[ticket] Passing stopped cars to get to red light?

[banzairx7]

Except, they're allowed to pass on the right!

You can pass on the right on a moped or 50cc scooter too. They are considered motorized bicycles.

[Boston Chuck]

I didn't read page 2, so if this was said there please disregard this post:

How much was the ticket for?

[SSearchVT]

So according to this law, car slows down in front of you, pulls to the right and motions for you to pass.

If you pass and stay in the lane, you've broken this law.

If you pass and cross the double yellow to avoid breaking this law, you're breaking another law.

If you don't pass and obey the letter of the law and come to a stop then you're in danger of getting hit from behind.You can't move until the car starts moving again, which could really piss off everyone in back of you and again put your safety in jeopardy.

Do what's legal or do what's safe?

Variation: you're going down the road and there's a car parked, pulled to the right. Same choices as above.

So just how clear and *enforceable* is this law? It does not mention left or right side - you just can't pass another vehicle in the same lane, moving or stopped.

If I was an attorney, I might start there. Thankfully, I'm not an attorney.

Your example has the car pulling to the right. Technically - out of the traveled lane with the bike passing on the left - no lane splitting/sharing happened. The original post has the motorcyle passing a number of waiting cars (still in the travelled lane and considered operated vehicles) stopped at a light on the right. They got issued a legit ticket.

We've all snuck slowly around one car waiting to go straight at a light so we can make a right turn. Unless there is a designated turn lane this is illegal, but if the room is there most police won't bother you for it.

[spicy]

$100. i don't really care about the cost of the ticket, it's the 2 points on the insurance that's going to cost me 10x that much.

[Mondo]

dam dude you have the worst luck with the law

[SVRACER01]

im going with... you lose.
$100?
think of all the times you got away with it. it seems like a dumb thing to get bagged for since people do illegal things all the time, like using the suicide lane to merge into traffic, or passing on the shoulder (right) when a vehicle is waiting to turn left, or driving a 1/4 down the suicide lane to get to the light to turn left.

[spicy]

this is the only time i've done it, so it would appear i've never gotten away with it.

[Danno]

this is the only time i've done it, so it would appear i've never gotten away with it.

Spicy, I'm not a gambling man but just in case, remind me to never enter a casino with you.

[Danno]

Your example has the car pulling to the right. Technically - out of the traveled lane with the bike passing on the left - no lane splitting/sharing happened. The original post has the motorcyle passing a number of waiting cars (still in the travelled lane and considered operated vehicles) stopped at a light on the right. They got issued a legit ticket.

We've all snuck slowly around one car waiting to go straight at a light so we can make a right turn. Unless there is a designated turn lane this is illegal, but if the room is there most police won't bother you for it.

Let's look at the language:

M.G.L. 89-4A
Chapter 89: Section 4A. Driving vehicles in a single lane; motorcycles, riding and passing

Section 4A. When any way has been divided into lanes, the driver of a vehicle shall so drive that the vehicle shall be entirely within a single lane, and he shall not move from the lane in which he is driving until he has first ascertained if such movement can be made with safety. The operators of motorcycles shall not ride abreast of more than one other motorcycle, shall ride single file when passing, and shall not pass any other motor vehicle within the same lane, except another motorcycle.

There is no language about which side, in or out of the travelling lane or any mention of any other section which would supercede it. The very fact that it does not allow for any circumstances along the lines of what you have suggested is "obvious", just mioght be the way to get the ticket dismissed.

I would think any attorney could argue the unenforceability of the law as written given the "obviousness" of real world situations.