Comments on: How To Avoid An Illegal U-Turn Ticket http://blog.motorists.org/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/ News For Drivers Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:16:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Aida http://blog.motorists.org/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-13028 Aida Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:35:10 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/traffic-tickets/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/#comment-13028 Tarrytown, NY.......I was in both a residential/commercial street. Pizzeria at one corner, small stores on both sides, some residential buildings as well. It's a two way street, no cars approaching me on either side, so I made a u-turn. As I'm making the u-turn, from the corner of my eye I see a cop car driving behind other cars moving slowly from a "STOP" sign on my opposite side (where I ended up after the u-turn). I felt the u-turn I made was a safe one since no cars were visibly around, but the cop must have seen the tip of my turn and stopped me once he passed his STOP sign. I figured he stopped me because of it, but I had not obstructed anything or anyone. He never told me why he stopped me, just asked for my information. Though he was a very nice officer, there were no words exchanged at first. When he got back to my car, he had the ticket in hand and just handed it to me. I never got a chance to ask any questions before handing me the ticket. So I told him that I wasn't obstructing anyones path. He said there were signs on both sides of the street "no U-Turn". I told him I never saw any signs. How small were these signs???? Stupid me, I should have gone back to check, but was in the midst of working on my route and had to get out of there. A parking ticket a year for me is rare, but a U-Turn ticket was a new one. Yes I'm disappointed in myself for not looking for those so called signs, but now I'm wondering how much will this ticket cost me? Does anyone know????? Tarrytown, NY…….I was in both a residential/commercial street. Pizzeria at one corner, small stores on both sides, some residential buildings as well. It’s a two way street, no cars approaching me on either side, so I made a u-turn. As I’m making the u-turn, from the corner of my eye I see a cop car driving behind other cars moving slowly from a “STOP” sign on my opposite side (where I ended up after the u-turn). I felt the u-turn I made was a safe one since no cars were visibly around, but the cop must have seen the tip of my turn and stopped me once he passed his STOP sign. I figured he stopped me because of it, but I had not obstructed anything or anyone. He never told me why he stopped me, just asked for my information. Though he was a very nice officer, there were no words exchanged at first. When he got back to my car, he had the ticket in hand and just handed it to me. I never got a chance to ask any questions before handing me the ticket. So I told him that I wasn’t obstructing anyones path. He said there were signs on both sides of the street “no U-Turn”. I told him I never saw any signs. How small were these signs???? Stupid me, I should have gone back to check, but was in the midst of working on my route and had to get out of there. A parking ticket a year for me is rare, but a U-Turn ticket was a new one. Yes I’m disappointed in myself for not looking for those so called signs, but now I’m wondering how much will this ticket cost me? Does anyone know?????

]]> By: Sandra http://blog.motorists.org/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-12030 Sandra Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:45:12 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/traffic-tickets/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/#comment-12030 I made a "u turn" into the driveway of a business that was closed and still got a ticket - when I sent in the trial by mail forms and my pics of the location and my diagram they still found me guilty. I at no point used the street for any part of the turn - what gives???? This is Pasadena CA I made a “u turn” into the driveway of a business that was closed and still got a ticket – when I sent in the trial by mail forms and my pics of the location and my diagram they still found me guilty. I at no point used the street for any part of the turn – what gives???? This is Pasadena CA

]]> By: Randy http://blog.motorists.org/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-10905 Randy Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:08:55 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/traffic-tickets/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/#comment-10905 Erika it sounded like the policeman acted exaclty like he should have. Parking lots are for people that are shopping or working at stores or businesses. The policemen should have warned the person not to be using the parking lot as a public street. If people like that do this daily then they should get tickets but in this case when the person only did it once a warning was the right thing to do. I think the law was probably put into place because there are places where driving through a parking lot is a shortcut for many people to get where they are going. Parking lots were not designed to be through streets. Erika it sounded like the policeman acted exaclty like he should have. Parking lots are for people that are shopping or working at stores or businesses. The policemen should have warned the person not to be using the parking lot as a public street. If people like that do this daily then they should get tickets but in this case when the person only did it once a warning was the right thing to do. I think the law was probably put into place because there are places where driving through a parking lot is a shortcut for many people to get where they are going. Parking lots were not designed to be through streets.

]]> By: Erika http://blog.motorists.org/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-10904 Erika Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:26:33 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/traffic-tickets/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/#comment-10904 My friend left to go pick up her son from school, and since we live in CA, there are medians prohibiting a left turn. So she went down the street and proceeded to use a parking lot to turn around and a motorcycle cop pulled her over. He told her it was illegal to use a parking lot for a U-turn... but isn't that private property? Could he have enforced that? She didn't get a ticket... but I'm massively confused since I have normally use that same parking lot for that purpose. My friend left to go pick up her son from school, and since we live in CA, there are medians prohibiting a left turn.

So she went down the street and proceeded to use a parking lot to turn around and a motorcycle cop pulled her over.

He told her it was illegal to use a parking lot for a U-turn… but isn’t that private property? Could he have enforced that?

She didn’t get a ticket… but I’m massively confused since I have normally use that same parking lot for that purpose.

]]> By: Jeff http://blog.motorists.org/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-10658 Jeff Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:17:07 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/traffic-tickets/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/#comment-10658 Back in the 1980s when I lived in Cincinnati, an attorney was ticketed by the local police for making a U-turn. As it turned out, that U-turn was legal and the ticket was dismissed in court. This just shows the cops don't even know the laws in their own community. Back in the 1980s when I lived in Cincinnati, an attorney was ticketed by the local police for making a U-turn. As it turned out, that U-turn was legal and the ticket was dismissed in court. This just shows the cops don’t even know the laws in their own community.

