Is this remotely legal?

[mdorkenhoff]

I was heading northwest, sitting at a light on Almaden Expressway (here) the other day when a BMW (also heading northwest) came up to the light in the right lane, "made a right turn" onto Camden Ave and then proceeded straight across Camden and then back through Camden's Ave right turn lane onto Almaden Expressway.

Is this legal? The same day, someone else did the same move a few lights later, but that car went about 100 feet down the cross street before doing basically a U-turn and heading back and then continuing up Almaden.

Thanks

 

[Grissom]

opcorn

I have been seeing this type of driving/riding more often lately

They don't want to wait at the light or there are 3-5 cars at a stop sign so they turn right and then a immediate left and proceed to go in the same direction as if they would have waited in line at the stop sign

 

[Dubermun]

All these whippersnappers breaking the rules SMH.

 

[mdorkenhoff]

All these whippersnappers breaking the rules SMH.

Exactly. And in this case, both of them were long gone by the time the light changed. They're being rewarded for breaking the rules!

 

[auntiebling]

Not a leo, but as described I doubt its legal. Either crossing a double yellow ( I think I see one there) to get across the adjacent street or "avoiding a traffic control device" or probably a few others that the experts can cite.

Peeps been going skirting traffic signals as long as there have been traffic signals

 

[bojangle]

All these whippersnappers breaking the rules SMH.

Scofflaws! The lot of em!

Not a leo, but as described I doubt its legal. Either crossing a double yellow ( I think I see one there) to get across the adjacent street or "avoiding a traffic control device" or probably a few others that the experts can cite.

Peeps been going skirting traffic signals as long as there have been traffic signals

Yeah, looks like A DY.

No, not legal.

 

[TheRiddler]

Legal if clear from any other traffic by 200 feet.

 

[KooLaid]

I was heading northwest, sitting at a light on Almaden Expressway (here) the other day when a BMW (also heading northwest) came up to the light in the right lane, "made a right turn" onto Camden Ave and then proceeded straight across Camden and then back through Camden's Ave right turn lane onto Almaden Expressway.

Is this legal? The same day, someone else did the same move a few lights later, but that car went about 100 feet down the cross street before doing basically a U-turn and heading back and then continuing up Almaden.

Thanks

OMG, this idiot that I served in the military with in Colorado used to do that shit. He was from San Jose, called it the.......right turn u turn or something like that. Used it to avoid waiting at the light. Completely illegal since the fool would also do it across double yellows, downtown, anywhere basically. Told me it was what people would do in the bay area. I've seen it only a couple time, usually by some ghetto shit box of a car.

 

[bojangle]

Legal if clear from any other traffic by 200 feet.

What about 22100(a) CVC? From the description of the first driver, it didn't sound like he turned right into the # 2 lane. So if he shot straight across, and there are two lanes going E/B on Camden Ave., that seems like a violation to me.

 

[DonTom]

I was heading northwest, sitting at a light on Almaden Expressway (here) the other day when a BMW (also heading northwest) came up to the light in the right lane, "made a right turn" onto Camden Ave and then proceeded straight across Camden and then back through Camden's Ave right turn lane onto Almaden Expressway.

Is this legal? The same day, someone else did the same move a few lights later, but that car went about 100 feet down the cross street before doing basically a U-turn and heading back and then continuing up Almaden.

Thanks

Are you saying he missed the right turn only lane and went straight and then made a right turn on red after making a full stop?

Perfectly legal (if no signs say otherwise and is done when safe) according to a cop that I asked in SF who I worked near. That cop I asked runs the traffic school class in SF. We discussed CA motor vehicle law quite a bit for these rather unusual situations.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[scootergmc]

Legal if clear from any other traffic by 200 feet.

And only in a residential district, which this appears to be. Business district is still a no-no.

 

[bojangle]

And only in a residential district, which this appears to be. Business district is still a no-no.

Maybe the description from the OP isn't clear enough for me. Did he make a U turn after turning right into the # 2 lane and then merging into the # 1 lane? (legal)

Or did he take the right turn protected lane "exit" and then shoot straight across to continue N/B onto Almaden, without turning first into the # 2 lane on Camden? (Illegal IMO)

 

[scootergmc]

Maybe the description from the OP isn't clear enough for me. Did he make a U turn after turning right into the # 2 lane and then merging into the # 1 lane? (legal)

Or did he take the right turn protected lane "exit" and then shoot straight across to continue N/B onto Almaden, without turning first into the # 2 lane on Camden? (Illegal IMO)

Dunno. That's not clear. I was just augmenting the legality of double yellow u-turns in this general scenario.

 

[TheRiddler]

Double yellow u-turns and left turns are generally legal, with business districts being the exception. This is a case where the law doesn't prohibit what most people think it prohibits.

Off the top of my head, if you're not in a business district or a residential district, I'm pretty sure you can make a u-turn over DYs wherever you want, so long as you don't impede traffic and make a generally unsafe turning movement.

 

[mdorkenhoff]

Are you saying he missed the right turn only lane and went straight and then made a right turn on red after making a full stop?

-Don- Reno, NV

No. There was no stopping involved at all. He used Almaden north's right turn lane to "turn right" and then immediately went across all lanes of Camden Ave, and then used the Camden Ave right turn lane to merge back onto Almaden.

 

[mdorkenhoff]

Maybe the description from the OP isn't clear enough for me. Did he make a U turn after turning right into the # 2 lane and then merging into the # 1 lane? (legal)

Or did he take the right turn protected lane "exit" and then shoot straight across to continue N/B onto Almaden, without turning first into the # 2 lane on Camden? (Illegal IMO)

I've not heard "protected lane exit" before, maybe it will clarify.

He used the protected lane exit from Almaden north onto Camden (south/east). Then immediately went across all lanes of Camden, and then used the protected lane exit from Camden to merge back onto Almaden north.

How do I post a picture - maybe that would help as well.

 

[auntiebling]

well i'm learning...

sounds like Orange is illegal (what i assume the vehicle in question did)

black is legal if "safe" for traffic

red is illegal only because they're doing it from the #2 lane

sorry about the shit picture and weird tail things on the paths, that happened when i saved powerpoint to .gif

 

[bojangle]

well i'm learning...

sounds like Orange is illegal (what i assume the vehicle in question did)

black is legal if "safe" for traffic

red is illegal only because they're doing it from the #2 lane

sorry about the shit picture and weird tail things on the paths, that happened when i saved powerpoint to .gif

Yes. This would be correct.

 

[TheRiddler]

Yes. This would be correct.

:thumbup

 

[mdorkenhoff]

well i'm learning...

sounds like Orange is illegal (what i assume the vehicle in question did)

black is legal if "safe" for traffic

red is illegal only because they're doing it from the #2 lane

sorry about the shit picture and weird tail things on the paths, that happened when i saved powerpoint to .gif

Thanks - the pictures are spot on. The orange line *is* what the BMW did. The second car (different intersection with the same configuration though) was either the red line or the black line, I couldn't say for sure.

Thanks.