Going Straight from a Turn-Only Lane, VC 22101-D Violation

My question involves a traffic ticket from: Dublin CA with court in Fremont CA

I pulled up to a red light in to the left turn only lane. I then realized I needed the next intersection, at this point the light for going straight was green and there were no cars on my side of the road. I signaled, crossed the solid while line, which got the bike cop who was sitting on the sidewalk to pull me over.

Has anyone had any luck with going to court on a ticket for crossing a solid white line at an intersection? Its a $248 fine (plus points). Any chance that a judge will have any compassion for this type of incident?

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Quoting careful_negligence

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My question involves a traffic ticket from: Dublin CA with court in Fremont CA

I pulled up to a red light in to the left turn only lane. I then realized I needed the next intersection, at this point the light for going straight was green and there were no cars on my side of the road. I signaled, crossed the solid while line, which got the bike cop who was sitting on the sidewalk to pull me over.

Has anyone had any luck with going to court on a ticket for crossing a solid white line at an intersection? Its a $248 fine (plus points). Any chance that a judge will have any compassion for this type of incident?

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Which white solid line at an intersection? Are you talking about the parallel to your direction of travel or the white solid line perpendicular to your direction of travel? Better yet, were you the first car at the light? Or were you behind other vehicle(s)?

If your answer is either of the underlined choices then yes, you are in clear violation of 22101(d) and you might get some some compassion and a slight reduction of the fine if you plead guilty. Otherwise you will likely be found guilty and be held responsible for the full fine.

To avoid the possibility of points being recorded on your driving record, you can opt for traffic school which will cost you approximately $60 in addition to the fine amount.

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Quoting That Guy

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Which white solid line at an intersection? Are you talking about the parallel to your direction of travel or the white solid line perpendicular to your direction of travel? Better yet, were you the first car at the light? Or were you behind other vehicle(s)?

If your answer is either of the underlined choices then yes, you are in clear violation of 22101(d) and you might get some some compassion and a slight reduction of the fine if you plead guilty. Otherwise you will likely be found guilty and be held responsible for the full fine..

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curious question:

why would it be illegal if he crossed a perpendicular line or if he was the first car in line?




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d) When official traffic control devices are placed as required in subdivisions (b) or (c), it shall be unlawful for any driver of a vehicle to disobey the directions of such official traffic control devices.

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would it be that he had a red light and he entered the intersection (crossed the perpendicular line) while the light for the lane the line crossed was red? Being the first car I presume is because it would be impossible to change lanes prior to crossing that perpendicular line.

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Quoting jk

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curious question:

why would it be illegal if he crossed a perpendicular line or if he was the first car in line?

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d) When official traffic control devices are placed as required in subdivisions (b) or (c), it shall be unlawful for any driver of a vehicle to disobey the directions of such official traffic control devices.

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would it be that he had a red light and he entered the intersection (crossed the perpendicular line) while the light for the lane the line crossed was red? Being the first car I presume is because it would be impossible to change lanes prior to crossing that perpendicular line.

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An "official traffic control device" is defined as follows:

CVC 440.

An “official traffic control device” is any sign, signal, marking, or device, consistent with Section 21400, placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning, or guiding traffic, but does not include islands, curbs, traffic barriers, speed humps, speed bumps, or other roadway design features.

Typically, and in cases when there is a separate lane that is dedicated for a left turn (with or without a left turn arrow signal) there is a sign posted (either on the center island or up on the traffic signal mast that carries the left turn arrow signal) making that lane a left turn only lane:

http://www.stopsignsandmore.com/imag...t/icon/351.gif

Or...

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...ju9AZtPju0-5Ue

So crossing the perpendicular line (more commonly known as "the limit line") and since by law, that constitutes entry into the intersection, you are by then committed to making the movement required by the direction of the traffic control device. If one enters the intersection under a requirement to go in a particular direction (turning left) only to then change one's mind and go straight, that is in violation of the direction of that particular traffic control device (either of the signs you see above) and is as a result a violation of 22101(d).

