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What Are The New Orleans Turning & Stopping Rules for Traffic Tickets & New Orleans Car Accidents?

New Orleans Turning and Stopping Rules are customs and laws codified in the Code of Ordinances, City of New Orleans at Chapter 154.

No Right, Left, or “U” Turn

Article V, Division 3

If you get in a car accident in New Orleans, you may find that the New Orleans Police have ticketed you or one of the other drivers for violating turning and stopping laws. If you suffered personal injuries or property damage in a car accident, you may be facing important legal deadlines. Lavis Law Firm – Personal Injury & Accident Attorney will discuss your claim with you immediately. If we agree to handle your case, we will do so on a contingency fee basis. No fee is owed if there is no recovery. You only pay if we win your case. For a FREE CASE REVIEW, contact a New Orleans auto accident attorney at 504-226-5502 or complete our online form.

The city traffic engineer may determine those locations at which drivers of vehicles shall not make a right, left or “U” turn and shall place proper signs at such locations. The making of turns may be prohibited between certain hours of any day and permitted at other hours, in which event, such hours shall be plainly indicated on the signs or they may be removed when such turns are permitted.


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New Orleans Turning and Stopping Rules

Sec. 154-436. – Required position and method of turning at intersections.

The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at any intersection shall proceed as follows:

Right turns

Both the approach for a right turn and a right turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or the edge of the roadway.

Left turns on two-way roadways

At any intersection where traffic is permitted to move in both directions on each roadway entering the intersection, an approach for a left turn shall be made in that portion of the right half of the roadway nearest the centerline thereof and by passing to the right of such centerline where it enters the intersection and after entering the intersection, the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection to the right of the centerline of the roadway being entered. Whenever practicable, the left turn shall be made in that portion of the intersection to the left of the center of the intersection.

Left turns on other than two-way roadways

At any intersection where traffic is restricted to one direction on one or more of the roadways, the driver of a vehicle intending to turn left at any such intersection shall approach the intersection in the extreme left-hand lane lawfully available to traffic moving in the direction of travel of such vehicle and after entering the intersection the left turn shall be made so as to leave the intersection in the safest lane lawfully available to traffic moving in such direction upon the roadway being entered.

For the purpose of this section, each roadway of a boulevard shall be considered as an independent one-way street.

(Code 1956, § 38-75)

State Law referenceRequired position and method of turning at intersections, R.S. 32:101.

Sec. 154-437. – Position, signal for change of direction, starting and stopping.

(a)  No person shall turn a vehicle at an intersection unless the vehicle is in proper position upon the roadway as required in section 154-436 or turn a vehicle to enter a private roadway or road or to otherwise turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety, or without interfering with the right-of-way of the vehicles traveling lawfully in their proper lanes on the same street, or on intersecting streets.

(b)  A signal of intention to turn right or left from the roadway shall be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning.

(c)  No person shall stop or suddenly decrease the speed of a vehicle without first giving the signal provided by law to the driver of any vehicle immediately to the rear when there is an opportunity to give such a signal.

(Code 1956, § 38-76)

State Law referenceTurning movements and required signals, R.S. 32:104.

New Orleans Improper Starting or Backing

Sec. 154-438. – Improper starting or backing.

(a)  No person shall start a vehicle that is stopped, standing or parked unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety, or without interfering with the right-of-way of other vehicles traveling lawfully in adjacent or intersecting lanes of traffic.

(b)  The driver of a vehicle shall not back it unless such movement can be made with reasonable safety or without interfering with the right-of-way of other vehicles travelling lawfully on the same street or intersecting streets, nor for a distance of over 60 feet, nor at a speed in excess of ten miles per hour.

(Code 1956, § 38-77)

State Law referenceMoving parked vehicles, R.S. 32:103; limitations on backing, R.S. 32:281.

Louisiana Hand and Arm Signals

Sec. 154-439. – Signals by hand or arm or signal device.

Any stop or turn signal when required in this division shall be given either by means of the hand and arm or by a signal lamp or mechanical device of the type as approved by the director of the state department of highways, but when a vehicle is so constructed or loaded that a hand and arm signal would not be visible both to the front and rear of such vehicle then such signal must be given by a lamp or signal device.

(Code 1956, § 38-78)

State Law referenceSignals by hand or arm or signal device, R.S. 32:105.

Sec. 154-440. – Method of giving hand and arm signals.

Any stop or turn signal when required in this division shall be given either by means of the hand and arm or by a signal lamp or mechanical device of the type as approved by the director of the state department of highways, but when a vehicle is so constructed or loaded that a hand and arm signal would not be visible both to the front and rear of such vehicle then such signal must be given by a lamp or signal device.

Hand Signals

In Louisiana, all signals required to be given by hand and arm shall be given from the left side of the vehicle in the following manner, and such signals shall indicate as follows:

Left Turn

Hand and arm extended horizontally, with the hand open and the back of the hand to the rear.

