A method (2101, 2601) for encoding a block of video data in a simplified block prediction mode of a constant bitrate video coding scheme, the method comprising: determining a candidate block to be used to predict a current block in a current slice, the candidate block being within a search range of pixel positions that each correspond to a reconstructed pixel in the current slice, the search range comprising (i) a first search range (SRc) including one or more first pixel positions in a first line of pixels in a current slice, the first line of pixels including at least one pixel in a current block in the current slice and spanning an entire width of the current slice, and (ii) a second search range (SR A, SR B) including one or more second pixel positions in a second line of pixels in the current slice, the second line of pixels not including any pixel in the current block but spanning the entire width of the current slice; determining a first rate-distortion cost associated with predicting the current block based on the first search range; determining a second rate-distortion cost associated with predicting the current block based on the second search range; selecting (2115, 2120) the one of the first search range and the second search range yielding the lowest rate-distortion cost of the first and second rate-distortion costs; determining a prediction vector indicative of a pixel position of the candidate block within the selected search range; encoding a flag indicative of the selected one of the first search range and the second search range, wherein the flag having a first value indicates that the first search range is to be used to predict the current block, and the flag having a second value different than the first value indicates that the second search range is to be used to predict the current block; and encoding the current block in the simplified block prediction mode at least in part via signaling the prediction vector. determining a candidate block to be used to predict a current block in a current slice, the candidate block being within a search range of pixel positions that each correspond to a reconstructed pixel in the current slice, the search range comprising (i) a first search range (SRc) including one or more first pixel positions in a first line of pixels in a current slice, the first line of pixels including at least one pixel in a current block in the current slice and spanning an entire width of the current slice, and (ii) a second search range (SR A, SR B) including one or more second pixel positions in a second line of pixels in the current slice, the second line of pixels not including any pixel in the current block but spanning the entire width of the current slice; determining a first rate-distortion cost associated with predicting the current block based on the first search range; determining a second rate-distortion cost associated with predicting the current block based on the second search range; selecting (2115, 2120) the one of the first search range and the second search range yielding the lowest rate-distortion cost of the first and second rate-distortion costs; determining a prediction vector indicative of a pixel position of the candidate block within the selected search range; encoding a flag indicative of the selected one of the first search range and the second search range, wherein the flag having a first value indicates that the first search range is to be used to predict the current block, and the flag having a second value different than the first value indicates that the second search range is to be used to predict the current block; and encoding the current block in the simplified block prediction mode at least in part via signaling the prediction vector.