Multiple Lane changing law on surface street (CA)

Is it legal to make a multiple lane change on a surface street in California? i cant find anything covering it.

[CdwJava]

Exactly what do you mean? What kind of lane change? Were you cited? and if so, what was the section?

Carl

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Originally Posted by verx

Is it legal to make a multiple lane change on a surface street in California? i cant find anything covering it.

California Vehicle Code sections:

22107. No person shall turn a vehicle from a direct course or move
right or left upon a roadway until such movement can be made with
reasonable safety and then only after the giving of an appropriate
signal in the manner provided in this chapter in the event any other
vehicle may be affected by the movement.


22108. Any signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given
continuously during the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before
turning.


Let me guess: You drive a Mercedes Benz.

IAAL

i was given a citation last night (friday at 1am). the code cited was 21658(a) which, to paraphrase, would be moving from my original lane when it was not reasonably safe to do so. the police vehicle was in the lane i passed through to get to a special turn-off lane which is there specifically for the purpose of turning onto another road. the cop was so far back that i didnt even think it to be an issue and was shocked when he followed me and pulled me over. obviously he was hoping to get something more juicy out of the stop like a dui but when he came up empty he still gave me a ticket for the bogus pullover excuse.

How can someone successfully challenge a situation like this where it is the driver's word against the word of the cop? I would think it's a lost cause. i would consider challenging in hopes of a no show, but there we're two of them and what are the odds that neither would be available?

a very benign Honda Element.
(my other car happens to be a benz though.)

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Originally Posted by verx

i was given a citation last night (friday at 1am). the code cited was 21658(a) which, to paraphrase, would be moving from my original lane when it was not reasonably safe to do so. the police vehicle was in the lane i passed through to get to a special turn-off lane which is there specifically for the purpose of turning onto another road. the cop was so far back that i didnt even think it to be an issue and was shocked when he followed me and pulled me over. obviously he was hoping to get something more juicy out of the stop like a dui but when he came up empty he still gave me a ticket for the bogus pullover excuse.

How can someone successfully challenge a situation like this where it is the driver's word against the word of the cop? I would think it's a lost cause. i would consider challenging in hopes of a no show, but there we're two of them and what are the odds that neither would be available?

California Vehicle Code section:

21658. Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more
clearly marked lanes for traffic in one direction, the following
rules apply:
(a) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practical entirely
within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until such
movement can be made with reasonable safety.
(b) Official signs may be erected directing slow-moving traffic to
use a designated lane or allocating specified lanes to traffic
moving in the same direction, and drivers of vehicles shall obey the
directions of the traffic device.


That's why I asked if you're an MB driver. It sounded like you are. I have a question for you - - does it say in the owner's manual to refrain from using turn indicators? It must, because I never see MB driver's use turn indicators - - they just sort of mosy on over and never give anyone any idea or indication of what the hell they are doing!

You must have carried over your MB driving practices over to your Honda.

IAAL

I'm sorry that you've been wronged by mercedes driver's in the past, but let me assure you, no amount of signaling would have dissuaded the citation. Besides, i have only recently become a mercedes driver and have not lost as of yet my powers of signaling my intentions on the road.

[CdwJava]

My guess is that you shot across two or more lanes to reach the turn off you were looking for. You probably should have been traveling in the right hand lane (or the left - if that was where the turnoff lane was).

The only possible argument I can see IF there were no cars nearby would be if you were unfamiliar with the area and the signs are posted in such a place that you had no prior opportunity to move over safely and methodically. But, this is rare, and I can think of only a couple places that I am aware of in the state where this is likely to be the case.

Otherwise, live and learn.

Carl