]]> By: Eric http://blog.motorists.org/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-9018 Eric Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:08:18 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/traffic-tickets/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/#comment-9018 Yes, you are allowed to make a U-Turn in Tennessee, as long as you do so in a safe manner. However, in Mount Juliet, just east of Nashville, there is a "hidden law" that bans all U-Turns. Recently, I was stuck in a massive traffic jam on the main thoroughfare through town, and my air conditioning had died, leaving me stuck in a stifling car on a 95 degree day (I'm sure it was much hotter in my car). I waited patiently until all traffic from the opposite direction had passed (there were no oncoming cars within 200-250 yards), checked my rear view mirror, signalled, and made a U-Turn. A few moments later, I got pulled over by an officer who told me that all U-Turns are illegal in Mount Juliet, and gave me a ticket for nearly $200. No signs anywhere indicate that this is the case, nor could I find any evidence of this law in extensive online searches. To add insult to injury, the officer told me that if I take a defensive driving course, the ticket won't hurt my insurance rates. The only defensive driving courses around are offered by the State of Tennessee, where U-Turns are legal, thus negating any supposed "benefit" of taking such a course. Yes, you are allowed to make a U-Turn in Tennessee, as long as you do so in a safe manner. However, in Mount Juliet, just east of Nashville, there is a “hidden law” that bans all U-Turns. Recently, I was stuck in a massive traffic jam on the main thoroughfare through town, and my air conditioning had died, leaving me stuck in a stifling car on a 95 degree day (I’m sure it was much hotter in my car). I waited patiently until all traffic from the opposite direction had passed (there were no oncoming cars within 200-250 yards), checked my rear view mirror, signalled, and made a U-Turn. A few moments later, I got pulled over by an officer who told me that all U-Turns are illegal in Mount Juliet, and gave me a ticket for nearly $200. No signs anywhere indicate that this is the case, nor could I find any evidence of this law in extensive online searches. To add insult to injury, the officer told me that if I take a defensive driving course, the ticket won’t hurt my insurance rates. The only defensive driving courses around are offered by the State of Tennessee, where U-Turns are legal, thus negating any supposed “benefit” of taking such a course.

]]> By: Betty Pavey http://blog.motorists.org/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-4827 Betty Pavey Fri, 02 May 2008 01:00:29 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/traffic-tickets/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/#comment-4827 Coming out of Porter Ranch mall, right turn only. Did that and am heading west. First opening on the left has a large red-circled sign do not enter. Next opening no such sign. I turned left into the divided grass- filled area which held my car competely so I was not delaying traffic going west (there wasn't any at this time)and waited until 6 cars heading east passed by and then I made the 2nd left turn to the other side. A motorcycle policeman stopped me and explained no "u-turn" is allowed in a business area. Yes, he saw me wait patiently for eastbound traffic before turning again and he 'respected' me for that. Anyway, no warning but a ticket. When I travelled in the same area heading only east, every opening (3) in the divider had the large red-circled slashed 'do not enter.'Too bad for me there was no such sign where I turned and I should have known no "u-turns" are allowed. Coming out of Porter Ranch mall, right turn only. Did that and am heading west. First opening on the left has a large red-circled sign do not enter. Next opening no such sign. I turned left into the divided grass- filled area which held my car competely so I was not delaying traffic going west (there wasn’t any at this time)and waited until 6 cars heading east passed by and then I made the 2nd left turn to the other side. A motorcycle policeman stopped me and explained no “u-turn” is allowed in a business area. Yes, he saw me wait patiently for eastbound traffic before turning again and he ‘respected’ me for that. Anyway, no warning but a ticket. When I travelled in the same area heading only east, every opening (3) in the divider had the large red-circled slashed ‘do not enter.’Too bad for me there was no such sign where I turned and I should have known no “u-turns” are allowed.

]]> By: KL http://blog.motorists.org/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-2904 KL Mon, 03 Mar 2008 04:05:44 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/traffic-tickets/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/#comment-2904 Another simple solution is to pull into a parking lot and then pull out in the direction you want to go.... Another simple solution is to pull into a parking lot and then pull out in the direction you want to go….

]]> By: John Riley http://blog.motorists.org/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-2726 John Riley Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:23:53 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/traffic-tickets/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/#comment-2726 I'd like to mention that turn signals are mainly used to warn other drivers of your intentions; not necessarily to avoid a ticket. I’d like to mention that turn signals are mainly used to warn other drivers of your intentions; not necessarily to avoid a ticket.

]]> By: Desert Tripper http://blog.motorists.org/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/comment-page-1/#comment-2686 Desert Tripper Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:23:46 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/traffic-tickets/how-to-avoid-an-illegal-u-turn-ticket/#comment-2686 Here in CA, the decision in many cases has already been made for you. "Traffic calming," that expensive and useless practice of erecting elaborate concrete medians in the middle of divided boulevards, requires you to proceed to the next light for any left or U turn (and more often than not, the next light is signed "No U Turn," as well. Very aggravating. I often wonder if the drones that design these schemes ever actually have to drive in the areas they "calm." Here in CA, the decision in many cases has already been made for you. “Traffic calming,” that expensive and useless practice of erecting elaborate concrete medians in the middle of divided boulevards, requires you to proceed to the next light for any left or U turn (and more often than not, the next light is signed “No U Turn,” as well. Very aggravating. I often wonder if the drones that design these schemes ever actually have to drive in the areas they “calm.”

]]>