50
votes
Accepted
Is it legal for a long truck to shut down traffic?
Oversize transports are known beforehand and have special permits.
The department of transportation/Federal Highway Administration provides information for oversize and overweight transports.
Permits
...
- 45.2k
49
votes
Accepted
Why is the defendant presumed guilty in traffic court?
It seems like the officer should have to present at least some kind of evidence that the alleged crime occurred.
Testimony is evidence. Officers can and do abuse this, but courts tend to give them ...
- 40.1k
41
votes
Accepted
Is it legal for a group of drivers to completely "fill" a roundabout?
They are impeding traffic, a Class D traffic violation.
Oregon Traffic Code 811.130:
Impeding traffic; penalty. (1) A person commits the offense of impeding traffic if the person drives a motor ...
- 31.1k
36
votes
Traffic Accident. Defending myself (Canada)
Let's be quite brutal here.
Inexperienced driver doesn't mean the driver made a mistake. Lots of friends in the car doesn't mean they interferred with his driving. Loud music in the car is totally ...
- 35.4k
32
votes
Can a married couple be charged with a traffic infraction?
Note: I am not familiar with Washington law, but I can make an educated guess as to what is happening here.
I am guessing that the couple in question are the joint registered owners of the motor ...
- 2,347
32
votes
Repercussions from hitting protesters blocking highways
In the US, you can't intentionally run over someone, even if they are in the road. This is outside of traffic law and is a criminal offense - you aren't allowed to injure other people just because ...
- 7,700
31
votes
Would it be illegal for me to act as a “Civillian Traffic Enforcer”?
While local law varies, most jurisdictions do not authorize citizens' arrests for traffic violations. Generally, citizens arrests are authorized only for misdemeanors and felonies outside the traffic ...
- 239k
27
votes
Accepted
Can a district attorney dismiss their own traffic ticket?
No, in the case of a conflict of interest, a special prosecutor would be appointed to handle the matter. Most likely, this would be the DA of an adjoining county.
In New York, this special district ...
- 4,298
27
votes
In Europe, are you allowed to enter an intersection on red light in order to allow emergency vehicles to pass?
switzerland
Yes.
While it's the last of all options to consider, it seems legal to cross the line when an emergency vehicle approaches from behind, but only as far as absolutely necessary (e.g move in ...
- 7,855
24
votes
Accepted
How do free-speech protections in the United States apply in public to corporate misrepresentations?
It is legal to be wrong, it is legal to say false things in public (leaving out defamation), and it is legal to buy and manufacture signs that say false things. Moreover, the sign does not make a ...
- 217k
24
votes
Accepted
can one turn left or right at a red light with dual lane turns?
The critical consideration is that the permitted left turn must be onto a one-way roadway in that direction. One is not permitted to perform a left turn which involves crossing traffic from the left, ...
- 1,208
23
votes
In Europe, are you allowed to enter an intersection on red light in order to allow emergency vehicles to pass?
germany
Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO):
§ 36 Zeichen und Weisungen der Polizeibeamten
(1) Die Zeichen und Weisungen der Polizeibeamten sind zu befolgen. Sie gehen allen anderen Anordnungen und ...
- 10.2k
22
votes
Is a US (New York) police officer allowed to take your keys at a traffic stop?
The policeman ordered, right as he took a step out of his car "Turn it off!" - which is a lawful demand to prevent the biker from possibly kicking the gas and running. As the driver did not ...
- 45.2k
20
votes
Algorithm generated fines
I assume you're talking about this case: Bus lane camera mistakes woman's sweater for number plate.
No he couldn't just ignore it - because that doesn't actually result in it getting put in front of a ...
- 4,743
18
votes
Accepted
Is a U-turn legal if it's done at median break without a turn lane?
From California Driver’s Handbook, Section 6: Navigating the Roads:
U-Turns
A U-turn is when you turn your vehicle around to go back in the direction you came. To make a U-turn, signal and use the ...
- 40.1k
17
votes
Why is the defendant presumed guilty in traffic court?
European viewpoint:
"Innocent until proven guilty" relates only to the criminal process.
There is also an "administrative process" where the traffic control pretty much belongs, as ...
- 1,319
17
votes
Accepted
Is it illegal to use a horn in circumstances other than which will prevent a collision
From the Highway Code:
Rule 112
The horn. Use only while your vehicle is moving and you need to warn other road users of your presence. Never sound your horn aggressively. You MUST NOT use your horn
...
- 19.3k
17
votes
Accepted
Would an LEO asking for a race constitute entrapment?
The defense might be "entrapment", or might involve a slight different defense that would protect the drag racing driver.
Under the U.S. Supreme Court cases of United States v. Laub, 385 U.S....
- 239k
16
votes
Can a married couple be charged with a traffic infraction?
Washington State resident here, although it may even depend on the city that issued the ticket. They probably just sent the ticket to you both since you're the registered owners of the car (as others ...
- 261
16
votes
Would it be illegal for me to act as a “Civillian Traffic Enforcer”?
The circumstances under which one may make a "citizen's arrest" vary depending on the jurisdiction. In most the citizen must have actually witnessed a violation of law. In some the violation ...
- 115k
15
votes
Accepted
Do jaywalking laws apply in neighborhoods and other areas with few-lane roads?
I believe the answer you seek can be found by searching for the terms "(desired state name) statutes pedestrian crossing."
In the case of the state of Florida, there are references to the ...
- 1,208
13
votes
Accepted
Virginia right turn arrow street markings
virginia
Virginia Driver's Manual, section 2 on page 11 states:
White lane arrows are curved or straight. If you are in a lane marked
with a curved arrow or a curved arrow and the word ONLY, you must ...
- 1,669
13
votes
In Europe, are you allowed to enter an intersection on red light in order to allow emergency vehicles to pass?
england-and-wales
West Yorkshire Police have offered this (ahem) helpful guide.
What should I do if I am at a red traffic light and there is an emergency vehicle behind me trying to get through?
Rule ...
- 4,254
13
votes
Is dash cam video of others' traffic infractions useable as evidence by the police?
united-states
can the police/prosecution use that evidence if I were to report the
infraction to the police?
Yes. Someone must authenticate the video to assure with testimony that it isn't ...
- 239k
12
votes
Accepted
Can you charge someone with perjury during a traffic stop
As far as I know, every jurisdiction in America limits perjury to cases of lying under oath. Because it seems unlikely that the driver would be under oath at this point, you would probably lack ...
- 61.8k
12
votes
Why is the defendant presumed guilty in traffic court?
However, if it's his word against mine ...
I don't know the US point of view, but I have read that in Germany the courts evaluate the "evidence" (which includes statements of witnesses) by ...
- 852
12
votes
Can a married couple be charged with a traffic infraction?
Nobody is "charged" with running a red light in Washington. Instead, pursuant to RCW 46.63.170, red light cameras can be used to assign infractions. One of the restrictions on the use of ...
- 217k
12
votes
Accepted
Who is at fault in a car accident when running a red light?
The apportionment of fault will be highly case specific, based on ordinary principles of negligence.
In one example, the fault was apportioned with 60% of the fault to the late left turner and 40% of ...
- 72.5k
11
votes
When in court, how do you determine when to push the rules aside and make up your own?
It is true that in the US, valid Federal law supersedes state law or regulation when there is a conflict. Precisely because of this, state laws and regulations are normally carefully written to avoid ...
- 115k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible