Santa Monica motorists who make illegal U-turns in the City’s business districts be warned: police will be focusing on this driving behavior for the month of August and issuing citations to those who break the law.
The SMPD’s Traffic Enforcement Section focuses on different driving behaviors each month that are primary causation for traffic collisions.
Here is the California Vehicle Code – Section 22102 laws applicable to U-Turn in business districts:
22102. No person in a business district shall make a U-turn, except at an intersection, or on a divided highway where an opening has been provided in accordance with Section 21651. This turning movement shall be made as close as practicable to the extreme left-hand edge of the lanes moving in the driver’s direction of travel immediately prior to the initiation of the turning movement, when more than one lane in the direction of travel is present.
Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks wants to remind everyone that making a U-turn is a dangerous maneuver.
“U-turns in business districts should only be done at intersections unless there is a posted sign prohibiting the maneuver,” Seabrooks said.
