Can you get a ticket for cutting through a lot to avoid traffic

[jtvang125]

There's heavy traffic on the right turn lane at an intersection. Someone turns and cuts through a gas station or corner store to avoid waiting. Another scenerio is the left turn lane is backed up. Driver goes straight, enters the right corner lot and exits on the intersecting street.

I've seen this many times but never when a cop is around so I don't know if anyone ever gets ticketed for this. I doubt it but was when I was younger I was told you can get a ticket for doing that but I'm thinking it was more of a threat to prevent me from doing that.

 

[rudder]

Yes... at least in Tennessee.

 

[shocksyde]

Illegal in Maryland.

 

[mrCide]

i suppose, but so is jaywalking and going above the speed limit.

i cut through gas stations when i can.

 

[daveshel]

Yes.

 

[Linflas]

Illegal in Virginia.

 

[pontifex]

really? this is illegal? i've never done it but have thought about doing it numerous times.
whats the reasoning behind it?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: pontifex
really? this is illegal? i've never done it but have thought about doing it numerous times.
whats the reasoning behind it?

Traffic lights exist to control the flow of traffic. Bypassing them screws up the flow of traffic.

I have an intersection near me where there is a jughandle to facilitate U-turns. So many people use the jughandle then make a right turn to essentially bypass the light that it backs up traffic worse because the light keeps changing.

It also would be dangerous if everyone started using gas stations to make turns.

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: pontifex
really? this is illegal? i've never done it but have thought about doing it numerous times.
whats the reasoning behind it?

Businesses generally don't like you using their private property to avoid a traffic light. If everyone did it it would cause chaos in their parking lots.

 

[ViviTheMage]

yes you can get a ticket.

 

[fLum0x]

i mean, i have a ticket at home that says "failure to yield at an unmarked intersection" for something similar to this. i mean, what?!

read that quotes again and tell me what the cop was thinking.

 

[Tiamat]

Yup, you can get a ticket if caught.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: fLum0x
i mean, i have a ticket at home that says "failure to yield at an unmarked intersection" for something similar to this. i mean, what?!

read that quotes again and tell me what the cop was thinking.

There are rules dictating who has the right of way at an uncontrolled intersection. I recall that being covered by my driving instructor before I got my license, but I don't recall what the rules are. If you don't know the rules, it's better to err on the side of caution and yield.

The cop was right, you were wrong.

 

[Xavier434]

I know you can get a ticket for it in Florida.

It's easy to get away with though. Just don't speed through the gas station or whatever it is out of road rage and don't do it once you have already stopped at an intersection. If I were a cop, these would be the things that would catch my attention.

 

[Bryophyte]

Yes, and I've seen cops pull people over for it on more than one occasion.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Yeah...called avoiding a traffic light or something like that.

 

[Quasmo]

Maybe if the idiot who does the timing for lights didn't think a "stop" light meant you have to stop at every one, I wouldn't have to cheat.

 

[James Bond]

Yes, in Washington.

 

[Bumrush99]

Yes, in FL and I have gotten a ticket for that infraction.

 

[Aikouka]

Yeppers. I know someone that ranted about getting a ticket for it in PA .

 

[FoBoT]

yes, ticket for you

 

[Vic]

Yes. Class B Traffic infraction here, comparable to 20 over or running a red light. Plus, it's a real prick thing to do. Didn't they teach you not to take "cuts" in line back in kindergarten?

 

[MartyMcFly3]

In Illinois you can.

 

[sygyzy]

Many years ago my sister went to traffic school in CA and the deputy teaching the class said that this was in fact, not illegal.

 

[rh71]

Never would I think of doing it at a gas station, but I've done it a few times at a bank's parking lot that's on a corner when they're closed, coincidentally.