Right Turn

Hand and arm extended upward at an angle of 95 degrees from shoulder or elbow, with the hand open and the back of the hand to the rear. A bicyclist may also extend the right hand and arm horizontally with the hand open and back of the hand to the rear.

Stop, decrease speed or start

Hand and arm extended downward at an angle of 45 degrees from shoulder or elbow, with the hand open and the back of hand to the rear.

Pulling from the curb or side of the highway

The same as for left turn.

A bicyclist is not required to continuously give the signals required by a subsection of this section if the hand or arm is needed to control the bicycle.

(Code 1956, § 38-79; M.C.S., Ord. No. 27365, § 4, 4-20-17)

State Law referenceMethods of giving hand and arm signals, R.S. 32:106.

Sec. 154-441. – Authority to place and obedience to turning markers.

The city traffic engineer is hereby authorized to place markers, buttons or signs within or adjacent to intersections indicating the course to be travelled by vehicles turning at intersections and such course to be travelled as so indicated may conform to or be other than as prescribed by ordinance. When authorized markers, buttons or other indications are placed within an intersection indicating the course to be travelled by vehicles executing such turns, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey such indications.

Street Marker

The city traffic engineer is hereby authorized to place markers, buttons or signs within or adjacent to intersections indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles turning at intersections and such course to be traveled as so indicated may conform to or be other than as prescribed by ordinance. When authorized markers, buttons or other indications are placed within an intersection indicating the course to be traveled by vehicles executing such turns, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey such indications.

(Code 1956, § 38-80)

Sec. 154-442. – Authority to place restricted turn signs, obedience.

The city traffic engineer may determine those locations at which drivers of vehicles shall not make a right, left or “U” turn and shall place proper signs at such locations. The making of turns may be prohibited between certain hours of any day and permitted at other hours, in which event, such hours shall be plainly indicated on the signs or they may be removed when such turns are permitted.

No Right , Left or “U” Turn

(a)  The city traffic engineer may determine those locations at which drivers of vehicles shall not make a right, left or “U” turn and shall place proper signs at such locations. The making of turns may be prohibited between certain hours of any day and permitted at other hours, in which event, such hours shall be plainly indicated on the signs or they may be removed when such turns are permitted.

(b)  Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right, left or “U” turn is permitted, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey the directions of any such sign.

(Code 1956, § 38-81)

Sec. 154-443. – Limitations on turning around; use of storage lanes while turning.

(a)  The driver of any vehicle shall not turn such vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon any through street or upon any street in a business district other than a boulevard and shall not, upon any other street, so turn a vehicle unless such movement can be made in safety and without interfering with the right-of-way of approaching traffic either in opposing lanes or intersecting lanes of traffic.

(b)  No vehicle shall be turned so as to proceed in the opposite direction upon any curve or upon the approach to or near the crest of a grade where such vehicle cannot be seen by the driver of any other vehicle approaching from either direction within 300 feet.

(c)  At those intersections having storage lanes for turning movements, it shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle to turn any place other than through such storage lanes.

(Code 1956, § 38-82)

State Law referenceTurning on curve or crest of grade prohibited, R.S. 32:102.

Secs. 154-444—154-480. – Reserved.

Sec. 154-486. – Obedience to signal indicating approach of railroad train.

Whenever any person driving a vehicle approaches a railroad grade crossing under any of the circumstances stated in this section, the driver of such vehicle shall stop not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of such railroad and shall not proceed until he can do so safely.

Stop For Crossing Gate Or Signal

(a)  Whenever any person driving a vehicle approaches a railroad grade crossing under any of the circumstances stated in this section, the driver of such vehicle shall stop not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of such railroad and shall not proceed until he can do so safely. The foregoing requirements shall apply when:

(1)  A clearly visible electrical or mechanical signal device gives warning of the immediate approach of a railroad train;

(2)  A crossing gate is lowered or a human flagman gives or continues to give a signal of the approach or passage of a railroad train;

(3)  A railroad train approaching within approximately 1,500 feet of the highway crossing emits a signal audible from such distance and such railroad train by reason of its speed or nearness to such crossing is an immediate hazard; or

(4)  An approaching railroad train is plainly visible and is in hazardous proximity of such crossing.

(b)  No person shall drive any vehicle through, around or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad grade crossing while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed.

(Code 1956, § 38-103)

State Law referenceSimilar provisions, R.S. 32:171.

Also see our page on railroad accident attorneys near you in Louisiana.

Contact a New Orleans attorney who can help

No matter how simple your case may seem to be, it is always smart to consult with a lawyer who knows the Turning & Stopping Rules for New Orleans Car Accidents. There are contributing factors that can cause you to receive less than you actually deserve. You should contact Lavis Law by phone or online as soon as possible so that you can request a consultation. This could help you get legal help in Louisiana so that your case gets resolved in a favorable manner.

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