Is it Legal for the Drive-Thru Line to Spill Out Onto the Street in Michigan?

Ah, Dairy Dan in Holt—if you know, you know. On a warm day, that drive-thru line is practically a local landmark. And not necessarily in a good way.

I mean, who isn't willing to wait in line for a delicious ice cream treat, right?

But if you've ever been caught waiting in that line as it spills onto Cedar Street, you’ve probably wondered: is this even legal?

Is it Legal for A Drive-thru Line to Wait in the Street?

Let’s break it down. The parking lot at Dairy Dan? Teeny tiny. And the line? Popping off like it’s the only ice cream in town on the hottest day of the year. Cars heading north on Cedar try to turn right, while poor souls driving south attempt to turn left into that busy parking lot.

Meanwhile, you’re sitting there, thinking about your hot fudge sundae, blocking traffic. Cedar and Willoughby? Forget about it... That intersection is absolute chaos.

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Now, I did a little digging (so you don’t have to), and according to Michigan law, blocking traffic is a no-no. Here's what Legislature.mi.gov had to say about it;

(1) Subject to subsection (2), a person, without authority, shall not block, obstruct, impede, or otherwise interfere with the normal flow of vehicular, streetcar, or pedestrian traffic upon a public street or highway in this state, by means of a barricade, object, or device, or with his or her person.

The rule is pretty clear: no obstructing the normal flow of vehicles.

Read Related: Do You Know How to Treat a Traffic Signal That's Out on a Michigan Road?

In plain English, that means if you're waiting in line for ice cream and your car is clogging up Cedar Street, you’re probably breaking the law. It’s a civil infraction, and no ice cream cone is worth that ticket.

So next time you’re craving Dairy Dan, maybe park the car and walk. You’ll get your sundae and keep the road clear. Win-win!