California restricted lane ticket

Just got this ticket on I5 southbound. Five lanes plus two lanes HOV out of Los Angeles. The highway kept adding and losing lanes to accommodate the influx from merging and leaving highways. I Was passing merging traffic in the middle (lane 3) of the main 5 lanes, and when I realized this was the law, I stayed in the right most lane the last 100 miles to San diego. This made me change lanes a minimum of 15 times and at the time I traveled, subjected me to possible lane change collisions every quarter mile or less, even not passing anyone. Any help on how to beat this ticket? Or is it just plea bargaining it down to non moving violation? For a state willing to post every other truck law, it would be nice o have that posted conspicuously so people don't unwittingly break a law that's NOT universal.

 

posted at every truck entrance coming into California...

 

So that one sign counts for the entire state... Wow. They post truck speed every time there's a speed limit sign, yet this little sign counts for the whole state including through multiple interchanges.... Just wow.

 

Well yeah -- one sign for each of the most commonly broken non-universal laws, placed at each entrance into California. So there is also a sign saying seatbelts are required. And another saying motorcycle helmets are required. And one saying move over or slow down for vehicles with flashing lights. And another saying interstate carriers must register with PUC. And another warning about oversize & overweight, etc.

You should always pay extra attention to signs when entering a new state. California at least spaces individual signs far apart so you can read them. One of the NE states has all of their odd laws crammed onto 1 sign you can't possibly read at 65mph...



If you're a new driver, you really ought to look at the truck laws in advance of going into new states. Did you know chicken lights are illegal in PA? Did you know only 96" or narrower vehicles are legal on most New Jersey roads? Did you know PA requires you to use flashers when going below 45 on a freeway. Did you know driving with flashers is illegal in Florida (and many other states)? Did you know about California's kingpin to rear axle law? Did you know your tandems can be too far forward in Maryland? Did you know it is only legal to park at a California rest stop for 8 hours (it is never enforced)? Did you know with prepass you can bypass scales while hauling hazmat except in Arizona & Arkansas (with hazmat permit)? Did you know that if someone hits you in New York, you are responsible for fixing your own vehicle?

 

One more reason for a dash cam

 

If that's the case, why write the ticket in the first place?

 

Out of curiosity, how long do you have to move to the right 2 lanes when you come to a junction and 3 or 4 lanes come in from the right? The 3 or 4 trucks ahead of me were able to get over slowly, one at a time but when it was my turn, I couldn't get over safely. I would have had to fight my way across 4 lanes to comply with the law. The lane I was in, and needed to be in, exited to the left along with 3 other lanes, and was the far right of the exit lanes.

 

It isn't feasible, nor is it possible to know every law for every state. The FMCSA was established to impose a nationwide set of standard laws for commercial vehicles. It's been successful for the most part. Law enforcement capitalizes on everything that is not covered.