My little suburb must be getting desperate for cash

[RB TexLa]

I just got back from the convenience store. I was waiting to turn left onto a divided road when there was a knock on my window. A police officer was at the window with their car behind me. The officer said I should pull out to the middle of the road and turn from there. This of course is illegal. I told the officer that I knew it was illegal and pointed out that I was not stupid enough to do that and let them give me a ticket for it.

[gateley]

1. And his/her response? nt

[RB TexLa]

2. Said "oh geez" and went back to the car

[dysfunctional press]

46. and THAT doesn't tell you something...?

i'm guessing that everyone back at the station got a good laugh out of that one.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. Huh?

WTF?

I really don't get this.

[emilyg]

4. I don't either.

[RB TexLa]

5. The police officer told me to do something illegal so they could give me a ticket for doing it.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. I do hope you got their names and badge numbers

I'd call the cop shop and report this.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

11. Illegal?

It's not illegal here, nor is it illegal in any of the many states where I've held a driver's license.

If there's no turn arrow on the light, one that would allow you to turn independently of the rest of traffic (safely, as well), that's the prudent thing to do. Otherwise, you could end up sitting at the light forever, waiting for traffic to subside.

[RB TexLa]

12. There was no traffic light, I was turning from a parkng lot onto a road

[Tangerine LaBamba]

13. No light?

Then you did have to pull out and get into the intersection when you caught a break, so that you could complete your turn when traffic from the other way came to a stop.

[RB TexLa]

14. You can not pull out and stop in the middle of the road, you can not do that anywhere.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

16. I think you

might want to check with your DMV.

The cop wasn't trying to get you to give you a ticket; he was trying to give you a hand.

Funny how misinterpreted gestures can be when information is in short supply.

[RB TexLa]

18. You think you can pull your car out and stop with it across lanes of traffic?

[Catherine Vincent]

35. I see people do that all the time.

I don't think it's right, though.

[dysfunctional press]

47. you can around here- there's a center 'turn' lane specifically for that purpose on many busy streets

nt

[dems_rightnow]

49. Oddly enough...

The turn lane is for turning. It's not to assist people pulling out across traffic.

[dysfunctional press]

51. i've done it with a cop behind me, and never had a problem.

laws vary from state to state.

[petronius]

60. Here in CA that's exactly what it's for, assuming we're talking about the same thing

The center turn lane is marked with a solid and a broken line on both sides, and can be used to make a left turn out of traffic, or can be turned into when making a left from a driveway - the driver then waits in the turn lane, and merges into traffic when it is safe to do so...

[RB TexLa]

50. I was not on the road, I was on a parking lot, I would have had to stop on the lanes to go out

it is not legal to pull across lanes of traffic and stop your car to wait for the other lanes to clear. If it didn't clear before the lanes I would have been blocking had traffic again, they would have just had to stop and wait on me? Sorry, I don't have the ego to think oncoming traffic should have to stop for me to basically park on a road in front of them.

[dysfunctional press]

52. if a police officer directs you to do something in traffic- it's perfectly alright to do it.

in fact- it's generally preferred.

[RB TexLa]

53. Of course, none of them have ever told someone to do something and then said

"gotcha!" and, "no, I didn't tell you to do that, $200 fine."

That would never happen, I mean, gosh darn it, that would just be wrong.

[dysfunctional press]

56. i've never heard of it happening. ever. how many times has it happened to you...?

or anyone you know..?

[RB TexLa]

57. I know a person who in college got a DWI after the cop asked him to move his friend's car

from one parking lot to another. Even went to court, the officer said on the stand that she told him to do no such thing. Two witnesses said they were there and she told him to move the car after he told her he was drunk. Judge took the officer's word.

[DS1]

70. Yes you can, some places have the center split wide just for that purpose

[Selatius]

6. You should write a letter telling your municipality to stop being so goddamn cheap with services

Maybe then police officers wouldn't turn into grifters.

[Lars39]

8. In TN it is legal to pull out into an intersection on green, wait for traffic

and actually turn on red. I think it's dangerous and won't do it.

[gateley]

9. Wow - I'd get a ticket for sure, then.

That's what I was taught to do in Drivers Ed (Washington State) 40-some years ago. But then oncoming traffic stopped at a yellow light. Really.

I wonder if I'm breaking the law by continuing to do it in NC. Hmmmm.

[RB TexLa]

10. I wasn't at a traffic light, I was turning onto a divided road from a parking lot

[aroach]

44. That's how it's done here too.

A person would never get turned left in this city if they didn't get halfway out there and ready to go when the light turns red.

