80
votes
If a signal person in California tells me to kill someone, do I have to do so?
You are not reading a law book here and you should not interpret a driving test so literally. It's quite clear that the question implies you should follow all of their instructions regarding how to ...
- 4,285
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 ...
- 35.2k
49
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
...
- 33.4k
40
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 ...
- 29k
35
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 ...
- 32.9k
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 ...
- 2,193
30
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 ...
- 195k
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 ...
- 210k
23
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, ...
- 1,027
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 ...
- 33.4k
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 ...
- 4,328
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 ...
- 1,271
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
...
- 14.7k
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 ...
- 113k
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 ...
- 1,027
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 ...
- 1,365
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 ...
- 832
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 ...
- 210k
11
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 ...
- 57.2k
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 ...
- 113k
11
votes
Can personal dashcam footage recorded by a third party be used for traffic violation enforcement?
If a police officer reviewed the footage and then went out and issued a citation in person to the offender, this could probably be used. Many states limit tickets issued by mail based upon camera ...
- 195k
11
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 ...
- 43.3k
10
votes
Accepted
No Blinker in a Left Turn Lane: Is It Illegal?
It's legal
The Ohio Court of Appeals has addressed a nearly identical situation in State v. Paseka.
The relevant law is, as you noted in the question, R.C. 4511.39, which states, in relevant part:
No ...
- 10.2k
10
votes
Would it be illegal for me to act as a “Civillian Traffic Enforcer”?
Anecdote: One time ~ 35 years ago I was stopped at a red light. Car in the lane next to me zooms through the intersection. A cop was in the intersecting road, and he turned and followed and pulled the ...
10
votes
can one turn left or right at a red light with dual lane turns?
Intersections have a number of possible paths through them. Where those possible paths cross is called a conflict point.
Canada drives on the right. That means that right turns only do not entail any ...
9
votes
How do free-speech protections in the United States apply in public to corporate misrepresentations?
As a general rule in the United States, in the case of an accidents between a leading vehicle and a following vehicle, the leading vehicle is usually not responsible for the accident as the following ...
- 22.8k
9
votes
Accepted
Do not pass or assist another vehicle to pass you by using this lane
Yes, that's exactly what it means.
Using it to pass means passing on the right at high speed in a narrow lane full of debris, which is crazy.
But they're also saying don't use any arbitrary point on ...
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