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"Gridlock" Sam Schwartz

Why Can’t I Go the Wrong Way on a One Way Street?

7:43 PM EDT on March 30, 2007

From a recent Gridlock Sam column in the Daily News:

Dear Gridlock Sam:

confusion.jpg I received a summons for driving the wrong way in a one-way street. I do admit that I made a wrong turn in a one-way street, and when I did reach the end of that street I resumed driving correctly. I remember reading somewhere that, according to traffic laws, a driver is allowed, if by accident, to continue driving the wrong way in that street, as long as you don't continue going the wrong way on the next turn street. Should the officer have issued me that summons if this traffic law is true?

-- Carlos, via e-mail

Dear Carlos: If you drive the wrong way on a street, you're subject to a summons immediately, no matter what you do next! The only time you're given a second chance is with an equipment violation (i.e. broken light), and you get it fixed by the next day.

-- Gridlock Sam

Photo: Pellet13 on Flickr

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