Fail to Obey Traffic Control Device - Left Turn

[erbat02]

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

I was cited for failure to obey a traffic control device (RCW 46.61.050). I was in the left-turn lane at an intersection (Map of intersection - I was going WB on 116th).

Both lights going west bound were green (left-turn yield and straight) and I decided to go straight instead. I safely merged into the straight lane (across a solid white line - and it's my understanding these are OK to cross) prior to entering the intersection and continued through the light only to be promptly pulled over and cited. The only other information I have in addition to the RCW reference from the citation is that the officer indicated that I had already committed to turning left.

I do have a request in to police records to obtain the narrative filed with the citation, but have yet to hear back from them.

Did I do something wrong here? I am planning on fighting this as I don't feel any laws were broken.

Thanks for your help.

[jk]

Both lights going west bound were green (left-turn yield and straight) and I decided to go straight instead. I safely merged into the straight lane (across a solid white line - and it's my understanding these are OK to cross) prior to entering the intersection and continued through the light only to be promptly pulled over and cited. The only other information I have in addition to the RCW reference from the citation is that the officer indicated that I had already committed to turning left.

did you change lanes, completely, before reaching the stop bar?

was there any traffic behind you that you stalled?

[erbat02]

There was a car directly in front of me waiting to make a left turn who was still partly in front of the stop bar, so yes, I changed lanes completely before crossing the stop bar.

Closest car behind me was probably 300-400 feet away - this was not a consideration.

Thanks.

[jk]

yes, I changed lanes completely before crossing the stop bar.

that isn't what I asked. I asked; did you change lanes completely before reaching the stop bar? If you had not changed lanes completely before reaching the stop bar, the ticket is valid. Once you touch the stop bar, you are committed. If you cannot enter the other lane completely prior to reaching the stop bar, you have changed lanes while in the intersection. The first contact with the stop bar is the "line of death" so to speak so any lane changes must be completed prior to reaching that point.

[erbat02]

I apologize for not being clear. My point in saying that there was a car in front of me was to illustrate that it would have been impossible for me to still be in the turn lane when reaching the stop bar. So yes, I changed lanes completely before reaching the stop bar (i.e. every inch of my car crossed the stop bar in the straight lane).

[jk]

then I would suggest the ticket is not proper. I would wait for the narrative if possible to possibly see what the cop has to say about it. You may not be able to get what you seek unless you contest the ticket though. There are a couple posters here that are very well versed in contesting tickets. One of them is actually from Washington I believe. I would keep checking to see if any of them can add anything.

[erbat02]

Here's the Narrative (I got it back an hour after requesting it!). I originally stated that I was traveling WB, but the officer is correct that I was traveling EB.

"At the listed date and time I was w/b at the listed intersection. I could see a large truck e/b NE 116th St in the dedicated left turn lane,
designated by a painted left turn arrow. I could see the first vehicle in the left turn lane turn and the second vehicle the truck changed
abruptly into the middle lane and drove straight ahead; which is an accident causing maneuver. Driver thought if he signaled it was ok.
Driver given a copy of the cite and it was explained."

I still cannot determine what I did wrong, unless it was the "abruptly" but even that can be argued - while there wasn't a car very close, am I supposed to merge into traffic moving 35 MPH from a stand still slowly?

Any thoughts?

[jk]

abruptly is irrelevant unless there was traffic in the straight through lane that was affected. but even if that was the issue, that is not what you were cited for. Not sure if there is a charge for "accident causing maneuver".

anyway keep an eye out for the west coast ticket fighting guys. There's usually at least one of them around quite regularly.

[BrendanjKeegan]

The officer's statement has nothing to do whatsoever with the charge. There is no proof that you violated ANY traffic control device. He actually makes statements to the contrary: saying you changed lanes just indicates that you took the appropriate action. The rest of the statement offers absolutely no probative value.

This ticket is absolutely ridiculous and quite frivolous.

Btw... the way this officer wrote the sentence about the accident causing maneuver reads that going straight through an intersection is an accident causing maneuver.

[erbat02]

Thanks for the feedback. Glad to see my feelings about it being validated. I heard back from my uncle who is also a police officer that in fact, merging out of a left turn lane is illegal. I just don't get thought - nor in my hours of pouring over the Traffic Laws, Drivers Guide, and MUTCD have I found anything to suggest that I cannot do this.

I did find the following in the MUTCD - "Where crossing the lane line markings is prohibited, the lane line markings shall consist of a solid double white line"

My line was only a single solid white line, which is referred to in the MUTCD as a way to discourage drivers from changing lanes. Nowhere does it state I cannot.

I've never contested a ticket before, any suggestions on how I approach this defense???

Thanks!!