Originally Posted by
Machka
I've seen that comment before, and I don't understand it.
I turn right (a legal turn) ... ride up the road a little ways (nothing wrong with that) ... then, when there's no traffic, I pull the U-turn (nothing wrong with that either). If there are no signs up prohibiting U-turns, vehicles of all sorts can pull U-turns. But if there's any doubt, I just make it look like I'm pulling into a driveway, or loop through a parking lot.
It may take a few minutes, but often that's less time than waiting in line, in the left turn lane, to turn left ... and I don't see anything illegal there. Why would a police officer pull me over???
When I was a kid, my dad, who was a State Trooper (now retired), saw me cut across a parking lot to avoid a "no turn on red" intersection. He explained to me that, even though my individual maneuvers were legal, my overall intent was the avoidance of a traffic control device and therefore illegal. I remember him citing the "right turn + U-turn" as an additional example. However, I'd also wager this it would have to be a very bored cop to take the time to bust someone for this; it's probably designed to prevent larger traffic flow problems, if the law even exists in all regions. It also seems it would be very difficult to prove.
I'm not claiming to be a legal expert; just offering up a seemingly relevant anecdote.