Maybe that's why I wasn't cited. I spoke to an officer since then and he confirmed that a lot of traffic control was placed temporarily during the detour, including the No U Turn sign where everyone that had gotten forced west by the detour was turning east. No other traffic control devices at that intersection was leading to many close calls.Chris wrote:if you ever get cited for something like that, contact TXDOT about the validity of those signs. traffic control signs have to meet certain requirements to be considered "official traffic control devices." if they don't meet those requirements, they're not valid and thus not enforceable.jimlongley wrote:As I got to the next intersection I started to pull a U turn but just as I started my swing I saw a (obviously temporary from the way it was mounted) "No U Turn" sign hanging from a light pole.
just a bit of info from your friendly neighborhood traffic officer. :)
Search found 2 matches
- Tue May 17, 2005 9:19 pm
- Forum: LEO Contacts & Bloopers
- Topic: LEO contacts
- Replies: 37
- Views: 14726
- Tue May 17, 2005 9:57 am
- Forum: LEO Contacts & Bloopers
- Topic: LEO contacts
- Replies: 37
- Views: 14726
I have had two experiences, both positive, I guess.
First was a couple of months after my wife and I sent our apps in. I was coming home from working very late at night, after 2am. As I drove up the highway I could see several cars with their lights off arrayed on each side of the road. I was already doing the limit, but I slowed anyway because I was also coming to my exit.
As I went up the frontage road I passed the cars and could see that they were police set up in what was probably a drunk sweep. One of the cars pulled out of the median onto the frontage road and started to follow me. Just about the time I got the thought, "I wonder what he wants with me?" thought, he lit me up. Having been aware of the cop cars all over, you can bet I wasn't doing anything wrong, so I figured he was stopping me because my exit right before the sweep made it look like I was avoiding it.
The young officer walked up beside my vehicle and asked for my license and insurance, and stuck his head almost all the way into my car while trying to smell my breath (stale coffee breath was all he got for his efforts.) After he went back to his car he came back and asked me if I was "packing." Since I wasn't planning on travelling soon I told him no.
After a couple of trys he finally asked if I was carrying a concealed handgun, I wasn't trying to be difficult, I just didn't have the right frame of reference for "packing", "strapped up", or whatever. I told him that I was not and that I did not have a CHL yet. He responded that I did according to their records and let me go with a warning for my license plate light being out (do you ever check yours?)
The next day my CHL arrived in the mail.
A few months ago I was trying to make my way through a detour area on my way from my house to a friend's house. I got out on Main St. going west through a "No Left Turn" intersection, but I wanted to go east. As I got to the next intersection I started to pull a U turn but just as I started my swing I saw a (obviously temporary from the way it was mounted) "No U Turn" sign hanging from a light pole.
Since I was already half way around and traffic was coming, I quickly decided that I should finish the turn instead of blocking traffic or causing a wreck. The cop that was RIGHT BEHIND ME as I did this agreed that it was probably the best option too, and didn't even give me more than a verbal warning.
When I gave him my DL, insurance, and CHL, all he did was ask if I had the gun on me and where it was, and why did I make the turn. I told him that I didn't see the sign until I started, that I didn't recall its being there before, and that I was just trying to get east after being forced west, and he seemed to think that was reasonable. He told me to be a little more observant in the future and let me go.
Since the construction is finished and the detour is gone, so is that sign.
First was a couple of months after my wife and I sent our apps in. I was coming home from working very late at night, after 2am. As I drove up the highway I could see several cars with their lights off arrayed on each side of the road. I was already doing the limit, but I slowed anyway because I was also coming to my exit.
As I went up the frontage road I passed the cars and could see that they were police set up in what was probably a drunk sweep. One of the cars pulled out of the median onto the frontage road and started to follow me. Just about the time I got the thought, "I wonder what he wants with me?" thought, he lit me up. Having been aware of the cop cars all over, you can bet I wasn't doing anything wrong, so I figured he was stopping me because my exit right before the sweep made it look like I was avoiding it.
The young officer walked up beside my vehicle and asked for my license and insurance, and stuck his head almost all the way into my car while trying to smell my breath (stale coffee breath was all he got for his efforts.) After he went back to his car he came back and asked me if I was "packing." Since I wasn't planning on travelling soon I told him no.
After a couple of trys he finally asked if I was carrying a concealed handgun, I wasn't trying to be difficult, I just didn't have the right frame of reference for "packing", "strapped up", or whatever. I told him that I was not and that I did not have a CHL yet. He responded that I did according to their records and let me go with a warning for my license plate light being out (do you ever check yours?)
The next day my CHL arrived in the mail.
A few months ago I was trying to make my way through a detour area on my way from my house to a friend's house. I got out on Main St. going west through a "No Left Turn" intersection, but I wanted to go east. As I got to the next intersection I started to pull a U turn but just as I started my swing I saw a (obviously temporary from the way it was mounted) "No U Turn" sign hanging from a light pole.
Since I was already half way around and traffic was coming, I quickly decided that I should finish the turn instead of blocking traffic or causing a wreck. The cop that was RIGHT BEHIND ME as I did this agreed that it was probably the best option too, and didn't even give me more than a verbal warning.
When I gave him my DL, insurance, and CHL, all he did was ask if I had the gun on me and where it was, and why did I make the turn. I told him that I didn't see the sign until I started, that I didn't recall its being there before, and that I was just trying to get east after being forced west, and he seemed to think that was reasonable. He told me to be a little more observant in the future and let me go.
Since the construction is finished and the detour is gone, so is that sign.