driving the speed limit.

“It’s not about going the speed limit, it’s about the left lane is for passing,” he said in the video. “For all those know-it-alls that plan on sending me an email and telling me how wrong I am, let me save you the time. Don’t bother.”

So, watch out, know-it-alls — when that $500 fine comes calling, your emails won’t mean much anymore.