Illegal to Change Lanes in an intersection?

[OCEnforcer29]

Motors/Traffic Cops/etc.,

Some fellow Deputies and I were have an discussion yesterday about the legality of changing lanes in an intersection. Some of us said it's illegal and some of us said it's legal. So, which is it? And if it's illegal, under what section? Thanks.

[Feb2nd1979]

CVC urban myth......No CVC saying you can not..... You CAN change lanes in an intersection. But just like any lane change you can be cited for 22107/ 21658a (not sure if this one applys because it refers to marked divided lanes and intersections are not marked in the intersection) if not done safely.

[DAL]

There is no CVC section that expressly prohibits changing lanes at an intersection.

However, in many circumstances such a lane change would be unsafe, and therefore would violate §§ 22107, 21658(a).

[Socal-Cop]

I was taught that the lanes in the roadway essentially continue all the way through the intersection.. so as others stated.. if the lane change in the intersection is deemed unsafe, you can be cited for that.

[DAL]

I was taught that the lanes in the roadway essentially continue all the way through the intersection.. so as others stated.. if the lane change in the intersection is deemed unsafe, you can be cited for that.

That may or may not be correct. The only way to tell would be to find legal authorities on the subject. I have found that much of what is "taught" is unreliable.

The applicability of § 22107 does not depend on whether there are lane markings. ("No person shall turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway until such movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after the giving of an appropriate signal in the manner provided in this chapter in the event any other vehicle may be affected by the movement.")

[El Coppo Loco]

I was always told that if the intersection had the broken lines painted through it, then you may lane change. Otherwise the intersection acts as solid lines until the otherside.

I dont know how true that is but if you think about it, most lane lines become solid before they hit the crosswalk. It would be pretty hard to make a safe lane change while in the intersection when there is any sort of traffic.

[DAL]

I dont know how true that is but if you think about it, most lane lines become solid before they hit the crosswalk. It would be pretty hard to make a safe lane change while in the intersection when there is any sort of traffic.

It's not that unusual. You could be in the intersection behind a vehicle waiting to turn left from the #1 lane while the only traffic is on the other side of the roadway in the #2 lane going straight, for example.

[Feb2nd1979]

The OP asked about a cvc for lane change in intersection. There is not one. So his question is answered but with anything related to traffic you can find a cvc to cite for just about anything.


22107. No person shall turn a vehicle from a direct course or move
right or left upon a roadway until such movement can be made with
reasonable safety and then only after the giving of an appropriate
signal in the manner provided in this chapter in the event any other
vehicle may be affected by the movement.


This section you can cite for unsafe lane change in an intersection, under it being a unsafe turning movement "upon a roadway". This section does not require it to be within a lane.

21658. Whenever any roadway has been divided into two or more
clearly marked lanes for traffic in one direction, the following
rules apply:
(a) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practical entirely
within a single lane and shall not be moved from the lane until such
movement can be made with reasonable safety.


This is used more for lane straddling which leads to most dui arrests... The key words are "clearly marked lanes of traffic", which there are none in an intersection.. Can you cite for it, sure you can. Will you win in traffic court. I sayYES and NO depending on who the judge is and how well the offender states his case. If I were cited for this section for a lane change in an intersection I would argue the point that there is NO "clearly marked lanes of traffic" in the intersection, which the cvc states there must be for THIS section... So like I said, cite for it and its 50/50 if you would win in traffic court.

But to the OP, There is no CVC saying you can not make a lane change in an intersection.

[eagleI]

If there are solid lines controlling traffic through an intersection, i.e., multiple left or right turn lanes, you may not change lanes. No lines or broken lines, then a lane change is allowed.

[DAL]

If there are solid lines controlling traffic through an intersection, i.e., multiple left or right turn lanes, you may not change lanes. No lines or broken lines, then a lane change is allowed.

What is the code section for that?

[Monty Ealerman]

At an intersection with 2 forward lanes and a left only lane, if someone enters the intersection from the left only lane and then decides to proceed forward, he can be cited for violating the left only restriction, even though he's effectively moved from the left only lane to the the left through lane while in the intersection. In general the rules and markings that precede the intersection are active through the intersection. And reasonable safety matters most.

[Feb2nd1979]

At an intersection with 2 forward lanes and a left only lane, if someone enters the intersection from the left only lane and then decides to proceed forward, he can be cited for violating the left only restriction, even though he's effectively moved from the left only lane to the the left through lane while in the intersection. In general the rules and markings that precede the intersection are active through the intersection. And reasonable safety matters most.

So your saying going straight(merging to the right in the intersection) from a left turn pocket lane at an intersection??.. CVC 22101(d) could use 21461(a) failure to obey sign.... but still NO cvc saying you can not merge from continuing foward lanes in the intersection.

[DAL]

At an intersection with 2 forward lanes and a left only lane, if someone enters the intersection from the left only lane and then decides to proceed forward, he can be cited for violating the left only restriction, even though he's effectively moved from the left only lane to the the left through lane while in the intersection. In general the rules and markings that precede the intersection are active through the intersection. And reasonable safety matters most.

I don't think this is quite what this thread is about, but a citation for the proposition that "the rules and markings that precede the intersection are active through the intersection" would be of interest.

[SgtCHP]

22107 CVC is the section to use for an unsafe movement. It does not require a lane change.

21658(a) CVC is the section to use for an unsafe LANE change.

There is no specific section that prohibits a lane change while traversing an intersection; except, 21752(d) CVC which prohibits the passing of a vehicle, to the left of the center of the roadway, within 100 feet of or while traversing an intersection.

When Driving on Left Prohibited

21752. No vehicle shall be driven to the left side of the roadway under the following conditions:

(a) When approaching or upon the crest of a grade or a curve in the highway where the driver's view is obstructed within such distance as to create a hazard in the event another vehicle might approach from the opposite direction.

(b) When the view is obstructed upon approaching within 100 feet of any bridge, viaduct, or tunnel.

(c) When approaching within 100 feet of or when traversing any railroad grade crossing.

(d)When approaching within 100 feet of or when traversing any intersection.

This section shall not apply upon a one-way roadway.

Amended Sec. 7, Ch. 596, Stats. 2000. Effective January 1, 2001.

This specific section is the often misquoted and misinterpreted by many as prohibiting the passing of a vehicle through an intersection - it ONLY applies when you CROSS the center line!

In times gone by, there were not as many multi-lane roadways in the country and to pass another vehicle meant you had to cross the center line to do so. For those of you who are working rural roadways, this is a terrific section; especially, if you are alert and remember that an intersection is the area encompassed within lateral curb lines. An intersection does not require "THROUGH STREETS" - it can be created by any roadway meeting with another roadway.

Also, passing on the right is not a violation of law unless: 1. it is done unsafely; or, 2. off the main traveled portion of the roadway - paved or unpaved! 21755 CVC.

[laco1x]

According to the Late Great Worley Jones (RIP)......his repsonse to that question, was in fact it was a myth....his reasoning was there are no Lanes in an intersection.......