Turning Left Across Double Yellow Lines Onto Another Road

[thespecialk]

My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Georgia

Greetings,

This citation involves traffic from the left lane of two Eastbound lanes, making a left turn onto a county road across two Westbound lanes and a middle turn lane. Going Eastbound, the turn is across a double-yellow line immediately after a stop light (which intersects a different road). I was told that such a left turn is not legal, though I always understood double yellow lines to preclude passing, but not left turns unless they were otherwise expressly forbidden.

Are left turns prohibited to other roads against the double yellow? I know turns onto private roads and driveways are permissible, but I was under the impression turns to other two-way roads were also allowed.

Thanks in advance!

[Mr. Knowitall]

What statute are you charged with violating - OCGA Sec. ____ ?

[jk]

Going Eastbound, the turn is across a double-yellow line immediately after a stop light (which intersects a different road).

any chance of a Google maps or Earth link to the intersection?

[thespecialk]

What statute are you charged with violating - OCGA Sec. ____ ?

Looks like 40-6-45, though it's not written very clearly.

I did find, in that section of the Georgia Code, a law that states no vehicle shall drive on the left side of the roadway, with noted exceptions. Subparagraph (b) says:

(b) The foregoing limitations shall not apply upon a one-way roadway nor under the conditions described in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 40-6-40 nor to the driver of a vehicle turning left into or from an alley, private road, driveway, or roadway.

If I'm reading this right, it absolutely is legal to turn left onto a roadway across double-yellow lines. Perhaps I'm missing something, but it looks like there's nothing wrong with it.

[Mr. Knowitall]

If you're able to share the location as jk indicated, it may be possible to figure out what the officer was thinking, but it's difficult to see how the cited statute would apply

(a) No vehicle shall be driven on the left side of a roadway designed and authorized for traffic traveling in opposite directions under the following conditions:

(1) When approaching or upon the crest of a grade or a curve in the highway where the driver's view is obstructed within such distance as to create a hazard in the event another vehicle might approach from the opposite direction;

(2) When traversing any:

(A) Intersection which is clearly marked by a solid barrier line placed on the right-hand element of a combination stripe along the center or lane line or by a solid double yellow line; or

(B) Railroad grade crossing; or

(3) When the view is obstructed upon approaching within 100 feet of any bridge, viaduct, or tunnel.

(b) The foregoing limitations shall not apply upon a one-way roadway nor under the conditions described in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 40-6-40 nor to the driver of a vehicle turning left into or from an alley, private road, driveway, or roadway.

I would think that an improper left turn would be cited under OCGA Sec. 40-6-120.

[That Guy]

Which is it?

The turn was made over two westbound lanes and a middle turn lane as you indicated first?

making a left turn onto a county road across two Westbound lanes and a middle turn lane.

Or, was it made over a single double solid yellow line, as you indicated second?

the turn is across a double-yellow line immediately after a stop light (which intersects a different road).

Or is it possible that you made the turn over a middle island marked with double solid yellow lines on both sides?

And if so, is it possible that instead of:

Looks like 40-6-45, though it's not written very clearly.

That you were cited for:

O.C.G.A. 40-6-46. No-passing zones

(a) The Department of Transportation and local authorities are authorized to determine those portions of any highway under their respective jurisdictions where overtaking and passing or driving to the left side of the roadway would be especially hazardous and may, by appropriate signs or markings on the roadway, indicate the beginning and end of such zones and, when such signs or markings are in place and clearly visible to an ordinarily observant person, every driver of a vehicle shall obey the directions thereof. Such no-passing zones shall be clearly marked by a solid barrier line placed on the right-hand element of a combination stripe along the center or lane line or by a solid double yellow line.

(b) Where signs or markings are in place to define a no-passing zone as set forth in subsection (a) of this Code section, no driver shall at any time drive on the left side of the roadway within such no-passing zone or on the left side of any pavement striping designed to mark such no-passing zone throughout its length.

(c) This Code section does not apply under the conditions described in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 40-6-40 nor to the driver of a vehicle turning left into or from an alley, private road, or driveway.