Under what circumstances can you legally block an intersection?
If the intersection is on a private road.
Is it illegal to stop in the middle of an intersection with heavy traffic?
Here's my view on this: when the traffic is heavy, and I'm uncertain about clearing the intersection before lights turned red for me, I would stop before entering an intersection... any intersection, and only pass when I'm certain to get through in time. I do this for courtesy - to be considerate to the cross traffic - regardless of the legality. Since there are "DO NOT BLOCK INTERSECTION" signs on roads leading to most (if not all) intersections from every direction, I am assuming that it is illegal in most states in America.
Why do people block an intersection turning left while they can't go yet?
If I have green with oncoming traffic I always stop where the sign points to stop (stop here on red) or the stopbar as to not block the intersection as that is illegal and you could get a citation for blocking the intersection or running a green ball on a left. I treat a permissive green on left as a right turn on red the way it should be treated legally. That brings me to my next point... Why do people also pull out past the stop on red when they have red so they can turn? Some people run both the red right and the green permissive left as if there is an invisible green arrow i can't see. So where are the police? Why aren't the tickets flying? People also go in the middle of the intersection and if they can't complete their turn in time, they do so on yellow or even RED. Bonus question: can I legally hit a car waiting in the intersection completing a left turn when they have red and I have green? Not trying it any time soon, just wondering if they would get the red running or intersection blocking ticket making them at fault even know I gunned the gas the second it went green.
Is blocking a side street illegal? the same thing as blocking a full intersection?
say you're on a busy road and a red light way up ahead has stopped traffic producing a line of stopped cars a couple of blocks long. you're near the end of this line. to your right is a side street, the car in front of you has passed this side street fully and is not blocking entrance or egress to it at all, but if you pull up behind it, you will be. is it illegal if you do? this "half" intersection doesn't have a stop light or anything. I know that its illegal to block an intersection, to enter one if you don't have a cleared path to leave it, but does this count? i'm inclined to think yes, its technically impeding traffic..its not a big side street but what if an ambulance had to use it?
Can I legally park in the street blocking my own driveway?
If your blocking a public road no (some exceptions), if your between no parking signs no, if your blocking a fire hydrant no. The street in front of your driveway is not your property.In some cities there are laws that will allow you to park in the right lane of a road, leaving the left lane open, in front if your house during non busy traffic times in the day. If you park between no parking signs, you can be towed and or fined. If you live in a neighborhood off of any busy roads, and roads that are not used for regular driving, your probably okay. Even then I would suggest you look at HOA regulations and city ordinances.Please don't use this as accredited legal advice due to jurisdiction.
Why are protesters legally allowed to block busy streets and highways?
Short answer: Demonstrations usually are not permitted if they interfere with local law regarding obstructing traffic, which would include obstructing an intersection.Long Answer:In general, demonstrations and other forms of public protest are permitted. The right to peaceably assemble is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. However, this does not mean that every demonstration, protest or gathering can be done at any time of the day or night and at any location one chooses. The reason for this is because there is a "balance" struck between the citizens' right to lawfully assemble and the time, place and manner in which the assembly is to be done. Therefore, the right to assemble for a public purpose is permitted provided that the group assembled abides by any applicable laws against things such as traffic congestion, blocking the sidewalks, littering, excessive noise, and generally speaking, any other local laws or ordinances such as creating a public disturbance which might be forbidden by law. Taken together, the government may review the time, place and manner of the public assembly or demonstration and weigh these factors against the group's right to demonstrate. [See Grayned v. City of Rochester, 408 U.S. 104 (1972)].If there is a conflict between the law and the right to peaceably assemble then the law must be narrowly tailored in such a way as to permit the right to peacefully assemble. Local town or city governments generally prefer notice in advance and may have an application process to obtain a permit for the purpose of the demonstration, protest or other public assembly in order to guarantee the right to assemble and at the same time, assure that the assembly is peaceable and lawful. In other words, law enforcement might restrict the time place and manner of the group assembly. So, in answer to your question about whether a demonstration can block an intersection, if law-enforcement knows in advance as to the time place and manner of the demonstration, it may permit the intersection to be blocked by the group, but also create a reasonable detour for traffic to go around the blocked intersection. Ideally, there would be a presence of law-enforcement in order to assure that the assembly remains peaceable and to direct traffic around at the intersection to some alternate route so that traffic is not unreasonably hindered by the group's assembly.
Is it illegal to block an ambulance?
Yes it is illegal to block any Emergency Services vehicle and they could face quite a substantial fine for doing it, The reasons are pretty obvious as they are putting peoples lives in danger through their negligence, if the ambulance was on a shout (worse case scenario) and due to their actions a patient died as a result they could face a manslaughter charge as it was their actions by blocking the ambulance what resulted in the death of the patient. Hope This Helps, All the best
Is it illegal to stop/sit at a stop sign and not go anywhere?
You can't park your vehicle within 20 feet of the intersection without reasonable cause. And picking kids up is not reasonable, flat tire, dead battery, no gas, YES, Kids, NO. Talk to the priciple, if they don't do any thing wait till they do it again and call the non-emergency number for the local police and tell them that these cars are blocking traffic at an intersection. NOT ON THE STREET. If there is a double yellow line then I can guess the road is wide enough to allow two cars to pass while cars are parked along the side so they are not violating a fire code. However since fire trucks are so long and require so much space to turn in, they are blocking the intersection for emergency vehicles.
Is it illegal to block an exit to a business with your car?
It depends on whether or not your city or state has an ordinance or law that states you are not to block intersecting roads and/or drives. Also if the property owner has posted a sign that states "do not block"- in that case an officer could cite the person that is blocking that road or drive the sign is referring to. Even if there is no ordinance/law prohibiting it, common sense should prevail- how is an emergency vehicle supposed to get into that drive or onto a private road if traffic is bumper-to-bumper in front of the drive/road? I've traveled throughout the country & since it's difficult to learn the laws for every city I've driven in- I refer to common sense & if I'm approaching stopped traffic at a light with an intersecting road/drive that is going to be blocked by my vehicle if I stop directly behind the vehicle in front of me, I'll stop behind the intersection- regardless if it is someone's driveway, an entrance to a shopping mall or a side road- and I've had a few honking horns behind me when I do it. Even in my own city, where it is in fact illegal to block intersections- I get irate horn honking.