I'm in need of some advice. I believe I've been cited in error.
Here in New Jersey (Somerset County) I was cited with violating statute 39:4-123, making an illegal left turn. Except I never made a left-hand turn at all.
Approaching a four-way residential intersection (stop signs on my street and on the dead-end street opposite) I saw the sign that declared a left turn illegal, as I passed a police car parked on the shoulder. Mindful that a left turn would mean an immediate citation, but also that I needed to go in that direction to get to my workplace, I stopped at the intersection, then proceeded straight onto the dead-end street. I traveled 1/10 mile, made a K-turn, then came back to the same intersection. I stopped at the stop sign and made a right turn. I was immediately pulled over. The officer explained that I had "avoided the left." I was incredulous -- of course I avoided the left; the left was illegal.
I don't understand what law I broke. I didn't make the left turn I was accused of making. In looking through the NJ statutes, I did find 39:4-66.2, "Avoidance of traffic control signal" -- the only appearance of the word "avoidance" in the motor vehicle statutes -- but this addresses driving "on public property, except public roads or highways, or private property, ... for the purpose of avoiding a traffic control signal or sign." But not only did I not avoid the sign, I never left the public road. Apparently I violated some legal convention that's not in the statutes. Is anyone familiar with this?
Thanks for any help!
Dave
Here in New Jersey (Somerset County) I was cited with violating statute 39:4-123, making an illegal left turn. Except I never made a left-hand turn at all.
Approaching a four-way residential intersection (stop signs on my street and on the dead-end street opposite) I saw the sign that declared a left turn illegal, as I passed a police car parked on the shoulder. Mindful that a left turn would mean an immediate citation, but also that I needed to go in that direction to get to my workplace, I stopped at the intersection, then proceeded straight onto the dead-end street. I traveled 1/10 mile, made a K-turn, then came back to the same intersection. I stopped at the stop sign and made a right turn. I was immediately pulled over. The officer explained that I had "avoided the left." I was incredulous -- of course I avoided the left; the left was illegal.
I don't understand what law I broke. I didn't make the left turn I was accused of making. In looking through the NJ statutes, I did find 39:4-66.2, "Avoidance of traffic control signal" -- the only appearance of the word "avoidance" in the motor vehicle statutes -- but this addresses driving "on public property, except public roads or highways, or private property, ... for the purpose of avoiding a traffic control signal or sign." But not only did I not avoid the sign, I never left the public road. Apparently I violated some legal convention that's not in the statutes. Is anyone familiar with this?
Thanks for any help!
Dave