Illegal U-Turns

[TruthElixirX]

What is the name of your state? Oklahoma

I was just pulled over for an illegal u-turn.

Me and my friend were driving down the road, we forgot something, turned to our right (used signal light) into a businesses' driveway. We were parallel style parked there and had come to a complete stop and were completely off the road. I then flicked on my left signal light, looked both ways, then turned out of the driveway and into the left lane going back to my friend's house. A cop then preceded to pull me over and write me a ticket for illegal u-turn. I asked him if I had not gotten over far enough, and he said no. I asked him how far I had to get over (respectfully, being a jerk gets you no where), he said "like if you were going to pull over there, you have to go through the circle drive all the way through" which means he has no idea, he couldn't list any specifics and the example he gave was very vague.

I looked at traffic laws in Oklahoma and could find nothing related to illegal u-turns, except when there is a sign posted; no sign was present.

This is a very big problem for me. I'm 16 years old and already have one ticket (failure to carry insurance, though I had it, wasn't my fault either, was my parents.). If this ticket goes on my record I'm pretty much screwed. I know the best course of action is to get my court date changed, but it is a small town and they have two court sessions a week. My only option is to show up and contest it.

I'm wondering if anyone else can find any laws related to illegal u-turns in
Oklahoma.

[CdwJava]

If the driveway was off the street (i.e. private property and not a public way or easement) I'd have to say that it sounds like it was not a U-Turn. I suppose you can characterize it as pulling into the parking area and then turning into traffic from there.

You might consider taking photos of the location and then diagramming the turning movement (including where you paused) and presenting these as evidence at court.

What section were you cited for? It could be that this kind of turn is unlawful in OK, but without knowing the section, we can't know for sure.

- Carl

[TruthElixirX]

Originally Posted by CdwJava

If the driveway was off the street (i.e. private property and not a public way or easement) I'd have to say that it sounds like it was not a U-Turn. I suppose you can characterize it as pulling into the parking area and then turning into traffic from there.

You might consider taking photos of the location and then diagramming the turning movement (including where you paused) and presenting these as evidence at court.

What section were you cited for? It could be that this kind of turn is unlawful in OK, but without knowing the section, we can't know for sure.

- Carl

Section? There was no section written in my violation. The only thing he put was "improper u-turn". I'm not sure what you mean besides that.


EDIT:: Point of clarification, I found the place on the ticket that you mentioned. "Statute/City Ordnance In Contrary To" and it has been left blank.

[TruthElixirX]

I hate to double post but I have found some relevant laws.

Originally Posted by law

§47 11 601. Required position and method of turning at intersections.
The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at an intersection shall do so as follows:
1. Right turns. Both the approach for a right turn and a right turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway.
2. Left turns on two way roadways. At any intersection where traffic is permitted to move in both directions on each roadway entering the intersection, an approach for a left turn shall be made in that portion of the right half of the roadway nearest the center line thereof and by passing to the right of such center line where it enters the intersection and after entering the intersection the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection to the right of the center line of the roadway being entered. Whenever practicable the left turn shall be made in that portion of the intersection to the left of the center of the intersection.
3. Left turns on other than two way roadways. At any intersection where traffic is restricted to one direction on one or more of the roadways, the driver of a vehicle intending to turn left at any such intersection shall approach the intersection in the extreme left hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the direction of travel of such vehicle and after entering the intersection the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection, as nearly as practicable, in the left hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in such direction upon the roadway being entered.
4. Local authorities in their respective jurisdictions may cause markers, buttons or signs to be placed within or adjacent to intersections and thereby require and direct that a different course from that specified in this section be traveled by vehicles turning at an intersection, and when markers, buttons or signs are so placed no driver of a vehicle shall turn a vehicle at an intersection other than as directed and required by such markers, buttons or signs.

Originally Posted by law

Laws 1961, p. 381, § 11 603.
§47-11-604. Turning movements and required signals.
A. No person shall turn a vehicle at an intersection, a public or private road, or a driveway, unless the vehicle is in proper position upon the roadway as required in Section 11-601 of this title, or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety. No person shall so turn any vehicle without giving an appropriate signal as provided in subsection B of this section, in the event any other traffic may be affected by such movement.
B. A signal of intention to turn right or left as required by law shall be given continuously during not less than the last one hundred (100) feet traveled by the vehicle before turning.
C. No person shall stop or suddenly decrease the speed of a vehicle without first giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided in subsection B of this section to the driver of any vehicle immediately to the rear when there is opportunity to give such signal.
D. When any person is properly preparing for, attempting or executing a left turn, as described in subsection A of this section, no other person operating another vehicle immediately following the turning vehicle shall pass or attempt to pass the turning vehicle to the left. Such other person shall come to a complete stop if necessary at a safe distance behind the person preparing for, attempting or executing the turn or may proceed to the right of the turning vehicle as provided by Section 11-304 of this title.
Added by Laws 1961, p. 381, § 11-604. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 152, § 1, emerg. eff. April 25, 1997.

From what I read, I wasn't in violation of any of these laws, as there was no traffic coming and no posted sign. It was also a driveway I was at and not a road, so there was no yellow line and such where I was at, only the road I was turning onto.

[CdwJava]

It could be that you were cited improperly. Take photos, bring your witness, and take it to court when the time comes.

- Carl

[efflandt]

You have to find out from someone what specific statute you are being charged with. I could not find any mention of "u-turn" in the Oklahoma Driver's Manual, except pointing out a no u-turn sign. And there are so many different Oklahoma departments involved in motor vehicles that even determining which dept. to look up statutes is a mess.

In some states it is illegal to make a u-turn mid-block in a business district, but I could find nothing like that in OK sources.