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A few questions about laws in the US
Hi,
Since my recent trip to the US, I have a few questions about laws. On the highway, in Europe you have to stay in the "slow" lane, ie. furthest from the central reservation, right in the US, unless you are overtaking someone. In the US this is not the case. So do you just overtake in whatever lane you can? Can you swop lanes as much as you like to get through the traffic? How much room do you require to change lanes? I was doing it with 2 car lengths space, and my brother who lives there said I would get pulled if a cop saw me. I saw lots of signs saying "No Trespassing, no Loitering", such as on the most popular cycle route in the San Fransisco Peninsula, I cannot remember the name but it is around a reservoir and is just off the 280 near san bruno. Now I can guess what trespassing is, but what is Loitering? This sign was next to benches, and I assumed the view was what most people came for, so what is loitering? Is standing still looking at the view counted? Or is it, as my brother suspected, dependent on how much money you have and your ethnic origin. At a station I went to (Santa Cruz, Great American?) another prohibition was added to the sign, pan handling. Now I have absolutely no idea what this could be. Another thing I could not quite get my head round is the 4 way stops. Are you really supposed to stop every time even when there is nothing coming? What about, as I found a few times, when the stop line is so far back from the junction that you cannot see if it is clear from the line. Are you supposed to stop at the line, then move forward and look, or do you just have to stop at some point before the other road? This is more relevant at a 2 way stop. Thanks for any clarification you can give me. |
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A few questions about laws in the US
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#3
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A few questions about laws in the US
So do you just overtake in whatever lane you can?
On multi-lane highways, the lane closest to the center line (the left lane) is supposed to be used for passing. You are not supposed to pass on the right, but people do it sometimes anyway. what is Loitering? Loitering means to linger for a long time in a spot. "No loitering" signs are put up to discourage people from just "hanging out" in a place for extended periods. If the sign is placed next to a bench, they are trying to discourage people from sleeping on the bench or sitting there for hours. pan handling Pan-handling means begging for money. 4 way stops. Are you really supposed to stop every time even when there is nothing coming? * Yes. Just as you're also supposed to stop at a red light even if there is nothing coming. What about, as I found a few times, when the stop line is so far back from the junction that you cannot see You're supposed to stop where the stop sign is (there's also a line painted on the road there). If you can't see adequately (like if there's a tree blocking your view), you can then slowly move forward until you can see better. Jim |
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A few questions about laws in the US
On the highway, in Europe you have to stay in the "slow" lane, ie.
furthest from the central reservation, right in the US, unless you are overtaking someone. In the US this is not the case. So do you just overtake in whatever lane you can? Can you swop lanes as much as you like to get through the traffic? How much room do you require to change lanes? I was doing it with 2 car lengths space, and my brother who lives there said I would get pulled if a cop saw me. There are three kinds of crappy drivers: those that drive slowly in the left lane; those that tailgate (these are the worst); and those that change lanes often as you describe. Do it often enough and you will change lanes at the same time as another crappy driver changes lanes right into the side of your car. Yes, it happens. I doubt if one in ten American drivers knows this, but it is technically illegal to pass on the right. Everyone does it, though. You often see police cars, fire trucks, or ambulances with lights flashing directly behind another vehicle in the left lane, and then when the first vehicle pulls over, the emergency vehicle just keeps on going down the road. Emergency vehicle drivers know that passing on the right is illegal and dangerous. what is Loitering? Hanging around a location with no valid purpose. Sightseeing is a valid purpose. Loitering laws are used to prevent drug sales and other socially unacceptable activities. Loitering is subjective. pan handling. Begging. The term probably has something to due with beggars using a dish or pan to hold money. Another thing I could not quite get my head round is the 4 way stops. Are you really supposed to stop every time even when there is nothing coming? Oh no, don't stop at all if you don't see anyone approaching. Then the local population's average IQ will rise when you and another idiot approach the stop sign simultaneously at high speed. What about, as I found a few times, when the stop line is so far back from the junction that you cannot see if it is clear from the line. Are you supposed to stop at the line, then move forward and look, Yes. Legally the intersection must be clear of visual obstructions so that drivers can stop at the stop line and see approaching traffic. But that is often not the case. If you have an accident because of a visual obstruction, you can sometimes sue the locality. Suing is the American way, don't you know? Pete |
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A few questions about laws in the US
There are three kinds of crappy drivers:
Oops, make that four categories. Add the selfish jerks (and jerkettes) who talk on their cellphones, put on make-up, read something, or perform other completely unrelated (to driving) activities. Pete |
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A few questions about laws in the US
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A few questions about laws in the US
george wrote:
The rule in most states (all states?) would be to keep right except when passing. Passing on the right is probably forbidden but mainly frowned upon. I'm not sure what "probably forbidden but mainly frowned upon" means. In NY and OH, however, the two states in which I've lived most recently, passing on the right on a freeway is permitted by law; neither forbidden nor frowned upon. |
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A few questions about laws in the US
Pete wrote:
I doubt if one in ten American drivers knows this, but it is technically illegal to pass on the right. As I posted previously, this is simply not true on freeways in many states. You do, of course, have to stay in traffic lanes when passing on the right; using the shoulder is dirty pool. |
#9
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A few questions about laws in the US
Pete wrote:
There are three kinds of crappy drivers: Oops, make that four categories. Add the selfish jerks (and jerkettes) who talk on their cellphones, put on make-up, read something, or perform other completely unrelated (to driving) activities. Actually, I think there are probably more kinds than that! You've correctly named several, but are you SURE you've covered every possibility? :-) |
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A few questions about laws in the US
Doug McDonald wrote:
Yes of course. That's what a stop sign is ... a way to slow down traffic. Not true in NY, by statute. A stop sign is to STOP traffic at an intersection. Theoretically, using it to slow traffic is illegal. Which doesn't mean no one does it. My town of Niskayuna, for example, routinely puts up stop signs in absurd places as a sop to local residents who think traffic is going too fast by their precious houses and children. They apparently don't believe in training their children to use care in the street. |
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