When turning left, crossed a continuous line or drove into oncoming traffic: deprivation of rights or a fine

Characteristics of double solid line

Traffic regulations of the Russian Federation give the following definition of double continuous 1.3 - this is a horizontal marking consisting of 2 parallel white continuous lines, which always separates oncoming traffic flows. It is used on roads:

with 4 or more rows;
with 2 or 3 lanes, each wider than 3.75 m.

From June 2021, bright yellow 1.3 markings may appear on the roads. It is assumed that this color makes the lines more visible in fog and under a layer of snow. Orange markings are considered temporary. It has priority over the others, while white and yellow are equal.

Rules for turning around without violating

Before turning, a signal is given in advance: with a light or, if the turn signals do not work, with a hand. You also need to make sure that the maneuver will not interfere with other road users and will not provoke an accident.

To make a U-turn, drive up to the left edge or occupy the leftmost lane of your direction (on a 3-lane road - the central lane, reserved for driving in both directions). If there are passing tram tracks on the left and there are no markings 1.18 or signs “Moving in lanes” 5.15.1/2, stand on them. They wait until the road is clear of oncoming traffic long enough to maneuver, and only then turn around.

Prohibitions and permissions

There is a certain list of situations that limit vehicle maneuvers. U-turn is prohibited (clause 8.11 of the Russian Traffic Regulations):

on zebra crossings;
in tunnels;
on bridges, viaducts, overpasses, overpasses and under them;
on railway tracks;
on sections of the road with poor visibility (less than 100 meters);
close to minibus and bus stops.

Permitted areas for turning are those where the markings are missing or are applied intermittently. Line 1.11 allows you to perform the maneuver from the intermittent side. On multi-lane roads and intersections, you should also follow signs 5.15.1/2 or markings 1.18 (both show how to move along the lanes. The arrow indicating a turn also allows a U-turn).

On narrow roads and for large vehicles, it is permissible to perform the maneuver starting from the right edge, lane or even from the side of the road. But this should not interfere with other drivers moving in the same direction: they need to be let through.

It is allowed to make a U-turn through a continuous line after signs 6.3.1 and 6.3.2 (a place or area intended for this). Road signs, even temporary ones, take precedence over markings and are valid until the first intersection or until canceled.

In what cases can you cross a solid marking line?

In some situations, you can avoid penalties for turning left or turning across an unbroken lane. There are two main factors that can serve as a reason for mitigating the punishment - the insignificance of the offense or its commission due to extreme necessity.

Insignificance

Most often, this moment applies in the case of direct communication with a traffic police inspector. If the driver’s actions did not create a danger on the road, did not cause unpleasant consequences, and the offender repented, the fine for the violation may be replaced by a verbal warning. Also, mitigating circumstances include the driver’s young age and his being in a state of extreme emotional arousal. A pregnant woman or mother of young children can avoid punishment.

A traffic police officer may issue a verbal warning if the driver’s actions do not create a danger on the road.

A fine for turning across a solid road may not be imposed in a situation where the driver’s actions were aimed at preventing some kind of incident. For example, a motorist was trying to avoid an accident or he needed to urgently drive to the hospital because a passenger or himself became ill.

Expert opinion

Mironova Anna Sergeevna

Lawyer and lawyer for automobile law. Specializes in administrative and civil law, insurance.

The maneuver of performing a U-turn through a double solid road or a turn that involves entering a marking is a serious offense. If possible, such situations should be avoided not only to avoid a fine, but also to prevent the creation of a dangerous situation on the road.

Penalty for turning around through markings

The penalty is imposed not for crossing a double solid line, but for an incorrectly carried out maneuver. A U-turn not in accordance with traffic rules is punishable under Art. 12.16 Part 2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation with a fine of 1–1.5 thousand rubles.

It is important to know! Unlike overtaking, making an illegal turn will not result in the deprivation of your license. The violation in itself is not associated with driving into oncoming traffic: such maneuvers end with a change in direction. The driver does not drive parallel to the traffic flow in someone else's lane, overtaking other cars, but at an angle to it, turning.

