Dear Cop - Crossing Solid Lines

I see so many people turning left over single solid and double solid lines
to get into banks, driveways or restaurants. Is it permissible to cross a
solid or double solid line? How much is the fine for doing so, and what is
the offence if someone bumps into the back of a turning vehicle which stops abruptly in the middle of the road to make an illegal turn?

Crossing Solid Lines
The driver of a vehicle may exit or enter a roadway over single or double solid lines provided that the driver does not impede other traffic. For example, if a driver wants to make a left turn to exit a roadway over double solid lines, the driver may do so only if other vehicles are not required to stop to the rear of the driver making the left turn.

If a driver is making a left turn not at an intersection and the driver impedes traffic to the rear, then the driver can be charged with Improper Left Turn which carries a fine of $121 & 3 points.

Highway lines
Section 155 (1) of the Motor Vehicle Act indicates that despite anything in this Part, if a highway is marked with:

(a) a solid double line, the driver of a vehicle must drive it to the right of the line only

(b) a double line consisting of a broken line and a solid line

(i) the driver of a vehicle proceeding along the highway on the side of the broken line must drive the vehicle to the right of the double line, except when passing an overtaken vehicle, and
(ii) the driver of a vehicle proceeding along the highway on the side of the solid line must drive the vehicle to the right of the double line, except only when finishing the passing of an overtaken vehicle, and

(c) one single line, broken or solid, the driver of a vehicle must drive the vehicle to the right of the line, except only when passing an overtaken vehicle.

(2) Subsection (1) (b) (i) and (c) do not apply if a driver is avoiding an obstruction on the highway and first ascertains that the movement can be made with safety and without affecting the travel of any other vehicle.

Suspension of Sections 151 and 155
Section 156 of the Motor Vehicle Act indicates that if the driver of a vehicle is causing the vehicle to enter or leave a highway and the driver has ascertained that he or she might do so with safety and does so without unreasonably affecting the travel of another vehicle, the provisions of sections 151 and 155 are suspended with respect to the driver while the vehicle is entering or leaving the highway.

Constable R.A.(Richard) ASELTON
Central Okanagan Traffic Services - Media Liaison

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.