Driving From Private Property to Public Roads

Q: If I leave a parking lot that is private property and a sign on the property says right turn only, can I get cited for make a left turn, even if there is no oncoming traffic?

A: Yes, but I think I understand where you’re coming from. Outside of a few criminal violations like DUI and reckless driving, traffic laws are not usually enforced on private property. There are a few exceptions, which I covered in a previous Road Rules article. However, it’s a little different when the private property meets the public roadway. At a minimum, the law requires drivers coming from a private road or driveway to yield to traffic on the public road.

In commercial developments, like the parking lot of a grocery store or shopping center, there are often additional requirements. When a new development is proposed, engineers conduct traffic studies to identify the impacts to traffic, and may require the development to include improvements to traffic flow as part of the permit process. This could be anything from adding a stop sign where the parking lot meets the public street, to building a signalized intersection with additional turn lanes. It just depends on how much of an impact this new commercial venture will have on traffic.

A change in signage could also happen after development. For example, if traffic flow increases or crash data supports it, a driveway that previously had no turn restrictions could be revised to prohibit left turns. The city of Bellingham has an ordinance designed to address this specific issue.

Regardless of whether the sign is installed by the city or by a developer, drivers are required to obey all regulatory signs. The law states that if a traffic sign is installed in a location that conforms to standard traffic control rules, drivers should presume that it’s an official traffic control device.

But what if the city didn’t require the sign and instead the parking lot owners decided to put it up on their own initiative? Would compliance to the sign still be required? That is actually a highly unlikely scenario; here’s why: It’s illegal. In the words of the law, edited for readability, “No person shall place upon or in view of any highway any unauthorized sign which resembles an official traffic-control device or which attempts to direct the movement of traffic.” No matter how good the intentions, a private property owner is not allowed to independently put up a sign telling drivers how to enter the roadway.

Traffic engineers have a responsibility to move people through their jurisdiction while balancing safety and efficiency. This includes safely moving traffic from private property to public roads. This often happens during new development, but also can occur as traffic conditions change and signage needs to be modified to suit the current traffic levels. Any time you move from a private development to a public road, presume that any traffic control device is fully enforceable.

3 Replies to “Driving From Private Property to Public Roads”

  1. I loved the Brake Checking article.

    I have a different question which came up this morning when I was following an 18 wheeler on a main street with 2 lanes in each direction, with center turn lanes. The truck turned on the right turn signal about 100 yards from a major crossing intersection , but continued thru that intersection and turned right at the next street, about 50 yards beyond. Since the traffic on the first crossing street has a lane to go straight, or turn right who would be at fault in the event that a car pulled out to turn right into the lane the truck was apparently leaving?

    Thank you

  2. Does a Company that requires a right turn only out of its driveway or parking lot, onto a public road need a permit to put up said sign??
    I feel like I’m being discriminated against because I live in the opposite direction as the majority of the employees.

    1. I don’t know about your specific situation, but most likely the decision to make that a right run only was made by the city or county where your company is located, and not the company you work for. When a person/company applies for a building permit, the authority having jurisdiction might do a traffic study to see how the new project would impact traffic. The decision to make that a right run only was probably based on the results of a traffic study.

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