The intersection of a double solid line can be recorded by a traffic police inspector and the violator can be stopped. He makes a decision on the spot if the driver does not deny and agrees with the punishment. Otherwise, he draws up a protocol and sends the case materials to the court.

Most often, an incorrect turn is recorded by a video recording device. A special program recognizes a maneuver in the wrong place, determines the license plate number of the car and the owner, and automatically generates a fine (1000 rubles). The motorist receives a copy of it by registered “letter of chain” or notification in the Personal Account on the government services portal.

A fine for crossing a double solid line in 2021 can be paid off with a 50 percent discount. To use it, the driver must pay no later than 21 days after the decision is issued. If the “chain letter” was delivered to the driver later, he has the right to restore the deadline through the court.

What is the fine for?

If there is an accident on the highway and it is impossible to go around on the right side, then when passing through a continuous road, the traffic cop has no right to draw up a report, but if there is an opportunity to go around on the right, and the motorist did not take advantage of it, then there will be a fine for this.
Crossing while turning left when leaving a yard or any other private territory will result in a fine.
On dual carriageway roads with four or more lanes, you cannot overtake or pass into the oncoming lane. Turns on such a route must be made at intersections or other areas where there is no prohibition on crossing.

Penalty for crossing two lanes

Turning left or turning across two solid lanes is a violation of traffic rules, subject to a fine of 1,000 to 1,500 rubles.
Failure to comply with the requirements prescribed by road signs or markings of the roadway, except for the cases provided for in parts 2 - 7 of this article and other articles of this chapter (as amended by Federal Laws dated 04/21/2011 N 69-FZ, dated 04/05/2013 N 43 -FZ) entails a warning or the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of five hundred rubles. (as amended by Federal Law dated July 23, 2013 N 196-FZ)

Is another punishment possible?

If a traffic police officer stops a driver and says that crossing a double line will result in not only a fine, but also immediate deprivation of his driver’s license - this is a lie for his own benefit . A turn on a double solid line is punishable exclusively by a fine. Deprivation of rights is possible only if the driver drove several meters in the oncoming lane before making a U-turn.

Additional penalties for repeated violations

A repeated violation is considered to be committed within a year after the fine for the previous one has been paid. The Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation does not provide for any special punishment for the second or subsequent turns through a double solid line. “Repeat offenders” face the same fine of 1000–1500 rubles.

Attention! Unlike making a U-turn, for repeated overtaking by crossing marking 1.3 and driving in the oncoming lane, the driver will be deprived of his driving privileges for a year (12.15 Part 5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses). If this is caught on camera, the offender will get off with a fine of 5 thousand rubles.

How to avoid becoming a victim of deprivation of rights after driving beyond a double line?

Having made a U-turn through a double solid line under certain circumstances in front of traffic police officers, you are at risk of having your license revoked. This is unacceptable with the modern rhythm of life. Using public transport, it is impossible to have time to solve all pressing issues. Therefore, it is necessary to fight such a situation.

The first thing that is important to remember when filling out the protocol is to indicate the compelling and truthful reasons that made you violate the traffic rules. Even if the court does not completely release you from liability, it will change the penalty to a fine. You also need to do the following:

find an intelligent lawyer who will build a certain line of defense to justify your actions;
prepare for the trial all the necessary documents and evidence that exculpate you;
come to the meeting at which your issue is discussed;
explain to the court all the circumstances of the events as politely and tactfully as possible (it is better if a lawyer does this).

Only in this case can you really save your rights and get away with a fine of 1,500-2,000 rubles. But this does not mean that a good lawyer will always help you avoid punishment. Sometimes a traffic police officer has more compelling reasons for deprivation of rights, which seem convincing and indisputable to the court.

In this case, you will have to file appeals and seek the return of rights by other methods, but all this will take up precious time. Therefore, it is better to immediately prepare everything as well as possible and not lose the trial. Moreover, turning around through a double solid line in Russia today is not always punishable by deprivation of a driver’s license.

True, in our country there are also such castes of drivers to whom traffic rules do not apply, as in the following video.

