Comments on: My day in court http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/ David Schrag examines his navel and the world around it Sun, 22 Aug 2010 01:57:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: david http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/comment-page-1/#comment-1469 david Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:28:40 +0000 http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/#comment-1469 By the way, with regard to U-turns, allow me to repost a comment I just made on the companion blog piece: If it wasn't a left turn (which I still say it was), then it must have been a U-turn, right? Here's what the RMV says about U-turns (also taken from chapter 4, hyperlinked above): "A U-turn is a tight left turn that puts you in the opposite direction in which you were just traveling. Unless a NO U-TURN sign is posted, you are allowed to make a U-turn as long as your path is clear and it is safe to do so. • You may only make a U-turn from the lane closest to the center line. • Make sure you have enough room to complete the turn. Do not create a hazard for oncoming vehicles. • Do not attempt a U-turn at the crest of a hill, near a curve, or at any other point at which you or other drivers cannot see from 500 feet away." There is nothing as far as I can see about U-turns that cross double lines. And while you must make a U-turn FROM the lane closest to the center, the guide is silent as to what lane you should end up in. So I could legally have made a U-turn into the right-most lane on the opposite side of the street and then made a right turn into the parking lot. I searched the Mass. General Laws for "u-turn" and "u turn" and got no results. By the way, with regard to U-turns, allow me to repost a comment I just made on the companion blog piece:

If it wasn’t a left turn (which I still say it was), then it must have been a U-turn, right? Here’s what the RMV says about U-turns (also taken from chapter 4, hyperlinked above):
“A U-turn is a tight left turn that puts you in the opposite direction in which you were just traveling.
Unless a NO U-TURN sign is posted, you are allowed to make a U-turn as long as your path is clear and it is safe to do so.
• You may only make a U-turn from the lane closest to the center line.
• Make sure you have enough room to complete the turn. Do not create a hazard for oncoming vehicles.
• Do not attempt a U-turn at the crest of a hill, near a curve, or at any other point at which you or other drivers cannot see from 500 feet away.”

There is nothing as far as I can see about U-turns that cross double lines. And while you must make a U-turn FROM the lane closest to the center, the guide is silent as to what lane you should end up in. So I could legally have made a U-turn into the right-most lane on the opposite side of the street and then made a right turn into the parking lot.

I searched the Mass. General Laws for “u-turn” and “u turn” and got no results.

]]> By: Ray http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/comment-page-1/#comment-1467 Ray Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:38:02 +0000 http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/#comment-1467 The fact that he doesn't turn left along the right of the center line of the intersecting roadway seems to be the real issue. Your turn is an S, not an L. The statute you were cited for violating clearly prescribes a turn you cannot make at that "intersection" because of the traffic island. Its needlessly pedantic to insist on a sign when a slab of concrete already exists to block you. You claim the island only applies in the other direction, but a person ignoring it needs only replicate your move into the lane to get around it, so why do you think that makes sense? The fact that he doesn’t turn left along the right of the center line of the intersecting roadway seems to be the real issue. Your turn is an S, not an L. The statute you were cited for violating clearly prescribes a turn you cannot make at that “intersection” because of the traffic island. Its needlessly pedantic to insist on a sign when a slab of concrete already exists to block you. You claim the island only applies in the other direction, but a person ignoring it needs only replicate your move into the lane to get around it, so why do you think that makes sense?

]]> By: Billy http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/comment-page-1/#comment-1463 Billy Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:37:19 +0000 http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/#comment-1463 normally, to be permitted to take a left turn across double yellow lines you have to be entering a private residence or business, otherwise there would be a break in the lines as shown here to turn onto a street: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=provincetown+ferry+barnstable&ie=UTF8&ll=42.364468,-71.180431&spn=0.001421,0.002411&t=k&z=19 so ryan, while i agree that david is wrong in what he did/is doing, since the mall area is private i can see how he didnt break that law. regardless, david, it is obvious that the island is there to stop you taking that left, you tried to save time and got caught doing something wrong. my fear is that if you when this appeal we are going to waste money by having to go and mark every spot where people aren't allowed to take lefts but will because "there was no sign" normally, to be permitted to take a left turn across double yellow lines you have to be entering a private residence or business, otherwise there would be a break in the lines as shown here to turn onto a street: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=provincetown+ferry+barnstable&ie=UTF8&ll=42.364468,-71.180431&spn=0.001421,0.002411&t=k&z=19

so ryan, while i agree that david is wrong in what he did/is doing, since the mall area is private i can see how he didnt break that law. regardless, david, it is obvious that the island is there to stop you taking that left, you tried to save time and got caught doing something wrong. my fear is that if you when this appeal we are going to waste money by having to go and mark every spot where people aren’t allowed to take lefts but will because “there was no sign”

]]> By: The Schrug » The scene of the crime http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/comment-page-1/#comment-1462 The Schrug » The scene of the crime Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:33:02 +0000 http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/#comment-1462 [...] am loving the debate about my alleged traffic violation. I’ve been picked up by UniversalHub and even “the [...] [...] am loving the debate about my alleged traffic violation. I’ve been picked up by UniversalHub and even “the [...]

