Ticket for No Turn Signal

[cbarrett]

My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Kansas.

Thank you if you're taking the time to read this, because i'm pretty distraught over this.

I was on my way home from visiting my friend in a "middle of nowhere" area, and was heading back into the city. There were a lot of twisty gravel roads and confusing turns to get back to the highway, and all of this by the way is in a completely unlit area.

When i finally make it to the entrance ramp of the highway, (which is situated at the top of a hill) i don't realize i'm actually there until the last second to turn. Obviously, this is when i'm pulled over.

What makes me so angry about this is that i honestly take care to be a good driver and use my turn signals, obey speed limit, etc. and that put in this situation a hundred times the same thing would've happened again. If there is any advice someone could offer me to get this ridiculous 100+ dollar ticket dropped i would appreciate it so much. i'm 19, and can absolutely not pay this ticket. i can't even really afford supporting myself as it is at the moment.

[adam_]

What were you cited for? vehicle code section.

Any maps? Pictures? Google streetview work there yet?

[cbarrett]

thanks

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...15.16,,0,-3.26

the turn there is to the right, and as you can see the only signs indicating the highway are directly in front of the highway itself, and there are no street lights. i wasn't using my brights on this unlit road because there was a car coming from the opposite direction (the officer haha).

when i take this to court can i bring in pictures for the judge?

[blewis]

When you show the judge that picture, be ready to explain why you didn't see the big honkin' "Kansas City" sign about 200 feet from the turn.

Barry

[cbarrett]

the "big honkin "kansas city"" signs can be up to miles away from the actual turns in kansas. nor does it say when this turn will be coming up.

[blewis]

Well, when I read your "big honkin'" reply, my first thought was, "that's not right". So I looked it up. Guess what? According to the MUTCD, which controls EVERYTHING about highway signs (in EVERY state), your "Kansas City ->" sign should be 100 - 200 feet prior to the INTERSECTION -- NOT "miles away", as you claim. So, if you try that argument with the judge, his reply will be "guilty as charged".

Not to despair, however, in looking it up I noticed another requirement. A "Junction" sign should appear "not less than 400 feet" from the intersection. Your picture indicates NO such sign (and I "traveled" back down the road about a half mile). Here's a link to the MUTCD drawing page. And Section 2D.28 contains the "standard" (not "guidance", which would make it optional).

So, the intersection is NOT properly posted, and, according to KS Statute 8-1507 (2):

(b) No provision of this act for which official traffic-control devices are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if, at the time and place of the alleged violation, an official device is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person.

In other words, how can you be expected to KNOW that you'll need to turn -- imminently -- and give a turn signal in advance of the turn, when the required signs are not in the proper position to let you know? How are you to know that a highway you're looking for is coming up? For all you know, the "Kansas City ->" sign could indicate some other highway which MIGHT eventually take you to KC, but you have NO advance warning (well, certainly not enough to give a signal "during not less than the last one hundred (100) feet traveled by the vehicle before turning") that it is I-35. I'm not sure this will be enough to get a dismissal, but it's worth a shot IMHO.

Good luck,
Barry

[adam_]

OP

What section of the vehicle code were you cited for violating?

letters and numbers on the ticket...

A