The same applies when pulling out of a parking lot around here. If you can get halfway across and wait there, you better do it.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

66. Yep, I live in VA and I pretty much have to do this every time I want to get out of

my neighborhood. Theres a median that is just wide enough for a diagonal car to fit. It's semi-dangerous, but I don't think it's illegal.

[dysfunctional press]

45. that's one thing that can be VERY annoying around here-

the mutton-heads who sit behind the white line on a green light, waiting to turn left- and then the light turns yellow and they don't even make the turn- or at best their car is the only one to make it thru. you're supposed to pull into the intersection. at most intersections, there's generally enough room for 3 cars to be lined up, in front of the white line that denotes entering the intersection, and legally continue making their turns, even once the light has turned yellow or even red.

[TexasObserver]

15. I think you totally misread that. The police officer just wanted you to turn.

Contrary to your statement, if the police officer tells you to pull out and turn there, you can do so. It's not illegal if the officer instructs you to take the action.

They probably didn't want to have to wait any longer on you, so they took this unusual step.

Setting you up for a ticket? Sorry, but that makes no sense at all. They can catch all they want speeding and running lights, without the defense of "the cop told me to do it."

[RB TexLa]

17. We hadn't even been there 5 minutes. It's a busy street, takes a while to turn left.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

19. If I had to sit behind you for five minutes,

while you waited for traffic to disappear, I'd have been leaning on my horn like there was no tomorrow.

Then, odds are I'd have driven around you, so as to be able to get into the intersection and make the turn you didn't know how to make.

[RB TexLa]

23. Wow, you must believe yourself to be so important

[Tangerine LaBamba]

24. No, I'm not at all important

I just don't tolerate bad drivers well, and your lack of knowledge signifies you as a bad driver.

Good luck.

[RB TexLa]

25. It's called patience.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

27. It's called "bad driving."

You lack some serious knowledge about how to navigate roads and parking lots and turns. The police officer was trying to give you a break and you saw some sort of whackjob conspiracy. Do you honestly believe he was trying to "lure" you into doing something "illegal" so that he could ticket you?

There are some really good brushup driving courses available out there. I recommend you investigate them and partake of what they have to offer. Your driving skills are seriously wanting.

[RB TexLa]

28. No need, I'll just remain patient and laugh at people like you "laying on" your horn because

you are so important and people need to get out of your way, because you need to get through. You people really are funny, especially your horn honking at people who couldn't care.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

29. You'll get a ticket

No, seriously. You will.

But, I'll turn you loose now, your inability to see what an absolutely ridiculous situation you set up inside your head while you were busy being an incompetent behind the wheel.

Good luck, dear one, and don't forget your seat belts. And make sure you write to the city government and tell them what those conspiratorial old police officers tried to force you to do. I'm sure the folks in City Hall will appreciate the absurdity of your fantasy as much as the people here at DU.

And now, I bid you farewell.

[TexasObserver]

20. "I told the officer I knew it was illegal & pointed out that I was not stupid enough to do that"

And when you said that, he said "aw, geez."

You're making something out of nothing. Do you really believe what you're typing? It's absurd. The police had waited five minutes on you to get going, and when you never did, they told you go ahead and pull out, thinking that would prod you to take off. Instead, you reacted bizarrely, as if they were pulling a STING operation designed to nail drivers for what? Obeying a police officer?!

Sorry, but that does not compute. No wonder the officer said "aw, geez" in reply to your accusation.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

26. Given the situation,

I think the officer's reaction and response were generous and tolerant.

[Heddi]

41. Seriously

I bet it was an "aw geeze" with a face-palm and rolling of the eyes that could be heard across the continental divide. Poor cop's like "dude...fucking. turn. left. for. christ's. sake" and the driver, meanwhile, is going on about conspiracies and tickets and illuminati and being forced to drink with people at a function he attended. THE NERVE!

[TexasObserver]

21. If you really believe this, write a letter to the city and copy the newspaper.

I'm sure everyone will get a good laugh out of it.

"Police Try Sting But Driver Too Smart to Fall for It"

[LWolf]

22. Yup.

I know someone who got a ticket last year for waiting in the intersection to make a left turn.

[SmileyRose]

30. They divide the road so you CAN go out half way and stop.

here there's 2 kinds of divided road. One has the turn lane all the way down the middle so people have a place to get out of the traffic lanes when turning left (and for stopping half way when pulling out into the traffic lanes). The other has a planted median down the middle with assorted breaks along the way where people can turn left, u turn or pull out half way however they need to do to get through traffic. On a divided road you are SUPPOSED to go half way if you need to in order to get out.

I really encourage you to take a remedial driving course.

[RB TexLa]

31. A turn lane from a parking lot?

There was no lane going from the parking lot to the road, three lanes, about a 3 feet of divider and three more lanes.

And there are not turn lanes in front of the store either, just lanes.

