Cutting Through Parking Lots To Avoid Lights? Don’t Do it.
Who Doesn't Know This One?
Honestly I don't remember seeing this one on the driver's test. But I know you're not supposed to do it. It doesn't even rank up there with laws that might not be laws (like crazy urban legend/made up laws).
This one seemed legit even before I got behind the wheel of a car. I knew about it or had even heard my mom and dad say, "Oooooh, they're gonna get a ticket for that."
What's all the fuss about?
You're stopped at a red light behind a long line of cars. Folks could be turning right at the light, but the lead car at the front of the line is waiting for it to turn green.
You've had enough and you're in a hurry. You bust a quick right out of the line and through the parking lot (probably of a QD or Speedway) to avoid the light and be on your way.
Uh oh. You done did it now.
Meet Officer Friendly and His Trusty Sidekick Civil Infraction
Cutting through a parking lot of any kind to skip a light in no bueno. It's against the law and will get you a ticket pretty quickly.
Here's the law.
- (1) The driver of a vehicle or operator of a streetcar shall not disobey the instructions of a traffic control device placed in accordance with this chapter unless at the time otherwise directed by a police officer.
- (2) The driver of a vehicle shall not, for the purpose of avoiding obedience to a traffic control device placed in accordance with this chapter, drive upon or through private property, or upon or through public property which is not a street or highway.
- (3) A person who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction. (Michigan Legislature)
There is a sneaky little way of getting out of it as there is a slight problem with enforcing the law. The cop has got to see you doing it, you could say you're not cutting through but stopping to get gas...and changed your mind.
Plain and simple. It's against the law. You know it. You shouldn't do it. Chances are you have done it and gotten away with it plenty of times.
Problem is, your luck is going to run out. You might get a sympathetic Lansing or East Lansing Police officer. On the other hand you could get an Ingham County Sheriff or worse yet, THEM STATE BOYS and they don't play.
Obey the law and don't do this.
It's dangerous and your could cause an accident and/or hit a pedestrian.
Slow down, take your time, wait your turn.
And next time, leave earlier so you're not in such a hurry there speedy.
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