as i recall the left lane is not to be "driven" in. isn't it supposed to be used for passing only? in fact in other states drivers get ticketed for using the far left lane for anything other than passing
That's actually not correct. The state law is that you move right to left faster drivers by on the left. It doesn't say anything about not driving in the far left lane. Some states, the left lane is a passing lane only, some states it's not. Here's a pretty good list from MIT on this (they call it the "keep right law":
http://www.mit.edu/~jfc/right.html
FWIW, when passing on the right there are two laws being broken, one by each party. One is passing on the right is illegal, the other is if you are being passed on the right, you are impeding traffic. Who gets the ticket depends on how the cop is feeling that day.