When you are stuck waiting in a long line to make a left at a traffic light, you may feel the need to do whatever you can to get to where you’re going sooner. Many people will attempt to bypass the rest of the line by turning from another lane that is not designated for turning. This is called an improper turn and in New York, it can leave you with a ticket with about a $150 fine and 2 points on your license.
Improper turns occur when a driver makes a right from the left or center lane or makes a left from the center or right lane. Drivers are only permitted to make a turn from the proper designated turning lane. (Turning right from the right lane and left from the left lane.)
There are other tickets that are often issued along with an improper turn ticket. These include a failure to signal ticket and a failure to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian ticket. A defense to this is that you should not be ticketed in two ways for the same singular action.
Exceptions to Improper Turns
However, there are a couple of exceptions to making a turn from other lanes. If there are signs that give you the permission to turn from another lane or in situations in which the proper turning lane is obstructed by something other than backed up traffic, you may legally make the turn from another lane.
New York Vehicle and Traffic Law (“VTL”) Section 1160(a) governs right-hand turns while Section 1160(b) and (c) governs left-hand turns depending upon the type of road you are turning from (e.g. one-lane, etc.). If the ticketing officer uses the incorrect part of the law you can often use this as a defense for getting the ticket dropped. For this reason, police officers often user VTL Section 1163(a), since it covers any kind of improper turn.
VTL Section 1163(a) Covers All Improper Turns
Under VTL Section 1163(a):
“No person shall turn a vehicle at an intersection unless the vehicle is in proper position upon the roadway as required in section eleven hundred sixty, or turn a vehicle to enter a private road or driveway, or otherwise turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety. No person shall so turn any vehicle without giving an appropriate signal in the manner hereinafter provided.”
Secondary Tickets
There are other tickets that are often issued along with an improper turn ticket. These include a failure to signal ticket and a failure to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian ticket. A defense to this is that you should not be ticketed in two ways for the same singular action.
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Posted in: Traffic Violations