General traffic question

A

AstroVol

500+ Posts
A few days ago, I was driving on the frontage road of US 183 in Austin. I was specifically driving straight in the lane that was "U-turn only". I followed this lane to make the U-turn, but I did not signal, since my truck does not have a U-turn signal.

Officer issues a citation for "Failure to signal (left turn)". I told him I wasn't aware that you had to signal when making a Texas U-turn like this, he says yes. I politely asked him where I could find this law, but he said I'd have to look it up. That is an argument I'm not going to even engage in, much less win, so I smiled and took my ticket and wished him good day.

I am having trouble locating in the law where it states that I am supposed to have my left turn signal on during this process. Can someone help me find this?

Should I plead not guilty to this? Should I sue the makers of my Tundra for not putting a U-turn signal on my vehicle?
 
I agree, if your going to pass out tickets for not using a signal this is last o nthe list of infractions, if it in fact is against the law.
 
I thought there was a Texas opinion similar to this one from Oregon.

"Where right turn was only available lawful op­tion, driver was not re­quired to signal. State v. Padilla, 119 Or App 27, 850 P2d 372 (1993), Sup Ct review denied" https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/811.400
 
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I am careful to use my turn signal at every oppurtunity because it is irritating and dangerous when drivers do not and also because failing to do so gives the law a good excuse to pull you over and check for any other possible violations of the law. Having said that, it seems to me that if you are already in a U-turn ONLY lane, there should not be any requirement to signal. Making the U-turn is no different than following a sharp curve in the road. It is obviously subject to interpretation and legal precedent, but it doesn't appear to me that 545.104 in the above link should even apply to the situation I described.
 
My wife laughs at me because I use my turn signal everywhere. Even places where generally no one notices or cares - parking lots, garages, county roads, alleyways...Strictly out of habit I do this. When in doubt,signal I always say. Regardless of where you are, you never know when a cop is watching.
 
I too received a ticket in Pflugerville in May for failing to signal intent to turn, only to find the above statute. I'm going to guess you have a not ******-looking or otherwise beat-up Tundra, you're likely caucasian, and you were definitely driving in a nicer part of town, and your home address may not say Austin - maybe something like Round Rock or Leander?

I believe you and I were profiled (not necessarily racially, maybe socio-economically). Do you remember a year or so ago hearing that cops now are linked to the Texas insurance database so all they have to do is run your plates and they know if you have insurance? It was touted as a way for police to identify and ticket those who were driving without insurance. However, why would some broke-*** care about paying a ticket to keep his non-existent insurance rates down or about a warrant for another ticket? He probably has 5 of them on the floor of his 64 Impala.

The cops are using this system to find people that HAVE insurance and look like they care about it. Those are the people they look for excuses to give tickets to. All the better if the address on your insurance is in a different jurisdiction, which the cop can now see before he pulls you over. Pflugerville cops love to sit on Heatherwilde at the very edge of their jurisdiction and ticket us Round Rock residents coming off the tollway to help pay for their new court house.
 
If the lane only is the u-turn lane, you are not required to signal. If it goes straight and also goes to the u-turn, then you can get the ticket for failure to signal. That's my understanding.
However, if you get in the habit of using your turn signals all the times, you won't have to face Barney Fife handing out income producing paper at your expense.
I don't have the statute, but I remember this discussion from a defensive driving class several years ago. The instructor asked the question, do you have to use a turn signal in a left-turn only lane, and his answer was no. He still said it was a good idea, but not required by law. Seems like you could get out of this ticket.
 
You don't have to signal if the only way you can proceed in the lane is to make the turn, I believe. I know it's true for "edit only" lanes, since that's how Larry Dibbles and those guys got their motion to suppress granted for an unlawful stop.
 
Thank you for all of the responses. I am going to try and plead my case to a judge. The Oregon ruling will be helpful. Feel free to respond or PM if anyone has any more clever ideas.
 
Do the Horns Down and start shouting SEC-SEC-SEC!!! Also remind the judge there is another UT in another state. Here is why this is fun. If it is an aggy fan you will not only get your ticket taken away but he will buy you lunch. If not, you will get 20 to life. But life is about the risks.

Make sure the lane was only dedicated to the U turn. Take pictures of it to bolster your case. I suggest not taking the pictures when you are driving as this may tick the judge off. Maybe even a video. When you present don't be snotty. You know this but make sure to remember it.

A friend beat a parking ticket by taking pics.
 
When I took a defensive driving course a few months ago, I asked that exact question. Do you have to use a turn signal in a turn only lane. I was told yes. I hope you are correct. Please update us on what the judge has to say. It seems redundant to me to use a turn signal in a turn only lane.
 
To follow up, as promised:

I went to court, and the prosecutor (not the judge) moved to dismiss the case. I still have not received a good explanation of which law I have broken, but I will gladly drop it.

Anyway, the lesson learned is that you should signal when making a Texas U-turn. If for no other reason, it will save you a lot of time.
 
I took defensive driving years ago, and the instructor asked the class if you were required to signal in a left turn only lane, and no one knew-he said no, if the lane only legally can go one direction, it is assumed you must go in that direction. He wasn't a lawyer, and laws change, but that's what he said.
 
So, ultimately either the Cop failed to appear or the prosecuter knew it would be overturned. Sucks you didn't find out for sure.
 
So if I am at a 4 way stop and I want to go straight, and am in a straight only lane, they should make a signal that says I am going straight. Maybe a blinker in the middle between the two turning signals? That way everybody knows I am going straight, despite the fact I am in the straight only lane.
 
We all know you can signal every time you turn or change lanes, but that doesn't answer the OP's question, does it? He wants to know if it was legal or not.
 
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