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32nd St. Starbucks Drive Thru Issue

Status: Closed
Assigned To: jallen (Police)
Ticket ID: 781e6b2

I am not sure what department for which this issue is applicable, so I left unassigned. Every morning I drive north on 32nd St. S. to cross 10th Ave. S. and continue north on 32nd St. S. towards Central Ave. An entry to the Starbucks business is on the west side of 32nd St. S just north of 10th Ave. S., and the drive-thru line is usually full and is sometimes backed up to parking lot entry. The issue I am seeing constantly is drivers heading north on 32nd St. north of 10th Ave. S. who want to enter the backed-up drive-thru will impede traffic by sitting in the 32nd St. northbound lane with their left hand turn signal on. I have seen vehicles backed up into the intersection of 32nd St. and 10th Ave. S. because of drivers wanting to turn left into the blocked drive thru lane. I am aware that it is legal to make this left turn over double yellow lines (MCA 61-8-238 Driving on roadways laned for traffic. (4) A person may turn a vehicle left across a lane marked with two yellow lines into a public or private parking lot, private road, private driveway, or roadway if the turn can be may safely and if the person does no hinder the flow of oncoming traffic.) Although the flow of oncoming traffic is not hindered, the traffic behind the vehicle is hindered and sometimes blocks a major intersection. Is there anything that can be done about this issue? Signage? Or is it just a matter of drivers having a conscience and choosing not to back up traffic into a major intersection? Thank you.

Ticket History

Public
Closed
Updated By: jallen
Assigned To: jallen (Police)

Dear Mr. Larson, your description of the issue is quite descriptive and clearly written. Your final analysis is also accurate. There is no statute in Montana that prohibits drivers from impeding the flow of traffic in an intersection if the driver has entered the intersection legally - on a green or yellow signal, for instance. Here is the statute regarding traffic signals: MCA 61-8-207. Ideally the stares, shaking of heads, and other salutations would be enough to send the signal to these drivers that they may be using less than common sense; however, this is apparently not enough - as it is still happening.

I am forwarding your complaint to our Patrol Bureau, so officers assigned to this area can make some passes through and see if that helps.

02/15/2017 - 10:32am
Public
Closed
Updated By: jallen
Assigned To: jallen (Police)

Dear Mr. Larson, your description of the issue is quite descriptive and clearly written. Your final analysis is also accurate. There is no statute in Montana that prohibits drivers from impeding the flow of traffic in an intersection if the driver has entered the intersection legally - on a green or yellow signal, for instance. Here is the statute regarding traffic signals: MCA 61-8-207. Ideally the stares, shaking of heads, and other salutations would be enough to send the signal to these drivers that they may be using less than common sense; however, this is apparently not enough - as it is still happening.

I am forwarding your complaint to our Patrol Bureau, so officers assigned to this area can make some passes through and see if that helps.

02/15/2017 - 10:32am
New
Updated By: rarms
Assigned To: jallen (Police)
02/14/2017 - 12:55pm
New
Assigned To:

Citizen request/question created.

02/14/2017 - 10:34am

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