Anyone out here have to fight a u-turn ticket in ga?

Pretty much everywhere but where posted with a sign its legal, exact code below.

I got a ticket this morning, where there is no signs except at the intersection way up the street
Below I passed without exception.

(1)There was no curve, its a straigh road.
(2) no grade and clearly could be seen.
(3) I did not interfere with any other traffic, there was none on the street and I was already behind the other car at the light before any other cars came up behind me so I didn't block or cut anyone off while doing so. I didn't even have to do a 3 point turn.
(4) there is a sign at the intersection, but not the 150-200 feet up the road where I turned around. ( here is where I am fighting because the sign is right at the corner indicating its for not turning around at the intersection ) If they wanted no uturns all up the street they should have more then one every (x) feet, I am trying now to find the code that requires signs like this to be posted.

There is more then enough room for a mini to turn on pretty much every street in Atlanta.


Straight from the GA

TITLE 40. MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
CHAPTER 6. UNIFORM RULES OF THE ROAD
ARTICLE 6. TURNING, STARTING, SIGNALING

O.C.G.A. § 40-6-121 (2007)
§ 40-6-121. U-turns


No vehicle shall be turned so as to proceed in the opposite direction:

(1) Upon any curve;

(2) Upon the approach to or near the crest of a grade where such vehicle cannot be seen by the driver of another vehicle approaching from either direction;

(3) Where such turn cannot be made in safety and without interfering with other traffic; or

(4) Where a prohibition is posted.

HISTORY: Ga. L. 1953, Nov.-Dec. Sess., p. 556, § 67; Code 1933, § 68A-602, enacted by Ga. L. 1974, p. 633, § 1; Ga. L. 1990, p. 2048, § 5.

 

Don't know if GA is any different, but generally u-turns are prohibited in the middle of a block, which is what your situation sounds like if I'm reading it correctly. U-turns are supposed to be done at intersections. If there's a No U-Turn sign, then it means "not this intersection".

 

How far away from the intersection sign were you?

I always wondered what would happen in terms of distant signs and their enforcement further up the road.

 

at least 200 feet up the road. Going to pace it today and get specifics for when I fight it.

GA is different. I have done uturns infront of cops all the time. This was a side road and only traffic was 2 cars waiting at the light, and one that came up behind me way after I turned around and was at the line with the others.

The law is pretty FUZZY as to where you can and can't. if there isn't a sign, you are allowed as long as the above are not violated.

I am going to argue that each of the 4 listed requirements I did not violate.

 

I think the only issue is that they may argue that #4 was violated.

It's hard to go in with the argument that they should change how/where a sign is posted. I had a somewhat similar event with a pretty hefty parking ticket. The sidewalk near my car wasn't painted yellow like the other half of the road, and the no-parking sign was super far away and very unclear as to what area it was talking about (it was falling off the post and didn't say 'from here to corner). In the end, I didn't think i had a chance because my argument boiled down to "well, there should have been closer signs that were more clear" which didn't seem strong enough to fight with.

 

I've lived a lot of places and Georgia has the strangest traffic laws I've ever seen. It's kind of like "folk-law". It seems they make up the rules down here as they go.

For instance, this is the only place I've been where at least have the population thinks that left turners have the right-of-way over everyone else.

 

Did you cross a solid line or double yellow line in the middle of the road when you made the turn? That's the only problem I could see with arguing the case.

I am not in GA and don't know the laws there.

 

Here's how CA looks at it. Irrelevant to your case, but what the heck:

Legal U-Turns

A U-turn is turning around in the street to go back the way you came. To make a U-turn, signal and use the far left lane or the center left turn lane. You may make a U-turn:

Across a double yellow line when it is safe and legal.
In a residential district:
if no vehicle approaching you is closer than 200 feet.
whenever a traffic sign or signal protects you from approaching vehicles.
At an intersection on a green light or green arrow unless a "No U-turn" sign is posted.
On a divided highway only if an opening is provided in the center divider.
Illegal U-Turns

Never make a U-turn:

On a divided highway by crossing a dividing section, curb, strip of land, or two sets of double lines.
Where you cannot clearly see 200 feet in each direction because of a curve, hill, rain, fog, or other reason.
Where a "No U-Turn" sign is posted.
When other vehicles may hit you.
On a one-way street.
In front of a fire station. Never use a fire station driveway to turn around.
In business districts. Areas with churches, apartments, multiple dwelling houses, clubs, and public buildings (except schools) are also considered to be business districts. Turn only at an intersection or where openings are provided for turns.

 

huh, so according to that last bit Gromit I am in a business district. Since the entire strip of road is apartments, and liquor stores. Always thought it was residential. Oh well, they don't freak out at us making u-turns before the light just after the island ends.

But yeah I have been to GA back in the day and couldn't believe the amount of people pulling u-turns on a red arrow during rush hour. I understand state laws are all different, but it was weird.

 

Yeah, I thought that was bit over the top.

 

Thanks for the facts, I sure wish GA was a bit clearer. The only road down the street about 5-75 up the road it dead ends, and has a road on the left that has a stop sign to turn onto the road I was on.

No double lines, nothing but 3 enterances on the right to office parks, all of which dont open until 9am, this was 8am. and one to the bank at the end of the road on the left.
Its just a normal street, no lines at all. There is a grade to it, but heck its north GA, there isn't a flat street anywhere. If they fight this part, they might as well stop all uturns. Although its probaby their way to insure tickets.

Just wish I could find the law on how far away a sign or there must be so many signs per feet.

 

Put in a call to the city traffic engineering department. They should be able to give you the legal reference.

 

Great Idea, calling tomorrow.