]]> By: Chris Helms http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/comment-page-1/#comment-1460 Chris Helms Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:52:26 +0000 http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/#comment-1460 I meant "Good luck with your appeal!" I meant “Good luck with your appeal!”

]]> By: Chris Helms http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/comment-page-1/#comment-1459 Chris Helms Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:51:29 +0000 http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/#comment-1459 Hi, this is Chris Helms, editor of the Watertown TAB. I embedded your video on our blog after seeing it on Universal Hub. Good luck with your appeal? http://blogs.townonline.com/watertown/2009/07/14/evidence-of-a-perfectly-safe-manuever/ Hi, this is Chris Helms, editor of the Watertown TAB. I embedded your video on our blog after seeing it on Universal Hub. Good luck with your appeal?

http://blogs.townonline.com/watertown/2009/07/14/evidence-of-a-perfectly-safe-manuever/

]]> By: david http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/comment-page-1/#comment-1458 david Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:46:37 +0000 http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/#comment-1458 Ryan, show me where it's written that what I did was wrong. People cross solid double yellows all the time when making left turns. It's perfectly legal. The only question here is whether the traffic island by itself is the legal equivalent of a no left turn sign. I say it ain't. If anyone can find a specific law, regulation, or even written guidance that addresses this situation and condemns my behavior, I'll drop the appeal. Ryan, show me where it’s written that what I did was wrong. People cross solid double yellows all the time when making left turns. It’s perfectly legal. The only question here is whether the traffic island by itself is the legal equivalent of a no left turn sign. I say it ain’t. If anyone can find a specific law, regulation, or even written guidance that addresses this situation and condemns my behavior, I’ll drop the appeal.

]]> By: Ryan http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/comment-page-1/#comment-1457 Ryan Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:36:53 +0000 http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/#comment-1457 Not only did you break the law the first time, but you had the audacity to break the law a second time and record it. That's a solid double line buddy, and I suggest you retake the MA drivers test or consult the handbook if you don't remember the laws saying it's a big no-no. You'd be failed on the spot for doing that. Please, please, please appeal this and report back your findings. It's not every day you see this type of unintended humor! Not only did you break the law the first time, but you had the audacity to break the law a second time and record it. That’s a solid double line buddy, and I suggest you retake the MA drivers test or consult the handbook if you don’t remember the laws saying it’s a big no-no. You’d be failed on the spot for doing that.

Please, please, please appeal this and report back your findings. It’s not every day you see this type of unintended humor!

]]> By: david http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/comment-page-1/#comment-1456 david Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:17:10 +0000 http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/#comment-1456 OK, you haters. 8^). The citation I was given said I'd violated MGL Chapter 90, Section 14. (http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/90-14.htm) I defy you to point out the part of that law that I violated. And I swear under oath that there were no horses, cows, or draft animals of any kind present at the time. OK, you haters. 8^). The citation I was given said I’d violated MGL Chapter 90, Section 14. (http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/90-14.htm) I defy you to point out the part of that law that I violated. And I swear under oath that there were no horses, cows, or draft animals of any kind present at the time.

]]> By: Mike http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/comment-page-1/#comment-1455 Mike Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:10:38 +0000 http://davidschrag.com/schrug/2009/07/14/my-day-in-court/#comment-1455 Strange -- I was under the impression that most moving violations are voided if you happen to show up to traffic court on time and behave politely. But maybe my impression relates more to Boston and/or Cambridge... Anyway, I second the comments made above that you appear to have been making a U-turn, not a left-turn, because of the way that traffic island stuck out a little bit; maybe a "J-turn" is a better description of what you did. And U-turns are not allowed across a double-yellow-line. Strange — I was under the impression that most moving violations are voided if you happen to show up to traffic court on time and behave politely. But maybe my impression relates more to Boston and/or Cambridge…

Anyway, I second the comments made above that you appear to have been making a U-turn, not a left-turn, because of the way that traffic island stuck out a little bit; maybe a “J-turn” is a better description of what you did. And U-turns are not allowed across a double-yellow-line.

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