U-turn Illegal?

[Recon604]

Hey guys,

I was given a ticket today for performing an illegal unsafe u-turn on No.5 near Ironwood Plaza.

There were no cars at the intersection but the officer said "u-turns are illegal in BC".

What are your thoughts?

[twitchyzero]

Canada just beat Slovakia at men's hockey so ask for a freebie

[lilaznviper]

https://www.drivesmartbc.ca/turns/u-turns

I think each city has their own rules for uturns as well

[JDMDreams]

At least they didn't say "your car is illegal in bc"

[snowfarmer]

Bummer that you got a ticket. I'm curious about what input you want. When you ask for our thoughts, are you asking if we think that the police officer has ticketed you for a traffic violation that isn't a real thing? Or if the presence of the median makes it not a U-turn?

You could probably look up the section of the BCMVA quoted on your violation ticket to verify it.

Was it the first U-turn you've ever done, is it the last? Amortize the cost of the ticket over all the U-turns you've ever done and will do (and not been caught for it) and your cost per U-turn may be quite reasonable if you pay the ticket?

[trollface]

I do u turns there all the time. I always thought u turn were legal as long as it's not at a light or specifically stated by signs.

[donk.]

Open up the driving laws buddy guy

[yray]

lol cop shop central

[Fafine]

rcmp station just up the block lol

[320icar]

Originally Posted by trollface

I do u turns there all the time. I always thought u turn were legal as long as it's not at a light or specifically stated by signs.

This was my knowledge as well.

[danned]

rcmp is watching you, op

[JDMDreams]

I thought you can u turn any where besides solid lines, or intersection with the no u turn sign

[driftcars]

As far as I know, in BC, U turn is not allowed in any controlled intersection. Controlled intersections have traffic lights, stop or yield signs. The spot you were caught doesn't look like a controlled intersection.

[BIC_BAWS]

Reverse turn
168 Except as provided by the bylaws of a municipality or the laws of a treaty first nation, a driver must not turn a vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction
(a) unless the driver can do so without interfering with other traffic, or,
(b) when he or she is driving
(i) on a curve,
(ii) on an approach to or near the crest of a grade where the vehicle cannot be seen by the driver of another vehicle approaching from either direction within 150 m,
(iii) at a place where a sign prohibits making a U-turn,
(iv) at an intersection where a traffic control signal has been erected, or
(v) in a business district, except at an intersection where no traffic control signal has been erected.

Sub A) is key. If you cut off the cop, then I can see why the cop would ticket you LOL

[68style]

Originally Posted by Recon604

Hey guys,

I was given a ticket today for performing an illegal unsafe u-turn on No.5 near Ironwood Plaza.

There were no cars at the intersection but the officer said "u-turns are illegal in BC".

What are your thoughts?

Not sure why you would even try one here, it's literally up the street from the Richmond RCMP HQ and it's an area where traffic jams up for the highway and people would cheat pretending to turn right onto 5 road and then busting a U-turn to get into the right turn lane and budge in for traffic getting on Highway 99........ you can't even turn left out of Ironwood at that intersection at certain times of the day because of this let alone U-turn.

[snowball]

I don't remember if it was RS or another site, but basically there was a huge discussion and we had determined that if you follow the language closely the only time you're ever allowed to make a U-turn is when you're going down a dead-end road.

[twitchyzero]

still remember somebody doing a 3 pt turn on robson stopping a VPD paddy wagon in the oncoming lane

[smoothie.]

Always known that I could, aside from a traffic light or intersection where it says I cant...

It can't be completely illegal or else they wouldn't have:

168(a)

Unsafe U-turn

$121

2

168(b)(iii)

Prohibited U-turn

$121

2

168(b)(iv)

U-turn - intersection

$167

2

168(b)(v)

U-turn - business district

$121

Agreed to argue Sub A

[DavidNguyen]

Illegal in BC. Manitoba is Legal

[bcrdukes]

There's a reason why so many car meets take place at Ironwood Plaza, and it's because the Richmond RCMP HQ is literally up the street. And of all places, you decided to make an illegal u-turn.

[trollface]

Man he must really hate you to give you a tix over a uturn there. I've been pulled over 3 times in my rice rocket and each time they let me go without even looking at my license and insurance.

1. No front plate
2. Speeding
3. Taking a corner too fast

I try to avoid uturns as much as possible because I actually don't know how legal they are. Just pull into any driveway/plaza/street and do your turn in there. They can't ding you for that.

[Qmx323]

https://www.drivesmartbc.ca/turns/u-turns

https://drivinginstructorblog.com/q-...i-do-a-u-turn/

I honestly did not know U-turns were such a prohibited act all over BC, however having seen hundreds of dashcam clips where accidents happen because people can't safely perform a U-turn, I avoid them myself as much as I can.

Seeing cabs do them basically anywhere has probably made people think they can too.

According to the two blogs/articles above, they seem to be basically illegal anywhere with a painted line down the middle, at ANY CONTROLLED (Lights, signs) intersection, or where visibility is limited.

I've also seen enough people in Richmond literally do one right at an intersection with a "No U-turn" sign, in front of cops, get pulled over or nothing happens.

There's so little consistency I can see why so many of us (especially us - being car enthusiasts) already being confused.

[punkwax]

I had always thought u-turns were illegal unless there was signage indicating otherwise.

[bcrdukes]

It's only illegal if you get caught

[Recon604]

I knew u-turns were illegal at intersections where there is a traffic light or where there are signs prohibiting it. But I honestly think that this cop was wanting to meet his yearly quota...

He cited section 168(a) for unsafe u-turn. There was no car and it was safe. He drove past me and that was when I did the u-turn behind him.