Illegal U Turn? (CA)

What is the name of your state? California

I was written a ticket for an illegal U Turn, when I had turned to park on the opposite side of the street. There was a no U Turn sign posted on the street, though all definitions of U Turn I've found involve proceeding in the opposite direction. Since I turned and came to a complete stop at the side of the road, I'd argue that I have not actually made a U-Turn and therefore have not violated any law.

Would this hold up if I contested the ticket and went to court, or am I better off just going to traffic school and getting it off my record?

Thanks,
Brett

[racer72]

So you only made a J turn? If your car was pointed 180 degrees from the direction you were traveling, it is a U turn. Continuing on the direction you were headed in not required to make a U turn.

No, my car did turn 180 degrees, though it was off on the shoulder of the road and parked after it did.

I checked the California traffic code and drivers handbook, neither of which would unambiguously define this as a U-Turn.

Driver's Handbook, p. 28: "When you make a U-turn, you turn around and go back the way you came"

State Vehicle Code definition: "665.5. A “U-turn” is the turning of a vehicle upon a highway so as to proceed in the opposite direction whether accomplished by one continuous movement or not."

Both definitions imply an intent to continue in the opposite direction, though obviously that was not my intent having pulled onto the shoulder, coming to a complete stop and turning off my engine. Is there somewhere else I should look for a U-Turn defined?

I don't suppose I could get out of the charge on the basis of a poorly or ambiguously worded law in the rule books?

Here's another question, which I think I know the answer to, but will ask just to be sure. If I go to court in California to protest and they find me guilty, will I still be able to go to traffic school and remove it from my record?

Thanks,
Brett