This is the time of year when folks like to take the short trip to the other side of North Georgia and buy apples and look at the changing leaf colors in the Northeast Georgia mountains.  One town in Northeast Georgia is reminding visitors about Georgia’s “Slow Poke Law”.

The Ellijay Police Department posted this reminder:

REMINDER: Highway 515 is a beautiful scenic highway. This time of the year, everyone is trying to get somewhere. Some trying to get there quick, some just enjoying the view. This leaf and festival season just remember that Georgia has a slow poke law. Slower traffic must use the right lane. Granted – not everyone knows or cares about traffic law. So when you get behind someone who is clogging up the “hammer lane” please keep a three second distance between you and them. Also remember, passing on the right is very dangerous as is changing lanes to the left after doing so. Nothing is worth having a coronary over so breathe deeply (in one two three – pause – out one two three – repeat) and relax. F OCGA 40-6-184 states: “Upon roads, streets, or highways with two or more lanes allowing for movement in the same direction, no person shall continue to operate a motor vehicle in the passing lane once such person knows or should reasonably know that he or she is being overtaken in such lane from the rear by a motor vehicle traveling at a higher rate of speed. For purposes of this Code section, “passing lane” means the most left-hand lane other than a high occupancy vehicle lane.”