Video:

In which case there will be no fine

There are 2 circumstances in which a fine can be avoided for a U-turn crossing a double solid line in 2021:

the insignificance of the violation;
extreme necessity.

The provision on insignificance (Article 2.9 of the Code of Administrative Offenses) in relation to the fine for a double continuous line in 2021 is used extremely rarely. To do this, it is necessary that the case contains a maximum number of mitigating circumstances and a minimum number of aggravating ones.

The offense must not be repeated, committed during an emergency or natural disaster. Mitigating circumstances include the repentance of the offender, the commission of an offense by a pregnant woman or a novice driver, the actual absence of harm caused, etc. Minority can be applied, for example, if the violation occurred on a deserted road outside the city.

Under extreme necessity (Article 2.7 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation) we understand the commission of an offense under emergency circumstances to prevent greater harm. This could be some kind of danger that threatened the driver, passenger or other traffic participant, which could not be avoided by other means. It is not easy to prove extreme necessity, but Art. 2.7 is used more often than 2.9 of the Administrative Code.

In what situations can mitigating circumstances be obtained?

If before 2008 driving into oncoming traffic in unauthorized places was punishable by deprivation of a license, today the requirements for drivers have softened a little. But this does not mean that you can drive into oncoming traffic through a double solid line with impunity and remain with your rights.

The requirements of the traffic rules allow a traffic police officer to deprive a driver of a driver’s license for driving into the oncoming lane when overtaking. This applies to overtaking tractors, long trucks and a variety of other types of transport. Therefore, you don’t have to prove to the policeman that you had no other choice, it was necessary to overtake in this particular place. Fines in the amount of 500 to 2000 rubles are provided for the following options for stopping a double continuous marking line:

interception for the purpose of turning around in any place where the double solid line is not broken by broken markings;
a U-turn or a left turn within the coverage area of the “straight ahead only” sign;
turn left through a double solid road;
entering the lane of oncoming traffic to avoid obstacles.

Remember that the traffic police officer will always interpret violations taking into account his rightness, and not your innocence. There is no point in proving anything to a policeman on patrol - the case of deprivation of rights will be heard in court.

The issue of driving beyond a double continuous median strip is important not so much because of the possible fine or more severe punishment, but because of the real danger that can await a driver who deliberately violates traffic rules.

Is it possible to appeal the decision?

To protest prosecution under Art. 12.16 Part 2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, the driver files a complaint addressed to the head of the traffic police department or to the court. It may refer to the following circumstances:

The turn across the dividing line was recorded by a camera and the order was issued to the owner of the car, although the real offender was another driver.
The traffic police inspector did not act according to regulations and made procedural errors that may cast doubt on the guilt of the motorist. This could be, for example, recording a reversal on a non-certified camera. Video from this device has no evidentiary value.

The markings were not made according to the rules. The new GOST R 51256-2018 dated February 20, 2018 did not change the requirements for double solid. The width of its parallel lines should be 0.1, 0.15 or 0.2 meters, the distance between them should be 0.1–0.18 m. Markings with such parameters are clearly visible, and do not take up much space on the roadway. If applied not in accordance with GOST, it is equivalent to being absent. True, the court is unlikely to accept evidence other than the examination.
The markings are hidden under a layer of snow, water or mud. It is not so much the driver who is to blame for the violation, but rather the utility services. As evidence of this, you need to provide video recordings, photographs from the turning point, and witness statements.

It is important to know! Not all traffic police inspectors correctly qualify the actions of the driver. Sometimes even traffic cameras make mistakes.

Most often, for a detour, a U-turn or a turn through a double solid line, instead of a fine in 2021, you are deprived of your rights, that is, the provisions of Art. 12.15 h. 4 Code of Administrative Offenses - driving in the oncoming lane. In such cases, the courts mostly side with the drivers, changing their punishment.

Repeated violation of the rules

A violation is considered repeated if it is committed before the expiration of 1 year from the date of drawing up the first protocol. Overtaking and driving on the opposite side in such a situation is punishable by deprivation of your driving license for 1 year.

Other violations related to crossing a continuous lane are punished in the same way as the first time.