Colorado troopers pulled over 2,540 drivers for ‘hanging out’ in the left lane in 2025

The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) cracked down on thousands of drivers last year for failing to move right while traveling at slower speeds than the flow of traffic.

On March 17, 2026, CSP said that 2,540 drivers were pulled over for traffic stops in 2025 for traveling slower than the flow of traffic in the left lane, which can contribute to bottlenecks or hazards for other drivers.

The top roadways for traffic stops for “hanging out” in the left lane in 2025 are as follows:

1. I-70 (962 contacts)
2. I-25 (564 contacts)
3. Hwy 50 (297 contacts)
4. Hwy 160 (190 contacts)
5. E-470 (149 contacts)

Troopers are reminding drivers that in Colorado, multi-lane roads with a posted speed limit of 65 m.p.h. or greater designate the furthest left lane as the “passing lane.” Slower traffic is required to move into the right nonpassing lane after a driver has completed a pass or finished allowing a vehicle to enter the roadway.

Camping in the left lane can trigger dangerous behaviors in other motorists, including unsafe passing, tailgating, flashing lights, and other negative behaviors.

“Even if you are driving the maximum legal speed limit, the left lane is not intended to be a permanent travel lane on roadways 65 mph or greater in Colorado,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Drivers are not legally allowed to obstruct traffic lanes in Colorado, so even if you don’t like the speed of other drivers, interfering with traffic flow is also unsafe driving behavior.”