Is It Illegal to Exit and Re-Enter from a Freeway Off Ramp

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

This question was asked in another post but did not answer my situation exactly. I exited the freeway
on a street exit ramp. The exit ramp has 3 lanes and there is a traffic light at the end of the off ramp. The left and right lanes have respective turn only signs. The center lane has a sign showing both left and right turns are available, but no "only" designation. I was in the center lane and proceeded straight, across street directly onto the freeway on ramp. I was ticketed for violating Section 21461. (a). Was this illegal?

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Quoting jdh1133

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

This question was asked in another post but did not answer my situation exactly. I exited the freeway
on a street exit ramp. The exit ramp has 3 lanes and there is a traffic light at the end of the off ramp. The left and right lanes have respective turn only signs. The center lane has a sign showing both left and right turns are available, but no "only" designation. I was in the center lane and proceeded straight, across street directly onto the freeway on ramp. I was ticketed for violating Section 21461. (a). Was this illegal?

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If the sign showing traffic from the middle lane can proceed in a left or right directions but it is not showing a straight through direction, then you can either turn left or right but you cannot go straight and yes, it is illegal to go straight! With, or without the "ONLY".

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Quoting That Guy

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If the sign showing traffic from the middle lane can proceed in a left or right directions but it is not showing a straight through direction, then you can either turn left or right but you cannot go straight and yes, it is illegal to go straight! With, or without the "ONLY".

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Yep. As a matter of policy (and to prevent confusion), Caltrans has NO sign that shows "ONLY" below a multiple direction symbol. These "optional movement lane control signs" are supposed to show "all permissible movements."

Compare and contrast:
http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/8...lturnsigns.png


Still, please post the exact location on the slim chance an MUTCD-procedural defense exists....

Apparently, from a safety standpoint they decided it would be unsafe for people to do what you did. "Signs, signs, everywhere signs....do this, don't do that...." Remember the old song?

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Quoting Legal Beagle

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Apparently, from a safety standpoint they decided it would be unsafe for people to do what you did.

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While safety is in fact a primary concern for traffic engineers, "orderly movement of traffic" is another.... And aside from circumventing some issue between the exit ramp and the following entrance ramp, there really is no need for anyone to get off the freeway only to immediately get back on.

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Quoting That Guy

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While safety is in fact a primary concern for traffic engineers, "orderly movement of traffic" is another.... And aside from circumventing some issue between the exit ramp and the following entrance ramp, there really is no need for anyone to get off the freeway only to immediately get back on.

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Having driven millions of miles throughout the NA continent, I disagree. I have jumped off more than once, to view the services available and decide to continue on to another exit. This does not change OP's situation where proceeding straight was illegal.

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Quoting That Guy

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While safety is in fact a primary concern for traffic engineers, "orderly movement of traffic" is another.... And aside from circumventing some issue between the exit ramp and the following entrance ramp, there really is no need for anyone to get off the freeway only to immediately get back on.

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Not true; one may have exited at the wrong ramp.

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Quoting colourfastt

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Not true; one may have exited at the wrong ramp.

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Seen people do this in bumper to bumper traffic too.

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Quoting colourfastt

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Not true; one may have exited at the wrong ramp.

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Getting off at the wrong ramp does not justify a violation of a traffic control device.. So what's your point?

Although the OP hasn't given us the location, I suspect there may be another traffic control device involved in his 'breakthrough'...double yellow lines....which would make any sign-based issues moot.