CNS –
Most California drivers have experienced the frustration of being stuck at a busy intersection, waiting to turn.
Some motorists might be tempted to creep into the middle of the crossroads before the traffic light changes and other cars start moving.
Is that legal? Can you get a ticket or be arrested for sneaking into the intersection while waiting to turn left?
Here’s what California law says:
Is it legal to pull into an intersection to turn left?
Yes, you can legally pull into an intersection when making a left turn in California — as long as you follow certain rules of the road.
Drivers are required to yield to oncoming vehicles and ensure that they have enough room to complete their turns without disrupting the flow of traffic, according to state law.
California law states that drivers should approach an intersection for a left turn “as close as practicable to the left-hand edge of the extreme left lane or portion of the roadway lawfully available to traffic moving in the direction of travel of the vehicle.”
The driver shouldn’t start turning left before entering the intersection, according to California Vehicle Code 22100.
“After entering the intersection, the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection in a lane lawfully available to traffic moving in that direction upon the roadway being entered,” the code states.
Los Angeles personal injury attorney Steven Sweat, explained on his law firm’s website that drivers turning left “should engage their left-turn signals around 100 feet before where they will turn.”
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“They should slow down and look over their shoulders before they reach the line,” Sweat said. “They should look both ways and only begin the turn when they are certain that it is safe to proceed.”
What are penalties for violating California road rules?
Drivers who violate the state’s vehicle code could face a $234 fine and get one point added to their driving record, according to the Shouse Law Group.
When a driver accumulates four points on their driving record within 12 months, six points in 24 months, or eight points in 36 months, it could lead to a license suspension.