But even without the sign, the presence of a pavement marking (a left turn arrow painted within that lane, and since a "marking" is also defined as an "official traffic control device", that too would be in violation of CVC 22101(d).

Now, crossing over the parallel solid white line (since there is no law prohibiting such action) and if after which one can ensure that their entry into the intersection was completely from within the confines of a straight through lane, (and as long as one uses his/her signals and ensures the lane change is done with reasonable safety) would not be in violation of any code.

The same general concept would obviously apply to a dedicated right turn lane in the presence of either a right turn only sign:

http://www.stopsignsandmore.com/imag...t/icon/346.gif

or...

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...d2QQxjXgKEAw2T

... marking that lane as such or the presence of a right turn only marking (right turn arrow painted on the pavement).

To address your comment about a red light, either of the violations described above (violations of CVC 22101(d) the fine for which is approximately $238) are presumed to have happened during a green signal indication for the actual movement made by the driver. If in the alternative it were to occur during a red signal indication, then it can be cited as a violation of CVC 21453(a) for a circular red or 21453(c) for a red arrow, the fine for either violation would be $490.

So that would be a yes, yes?

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Quoting jk

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So that would be a yes, yes?

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That would be a "yes", yes, for this part:

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Quoting jk

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Being the first car I presume is because it would be impossible to change lanes prior to crossing that perpendicular line.

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It would also be a "yes", yes, for this part as well:

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Quoting jk

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would it be that he had a red light and he entered the intersection (crossed the perpendicular line) while the light for the lane the line crossed was red?

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had he been cited for 21453. However, the OP got a HUGE break since the officer cited him for 22101(d) instead.

And the long explanation was for this first part:

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Quoting jk

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why would it be illegal if he crossed a perpendicular line or if he was the first car in line?

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I'm just picking on ya. Your explanations are extremely thorough but by being such, also extremely wordy. Sometime that is what is required though.

Thanks

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Quoting jk

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I'm just picking on ya. Your explanations are extremely thorough but by being such, also extremely wordy. Sometime that is what is required though.

Thanks

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I'm just sharing what I know... Can't help it I know a lot... J/K

Where's the like button.

Nothing wrong with being complete in your explanation

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Quoting jk

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Where's the like button.

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About as close as anyone can get, I use this: :encouragement:

And thank you :eagerness:

I just got the same 22101d today for safely changing out of the left turn lane to go straight, and will go to court. The thing is that I've gotten this twice in the past and have had 2 different judges dismiss the tickets since: the CVC doesn't specify anywhere that one cannot safely lane change out of the left turn lane while waiting for the red arrow to turn green, and also the CVC doesn't say that crossing solid white line is illegal.

I guess before entering the intersection, sitting in the left turn lane waiting for the arrow is like sitting at a stop sign and one should be able to safely change lane, only when entering the intersection that one is committed to the change of direction and has to obey the traffic device? My only problem is why is this law so imprecise? I've heard both ways (legal and illegal) from cops, judges, traffic school instructors although most cops would probably write up the tickets. Well, let's see how I'd do on this third try...

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pkn25;718929]I just got the same 22101d today for safely changing out of the left turn lane to go straight, and will go to court. The thing is that I've gotten this twice in the past and have had 2 different judges dismiss the tickets since: the CVC doesn't specify anywhere that one cannot safely lane change out of the left turn lane while waiting for the red arrow to turn green, and also the CVC doesn't say that crossing solid white line is illegal.

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as has been discussed, if the solid white line you are speaking of is running parallel to the traffic, then you can cross it. If it is perpendicular and is the limit line, once you cross that line, you are in the intersection, in the turn lane. That means if you do not turn, you have disregarded the signs stating that lane must turn ergo; a violation.

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My only problem is why is this law so imprecise?

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it's actually not. It is quite clear actually once you understand the design elements involved and what each of those elements demand of the driver.