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SUNNY Temp: 63 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Sunday, September 28, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 25, 2003 Drivers can pull out into a turn lane, then merge Could you tell me if it is legal to make a left turn into a center turn lane, and then move into the left lane of traffic? I am referring to a four-lane road such as Pacific Highway, which is divided by a turn lane, and say I come out of Kim’s Restaurant parking lot —make a left turn going south (no traffic going north) and wait in the turn lane until southbound traffic clears —then move into the left lane. I understand this is illegal in some states. — P.J. Still This may be illegal in some states, but not in Oregon. Furthermore, if you do it exactly as you described, then you’re right on the money in how to properly execute this maneuver. Advertisement When using a special left turn lane after pulling into the lane from an alley, driveway or other entrance to the highway, such as you did in your example, then a person is in violation if the person does anything other than stop in the left turn lane and then merge into traffic in the lane immediately to the right. The most common violation is a driver using the left turn lane as a travel lane to build up speed in order to merge. The requirement is to stop once you’re in the lane and then merge when traffic allows. Dace Cochran, a patrol sergeant with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, writes a weekly Q&A column on police issues for the Mail Tribune. Have a question for him? Write to Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times