It's just like turning left on a two lane road, you wait until you can turn and then turn.

[SmileyRose]

32. A 3 foot wide divider?

if you are going to write the government and complain, I'd complain about having a 5 lane road with no actual divider for turning and no way to exit from the shopping district on a light. If it really takes more than 5 minutes to get one car out then your government should be changing that road before someone gets T-boned.

[RB TexLa]

33. I'm not writing anyone. Good God, how important do people think they have become

5 or 10 minutes to make a left turn is not going to kill anyone. I guess we should all be assigned police escorts so we don't have to wait on traffic for more than what 4, 3, 2 minutes????? :wtf:

[Heddi]

36. of course you won't write anyone

you'll just follow the usual trend of making ridiculous and purposefully flame-intended posts on DU, rail about how you're the most intelligent person in the world and on the thread, how everyone else in the world and on the thread is off base, and then become confused when your post is locked because everyone calls you a kook.

For those not in the know, look up "I won't drink with you" and "do you have to report a hit-and-run to the police" for other spectacular examples of ridiculousness.

[RB TexLa]

37. I know I shouldn't have gotten uppity when told to drink, should I?

[Heddi]

40. You seem to get uppity about many things

based on your past postings

Someone offers you a drink when you're at a function with your wife, and you get uppity because they were DEMANDING THAT YOU DRINK THE DRINK....when most normal people would see it as a polite invitation. No, you see it as a direct command to drink or die. And you respond "I Don't Drink With You" which is the most bizarre and insane thing I think I've ever read.

Then you get uppity when it's suggested that you, indeed, DO let the police know that you were involved in a hit and run, and that you DO seek medical attention if you're hurt. But you posed a question that you already had an answer for--NO, you will not report it and NO you will not seek medical attention for the injury it caused.

You have a very bad habit (again, based on your posting history) of severely misreading the most innocent of statements that others make to you. Or maybe you just have the kind of face that brings out the asshole in everyone? I can tell you that I've lived on the planet for a long time, and have dealt with people in a variety of ways and settings and I have never met someone who got the shit end of the stick as much as you claim to, or who has such an issue with all of these people being an asshole to them on a regular basis.

Uppity, indeed. Your words, not mine.

[AZ Criminal JD]

64. He should have given you a ticket for obstructing traffic.

Most places you would get a ticket for refusing a traffic order of a police officer and you would deserve it. You really are a poor driver.

[RB TexLa]

67. Obstructing traffic on a parking lot by waiting to make a legal turn?

[AZ Criminal JD]

68. You were given an legal order and you should have followed it.

From the tone of your posts I assume you have passed your 80th birthday.

[Heddi]

39. 10 minutes for one car to pull out of a parking lot is riduclous

I don't go to the store to sit behind Farty McPatience waiting for the perfect timing between cars to make the perfect left hand turn into a perfectly empty road. You see a gap and you go. That is, you know, what NORMAL drivers do.

Chances are, the police were sitting behind you, saw SEVERAL opportunities where you could have turned but didn't. So they politely asked you to TURN OUT OF THE FUCKING PARKING LOT FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY AND SWEET. Maybe they thought you were in a diabetic coma or dead and wanted to make sure THAT was the reason you were passing up opportunity after opportunity to turn safely and NOT because the driver was a moron who doesn't know how to turn left out of a fucking parking lot.

[dysfunctional press]

48. Bin-go.

and if the op's profile didn't say they were from texas, i would have sworn that i've probably been stuck behind them before.

the cop might have also been fishing for a pot bust- figuring the driver might be stoned or something.

[Heddi]

59. I fucking HATE other drivers

seriously. I am certain that I am the most well-equipped person on the road, as far as driving skills go. I'd love to have one of those cattle-pushers on the front of my cars, like they used to have on old trains, so I could just choo-choo-choo those motherfuckers out of my way so I can GET. WHERE. I. AM. GOING..........!!!

Seriously.

However, I have begrudgingly accepted the fact (a long time ago) that other drivers will not disappear, no matter how much I wish it to be so, so I must deal with them and their general Summers Eve type mentality.

That includes being behind assholes that think going 40 in the left hand lane of the interstate is perfectly acceptable, as is going 40, then 75, then 30, then 20, then 80, then 50, then 70.....

Equally I find it annoying when people do not know how to properly turn left from either an intersection or a parking lot. Turning left can be tricky, especially on busy roads. However, if the road is so busy that I see no chance of turning left within a 1 minute period of time, I will do this amazingly progressive and nouveaux thing called TURNING RIGHT, finding a place to turn left (parking lot, whatever) and THEN make a right hand turn which will put me in the left-hand direction I was going in anyways. That way, I'm not sitting at the intersection or parking lot exit for 20 years, and neither are the people behind me who probably want to get OUT of the Safeway and go HOME, which is why THEY ARE IN THEIR CAR TRYING TO LEAVE THE FUCKING PARKING LOTTTTTTTTT

Is the world this complex?

