Washington State Illegal U-Turn Laws

At one point or another, we all get lost and have to turn around. But what if you get ticketed for an illegal u-turn while trying to reach your destination? If you have recently been charged in Washington State for making an illegal u-turn, you may want to speak with an experienced traffic attorney who may be able to beat your ticket.

In general, Washington’s Illegal U-Turn law prohibits: (1) a driver from turning a vehicle in the opposite direction unless the movement can be made safely and without interfering with traffic and (2) from proceeding in the opposite direction on any curve, or near the crest of a grade, if the vehicle cannot be seen by the driver of another vehicle approaching from either direction within 500 feet. In addition, a driver who ignores a “No U-Turn” sign can also be cited for making an illegal u-turn.

So how do you get out of a ticket in these types of cases?  You have the best shot by hiring a good traffic attorney who will determine whether your citation meets all of the required elements addressed in the law.  Paying attention to technical details in a case can make all the difference between winning your case and being found to have committed the violation.

If you receive a ticket for making an illegal u-turn, paying the fine is considered an admission of guilt, and the ticket may show up on your driving record. Your insurance rates are affected by your driving record, which means that multiple tickets can lead to increased premiums. Instead, you should immediately contact us to determine whether you should contest the infraction—there are deadlines for doing this—and for paying the infraction should you decide to do that.  If a payment, or request to contest or mitigate the infraction is not made by the deadline, your fine may be referred to a collection agency and the department of licensing may suspend your driver’s license.

Callahan Law has a team of experienced defense attorneys who focus on Washington State traffic laws. Because they focus on defending clients charged with violations of the traffic laws, they are familiar with the courts, prosecutors, and judges who handle these cases. This familiarity tends to work in your favor when we are defending you against a violation of Washington’s illegal u-turn laws.

To learn more about how to contest your ticket, contact Callahan Law today!