Carpool Violation from Right Lane, California VC 21655.5b

[SanJoseDriver]

My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of California.

I was driving on Central expressway in Santa Clara(which has the carpool lanes on the right) and was preparing to turn right onto De La Cruz blvd, so approximately 600 feet before the intersection I entered the carpool lane and was promptly pulled over.

I explained I was turning right at De la cruz blvd but he told me the law said you can't enter the carpool lane until you're at most 200ft from the turn.

I've looked and can't find any mentioning of this 200ft rule, and if so could I make a reasonable argument that on that stretch of road with the traffic conditions waiting that long before entering the turn lane is unsafe? Basically the 2 left lanes are gridlocked and the right lane can be moving at 40mph.

[Mr. Knowitall]

What were the lane markings between the lanes at the point you crossed into the HOV lane?

[SanJoseDriver]

What were the lane markings between the lanes at the point you crossed into the HOV lane?

Dashed white lines.

[Mr. Knowitall]

Unless he's referring to street signs posted or markings on the pavement leading up to that intersection, the best I can do is speculate that he's confused about a 200 foot rule, and is thinking of VC 21209, or some other provision that includes such a rule.

Looking at Google Maps, are you sure about the distances? At 600 feet it appears that you could have transitioned across the carpool lane into the right-turn lane. Or are you stating that the right turn lane was so congested at that point you had no space to continue over into it?

[SanJoseDriver]

Unless he's referring to street signs posted or markings on the pavement leading up to that intersection, the best I can do is speculate that he's confused about a 200 foot rule, and is thinking of VC 21209, or some other provision that includes such a rule.

Looking at Google Maps, are you sure about the distances? At 600 feet it appears that you could have transitioned across the carpool lane into the right-turn lane. Or are you stating that the right turn lane was so congested at that point you had no space to continue over into it?

Looking at google maps I entered the carpool lane right after LaFayette. Which makes it about 1000ft not 600. Sorry for the wrong Info.

The issue with that bit of road is the 2 left lanes are always bumper to bumper and the right lane (the carpool lane) is moving 30-40mph. So people wanting to turn right at De La Cruz need to cross this fast moving lane from a dead stop to get to the right turn lane. I drove that stretch of road the next day and tried waiting 200 ft before the intersection but I could not get over in time without cutting off someone driving much faster than me and risking a fender bender.

Carpool lanes on the right make no sense to me. I have to drive in them to make right turns but I get a ticket if I do? Who determines how long I can travel in the carpool lane?

Ugg, it's frustrating.

Thanks for you help Mr Knowitall.

I'm going to plea not guilty and hope the judge understands I wasn't trying to cheat the carpool lane. I was just trying to safely make a right turn