Your Florida Daily: Bill to deter left-lane drivers advances in Tallahassee, AAA reports increased demand for cruises

Plus, American coast-to-coast plane on display at a local flight academy

Trooper Steve discusses left lane drivers

ORLANDO, Fla. – A bill to penalize drivers who don’t move to the right is ready to be heard by the full Florida Senate.

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The measure passed its final committee on Thursday.

It would apply to highways with at least two lanes in each direction and speed limits of 65 mph or higher. Drivers would be prohibited from using the left lane unless they’re passing other vehicles.

The bill’s sponsor says his goal is to prevent people from using the right lane to pass slower traffic.

“In 2023 alone, there were 4,027 violations as a direct violation of passing on the right,” State Sen. Keith Perry, (R) Gainesville, said.

If the bill becomes law, violators would face a $158 fine.

A similar measure is ready for a full vote in the state House of Representatives.

Port Canaveral in early stages of planning new cruise terminal

Florida cruise industry on track for another record-breaking year

The cruise industry is off to a strong start in 2024.

Demand is red hot — including at Port Canaveral, according to AAA.

A new report from the auto club shows cruise lines saw record numbers of bookings last year with that trend carrying into 2024.

It might be a good idea to go soon if you’re planning one. AAA says the first three months of the year is the best time to take a cruise with larger discounts offered during what cruise lines call “wave season.”

And if you need to get a passport, you should allow at least eight weeks for processing.

In this image provided by the Hillsborough County, Fla., Sheriff's Office, a kangaroo is shown captured after it was found loose at an apartment complex Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. The wayward kangaroo was corralled safely by sheriff's deputies and reunited with its owner after checking for proper registration. (Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Escaped kangaroo caught near pool at Florida apartment complex

A rare sight in a Florida neighborhood is making national news.

A kangaroo went wild in a Tampa apartment complex pool deck, a video from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office shows.

Hillsborough County deputies eventually surrounded the kangaroo and safely captured it.

It’s now back home after making sure the owner had proper permits but so far no one’s explained how it got loose or why they own a kangaroo.

Random Florida Fact

Here’s one for all you aviation buffs out there.

At the Epic Flight Academy in New Smyrna Beach exists a decommissioned DC-7 plane

It’s an old American Airlines passenger plane that could fly nonstop coast-to-coast in eight hours.

The DC-7 was built in response to a mandate that flight crews were restricted to only working eight hours in-flight within a 24-hour period.

Few of these planes remain today - less than 400 were built.

This aviation relic is open to the public for viewing as long as you call Epic Flight Academy for an escort.



About the Author

Katrina Scales is a producer for the News 6+ Takeover at 3:30 p.m. She also writes and voices the podcast Your Florida Daily. Katrina was born and raised in Brevard County and started her journalism career in radio before joining News 6 in June 2021.

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