[dysfunctional press]

61. i do the same thing when the situation calls for it-

turning right and then finding a way to turn back or go around the block. except someplaces don't have blocks anymore- just huge expanses of parking lot.

[RedCappedBandit]

34. The real issue here is that we can't even trust our own police

think we all mostly agree on that..

[Earth_First]

38. Was the officer just being genuine and assisting...

sometimes they are known to do that.

[Batgirl]

42. I do not turn left.

I turn right and then, after a ways, I find an abandoned furniture store parking lot to turn into, at which point I pivot around and then make a right hand turn back out onto the road.

But I do not turn left.

[dysfunctional press]

43. paranoia, self-destroy-ah...

:headbang:

seriously dude- get a grip.
if the cop tells you it's okay to do something in that kind of a traffic situation- it's okay to do it.

:eyes:
sheesh.

[1]

54. yup...

its similar to stuck intersection traffic situations. if a cop on site says/motions you to do something that would otherwise be a violation, its ok to follow that instruction. site instruction overrides paper rules.

but then, you lose that great tinfoil story to tell here, so its a du judgement call...

[NeedleCast]

55. Lucky you didn't get a ticket

for general d-baggery.

[Heddi]

58. snort

what's the fine for that? Or is it more than a misdemeanor?

[DaveJ]

62. Okay, I think I get it. You're in Dallas right?

Heer in Chicago... in times of heavy traffic, which is always, city slickers on the main road almost always have the decency to stop when they have a chance, to allow someone to pull out and turn left or right. That's assuming it was slow moving traffic of course, which it sounds like because otherwise you would have caused a major accident by dong what the cop suggested.

Based on your description of what happened, people in Dallas apparently are new to this phenomenon of dense traffic, and believe in the every man for himself mentality.

I feel your pain. Others are the ones being asses, and the cop was telling you that you have to be an ass back in order to maintain some sense of fairness. (Of course he was not trying to entrap you.) I feel the same way standing in line at the store. I'd like to think nobody is going to cut in line but I know someone will try, so I have to continually block anyone who comes near me.

What ever happened to Southern hospitality? They should have stopped to let you out. If there were and southern hospitality, shouldn't the other drivers have paused when they saw you waiting. Like I said, that's what Chicago drivers always do. I thought we were supposed to be the cold hearted ones.

[RB TexLa]

63. There's no pain, it hadn't even been 5 minutes. I'd never expect someone to allow me to pull out

that's not their concern or responsibility.

[DaveJ]

65. I would have waited patiently behind you.

I'm not a honker. Honkers annoy me more than anything.

I'm just saying that it would not have inconvenienced other drivers to have stopped and let you out. You were right for waiting. They just should have stopped for you. (That if traffic was less 15mpg or so, any faster and then I'm not sure)

[LeftyMom]

69. Let me guess, then you told the cop "I don't drink with you."

You, sir, are either an ass, or slightly crazy. I'm not sure which.

[DaveJ]

72. I think that a little DU solidarity is in order here.

I can understand being a devil's advocate but it's downright mean to call people names in a situation like this.

The cop's job is to enforce the law, not to tell people when it's okay to break it. Standing in the middle of a road with oncoming traffic, I'm sure must be a traffic violation of some sort.

Understandable in this situation, yeah, but the cop should have been more verbose than simply saying "Ah Geesh" in explaining why it's okay to break the law in this circumstance. Since the cop walked away without an articulate explanation of why a law abiding citizen should break the law, it's understandable that the law abiding citizen would feel this way.

[LeftyMom]

73. There's some history here.

The OP starts long, flamey threads about his encounters with rational human beings on a fairly regular basis. Once you realize this a genre piece, and that he doesn't interact with others in a normal or healthy way, his weird posts like this make much more sense.

PS I'm guessing you missed the part downthread where he mentioned he'd been sitting there waiting for a break in traffic for five minutes.

[DaveJ]

74. Oh okay, but I agree with him. Sorry for the 'mean' remark.

As a techie I'm much more likely to side with anyone with RGB in their name.

Besides, he's just plain correct in this case. I actually replied downstream that I'd wait behind him however long it takes. Five minutes is not an eternity, neither is 10 minutes. There's something wrong with the traffic flow, but that's not a reason for people to become animals.

Where I live, people behind me will honk before the light turns green at stoplights. Now that is crazy. I would not want the same fate on other growing communities.

[ileus]

71. Cops override any posted signs/traffic laws, just do what they say.