VC 22102 & U-Turn on two way left turn lane located within a business district

[steve_w]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA

Hi,

I had a question regarding making a U-Turn on a two way left turn lane in a divided highway within a business district.

1) According to VC 22102, No person in a business district shall make a U-turn, except at an intersection, or on a divided highway where an opening has been provided in accordance with Section 21651

2) According to VC 21406.5(c ) “A vehicle shall not be driven in a designated two-way left-turn lane (i.e. parallel double yellow lines, interior line dashed and exterior line solid, on each side of the lane) except when preparing for or making a left turn from or into a highway or when preparing for or making a U-turn when otherwise permitted by law…”

3) Would a two way left turn lane in a divided highway within a business district be considered "an opening provided in accordance with Section 21651"? To put it differently, is it legal to carry out a U-turn from a two way left turn lane located within a business district?

Thank you

 

[Zigner]

You did just fine looking up the other VC sections - why didn't you look up 21651?

(from https://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21651.htm)

V C Section 21651 Divided Highways

Divided Highways

21651. (a) Whenever a highway has been divided into two or more roadways by means of intermittent barriers or by means of a dividing section of not less than two feet in width, either unpaved or delineated by curbs, double-parallel lines, or other markings on the roadway, it is unlawful to do either of the following:

(1) To drive any vehicle over, upon, or across the dividing section.

(2) To make any left, semicircular, or U-turn with the vehicle on the divided highway, except through an opening in the barrier designated and intended by public authorities for the use of vehicles or through a plainly marked opening in the dividing section.

(b) It is unlawful to drive any vehicle upon a highway, except to the right of an intermittent barrier or a dividing section which separates two or more opposing lanes of traffic. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), a violation of this subdivision is a misdemeanor.

(c) Any willful violation of subdivision (b) which results in injury to, or death of, a person shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or imprisonment in a county jail for a period of not more than six months.

Amended Sec. 608, Ch. 15, Stats. 2011. Effective July 1, 2011.

To answer your question: No, it was not legal.

 

[steve_w]

Thanks for the feedback Zigner.