Coming back on freeway

[PShome2]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA
I was driving in right freeway lane,
Emergency vehicle was coming from the left lane,
I pooled to the right and then stopped on the shoulder.
After emergency vehicle passed I realized this lane is Exit lane,
and I have about 50 yards to get back on freeway, I did as soon as possible
When I got back onto freeway I was pooled over by police officer
because I touched solid exit line.
Police officer didn’t want to hear me, he already had 1 car for issuing ticket
and he stopped one more right after me because the same violation.

Any special rules for coming back on freeway after letting emergency car go?
Is it right to stop another car while issuing ticket to another?
(If 3rd car will drive away without stopping, will police officer chase him with my driver license???)

[seniorjudge]

Q: Any special rules for coming back on freeway after letting emergency car go?

A: You touch that exit line, you've committed a traffic offense.



Q: Is it right to stop another car while issuing ticket to another?

A: Yes.



Q: If 3rd car will drive away without stopping, will police officer chase him with my driver license?

A: I can't answer hypothetical questions.

[Zigner]

The correct course of action would have been to exit and then legally re-enter the freeway.

[seniorjudge]

Originally Posted by Zigner

The correct course of action would have been to exit and then legally re-enter the freeway.

Yeah, that would've taken only an hour and half, which is California freeway time is a mere microsecond!




(But you are one hundred percent correct.)

[PShome2]

So, no special low notes on coming back after letting Emergency vehicle go?
If I would stop on city Buss Stop station to do so – I would be sited for that too?
What should I do next time to be good driver? Or we are all bad by default?

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by PShome2

So, no special low notes on coming back after letting Emergency vehicle go?
If I would stop on city Buss Stop station to do so – I would be sited for that too?
What should I do next time to be good driver? Or we are all bad by default?

The correct course of action would have been to exit and then legally re-enter the freeway. (echo anyone?)

ETA: This is something that sounds like a good case to fight. While you ARE guilty of the cited infraction, you may very well get sympathy from a judge-type person.

[PShome2]

To Zinger: I am asking for advise
But you keep saying - I am a bad person (as probably the rest of us)
just you are such nice and helpful in my case person.

[seniorjudge]

Originally Posted by PShome2

...
But you keep saying - I am a bad person
...

No one said that.

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by PShome2

To Zinger: I am asking for advise
But you keep saying - I am a bad person (as probably the rest of us)
just you are such nice and helpful in my case person.

I'm NOT saying you're a bad person. In fact, I find your situation to be a classic one in which "spirit" of the law should have been followed...

Good luck

[Hey There]

PShome2

What is the Vehicle Code you were cited for?

When a driver reads the violation he was cited for sometimes it is possible to see that technically he isn't guilty.When a driver enters a not guilty plea he is asking the court to either dismiss the case or prove that a violation occurred.

In Ca. a driver can ask for a a later date to enter a plea(continuance) by calling the court.
If this is done before arraignment then the driver retains his right to a speedy trial, no later than 45 days after arraignment.

A driver is also entitled to Discovery. Discovery is a request for a copy of the officers notes , usually written on the back of the ticket , a copy of the front and back of the ticket , and a copy of a video or recording if one was made. A friend then takes the copies the driver has made and mails one to the D.A. and one to the citing officer, certified, return receipt. The friend gives a Proof of Service which the driver retains for his records.
A form to be sent to the D.A. can be downloaded from the website Help! I Got A Ticket! The same form can be used to send to the citing officer by modifying it or a form can be copied from the back of a book on fighting CA. traffic Tickets published by NOLO and may be available at a local library.

In CA. a driver can also file a trial by Declaration.
A Form with instructions and another one to make a statement
can be obtained from a court clerk or can be downloaded by typing in Trial by Declaration on Google. If the judge rules against the driver the driver can then file for a NEW trial and a DIFFERENT judge if done within 20days.

Hope this information helps.

Best regards,
Hey There

[PShome2]

Thanks "Hi There".
Violation code is CVC I 21461A

For those who think
“The correct course of action would have been to exit and then legally re-enter the freeway.”
I will rephrase question:
May I (should I) to cross solid white line (separating Exit from Freeway) on my right in order to get on the shoulder (on island between Freeway and Exit), in order to free the road for screaming Emergency vehicle?

If I have to do this, may I come back on freeway the same way (cross it back)?
Or it will still be considered as my personal inappropriate behavior, violation of the law and I have to pay my money for doing that???

Actually in case like that I will have solid lines on both side of my vehicle, so I assume I have to keep Emergency car (or Police!!!) behind me until solid line exist?
It was a 1 mile tunnel ahead of me and it was last exit before tunnel (but I understand it's irrelevant).

[Hey There]

This Vehicle Code?

Obedience by Driver to Official Traffic Control Devices
21461. (a) It is unlawful for a driver of a vehicle to fail to obey a sign or signal defined as regulatory in the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or a Department of Transportation approved supplement to that manual of a regulatory nature erected or maintained to enhance traffic safety and operations or to indicate and carry out the provisions of this code or a local traffic ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to a local traffic ordinance, or to fail to obey a device erected or maintained by lawful authority of a public body or official.

(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to acts constituting violations under Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 22500) of this division or to acts constituting violations of a local traffic ordinance adopted pursuant to Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 22500).

Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 203, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005.

Fact: Google: MUTCD(Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices)
Signs and Signal Devices are covered under this vehicle code.
Roadway Markings are covered under different vehicle codes.
(21459 )& (21460).

Authorized Emergency Vehicles
21806. Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle which is sounding a siren and which has at least one lighted lamp exhibiting red light that is visible, under normal atmospheric conditions, from a distance of 1,000 feet to the front of the vehicle, the surrounding traffic shall, except as otherwise directed by a traffic officer, do the following:

(a) (1) Except as required under paragraph (2), the driver of every other vehicle shall yield the right-of-way and shall immediately drive to the right-hand edge or curb of the highway, clear of any intersection, and thereupon shall stop and remain stopped until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed.
(2) A person driving a vehicle in an exclusive or preferential use lane shall exit that lane immediately upon determining that the exit can be accomplished with reasonable safety.

Best Regards,
Hey There

[FlyingRon]

I'm pretty sure that that last underlined clause doesn't apply here. It is talking about what you need to do if you were in the carpool (or similar lane) when an emergency vehicle comes up from behind.

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by FlyingRon

I'm pretty sure that that last underlined clause doesn't apply here. It is talking about what you need to do if you were in the carpool (or similar lane) when an emergency vehicle comes up from behind.

You're right...
This is a classic situation where what the OP did was technically illegal, but really shouldn't be and probably wasn't addressed by the legislature. Carpool lane laws used to have a similar flaw. Per the CVC, it used to be illegal to cross the lines even if an emergency vehicle was behind you with lights and sirens blaring. Now, you can cross them to exit, but not re-enter the lanes.

[Alex23]

This is a confusing situation. The original post was later clarified to state that the driver didn't cross an exit ramp and 2 diverging white solid lines, but had stopped between the exit and the freeway between the two white lines.

It seems petty for an officer to ticket you for pulling over for an emergency vehicle wrongly. I wonder if there is something else that you did that you aren't telling us?

Also, where in California is there a tunnel that's a mile long? The cold-to-hot tunnel? It's not that long.