79 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 ...
animuson's user avatar
  • 4,305
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 ...
phoog's user avatar
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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 ...
Trish's user avatar
  • 38.7k
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 ...
Nate Eldredge's user avatar
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 ...
gnasher729's user avatar
  • 33.9k
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 ...
Jörg W Mittag's user avatar
31 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 ...
Tiger Guy's user avatar
  • 6,677
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 ...
ohwilleke's user avatar
  • 210k
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 ...
user6726's user avatar
  • 215k
24 votes
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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, ...
fred_dot_u's user avatar
  • 1,037
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 ...
Trish's user avatar
  • 38.7k
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 ...
motosubatsu's user avatar
  • 4,682
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 ...
phoog's user avatar
  • 37.2k
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 ...
fraxinus's user avatar
  • 1,299
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 ...
Lag's user avatar
  • 16.7k
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 ...
Cody's user avatar
  • 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 ...
David Siegel's user avatar
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 ...
fred_dot_u's user avatar
  • 1,037
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 ...
mkennedy's user avatar
  • 1,355
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 ...
Martin Rosenau's user avatar
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 ...
user6726's user avatar
  • 215k
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 ...
bdb484's user avatar
  • 58.8k
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 ...
David Siegel's user avatar
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 ...
ohwilleke's user avatar
  • 210k
11 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 ...
Harper - Reinstate Monica's user avatar
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 ...
Jen's user avatar
  • 53.3k
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 ...
Ryan M's user avatar
  • 10.3k
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 ...
manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact's user avatar

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