I hadn't seen the beginnings of your camera thread either Loring... long time brewing!! Definitely a habit breaker for the locals. A permanent deterrent is required to prevent the new drivers or "guests" in your neighborhood from using your property. Best of luck!!
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I think in straight lines, but dream in curves
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after the camera I got the sense that it was a handful of people repeatedly doing it rather than a few visitors. After I put a sawhorse barricade in front of the house with a NO U-TURN sign and PRIVATE DRIVE - NO TURNS for 2-3 weeks, the traffic seems to have stopped. It was a bit inconvenient as I had to move the sign when I expected visitors and wanted them to use the drive or if I wanted to swing through for some reason. But worth the effort.
Loring in Katy, TX USA
If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
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I'm kinda surprised that it worked.. People are habitual creatures, 3 weeks is certainly long enough to establish a new behavior, but now that there is no barricade I should think people would relapse into old routines.I think in straight lines, but dream in curvesComment
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I also think people are less prone to break the rules once they know they are being enforced.
Maybe now it is more convenient for the drivers to just turn around before getting to his house, rather than risking driving down there and finding out it's blocked. Kind of like betting on a sure thing.Comment
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a website has the texas laws verbatim and paraphrased:
Crossing medians or private property
§545.063 - DRIVING ON DIVIDED HIGHWAY
(a) On a highway having two or more roadways separated by a space, physical barrier, or clearly indicated dividing section constructed to impede vehicular traffic, an operator shall drive on the right roadway unless directed or permitted to use another roadway by an official traffic-control device or police officer.
(b) An operator may not drive over, across, or in a dividing space, physical barrier, or section constructed to impede vehicular traffic except:
(1) through an opening in the physical barrier or dividing section or space; or
(2) at a crossover or intersection established by a public authority.
§545.064 - RESTRICTED ACCESS
An operator may not drive on or from a limited-access or controlled-access roadway except at an entrance or exit that is established by a public authority.
§545.423 - CROSSING PROPERTY
(a) An operator may not cross a sidewalk or drive through a driveway, parking lot, or business or residential entrance without stopping the vehicle.
(b) An operator may not cross or drive in or on a sidewalk, driveway, parking lot, or business or residential entrance at an intersection to turn right or left from one highway to another highway.
It is illegal to drive across any median. This includes the median between the freeway and the frontage road, even when there’s a traffic jam on the freeway. If you want to get onto the frontage road, get off at the next exit. You’re an adult-- act like it and be patient. You're not any more important than anyone else on the road (really, you're not.)
Similar to driving across the median, it is also illegal to cross private property for the purpose of turning left or right from one road to another. In other words, it's illegal to cut-through that gas station on the corner so you don't have to stop at the stop sign or red light or to avoid the line of cars waiting at the intersection.
So you can't cut through a parking lot or private drive as a shortcut when making turns from one raod to another. It doesn't specifically state anything about U-turns but I think the intent is the same, no shortcuts through private drives or property.Last edited by LCHIEN; 04-01-2013, 06:30 AM.Loring in Katy, TX USA
If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
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Loring
Have you talked to the City, Town or County about your problem? If so what do they say to do? I have been following this for while but don't remember if you had said any thing about the City response short of reconfiguring your drive way. Common sense says that has to be illegal and might even be considered trespassing.
TomComment
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we're in an unincorporated area so the jurisdiction would be the Harris County Sherriffs office. I haven't talked to them.
Upon further reflection it appears than many of the statutes banning shortcuts thru property are to prevent evasion of intersection stop lights and stop signs - lawful traffic control devices. So its not clear how shortcutting through my drive to avoid going to a lawful u-turn spot would rate to a judge.Last edited by LCHIEN; 04-01-2013, 08:12 AM.Loring in Katy, TX USA
If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
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Loren;
I think that your specific case really falls under trespass law rather than "traffic" if you look at the legal route for solutions. Not sure about Texas but VA trespass laws do not kick in unless the property is posted.
A reasonable starter on this might be a tasteful sign. Something like Private drive. This is not a public turnaround and see where that takes the problem. Point is, until you do that you really don't have any legal leverage. There likely will be some idiots that won't pay attention that will require some Phase 2 action on your part.
Unfortunately this all burns time and $ on your part because of others lack of consideration.Comment
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I just wanted to add my two cents.
I have a neighbor who didn't want people parking in front of their house so they put up a basketball hoop.Comment
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I'm not sure what size right of way you have on your street but standard is 50', 25' each way from the center line of the road. It's legal to pull into a drive to make a u turn, in fact I remember my driving instructor insisting on it. I agree it's not only illegal but also tacky to use a circle drive for a u turn. If they have to turn around, they should pull in, back out. Check with Harris Co. to see what they suggest, it sounds like a real hassle.
Good luck,
DPComment
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I can't speak for your area, as every state, county, and even village seems to have their own rules. But both here in Binghamton and back in Painted Post (both NY), you can't do anything about someone parking in front of your house.. the road is public. Nor is there much to be done about someone turning around in your driveway as the green entrance way up to and including the sidewalk is also public.
However, your driveway and certainly a "U" driveway is private property.. your private property! "Trespass" is therefore in place and I would suggest you contact the local Sheriff, for as you describe, they are the policing agency for your area.
Of course, relations with your neighbor is in jeopardy if that matters. But for others, I would take steps.
CWSThink it Through Before You Do!Comment
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An easy fix would be to just install electric gates.
.Comment
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Basket ball hoops in Sacramento are against the City Code they have to be pulled back up by garage when not being used. I know I have reported over a hundred of them as part of Neighborhood watch. You also can't park more than 72 hours in front of you own place or anyone else's It is not enforce often but mainly to keep Junker's Rev's and big Commercial off the streets. We had a neighbor who was harassing his neighbor by parking different car in front of her house he slipped up over Thanksgiving and left it there while he and his family went out of town, after 3 day it was ticketed and after 3 more days it was towed as being abandoned a few day after he got back and paid a small fortune in fines and storage fees he drove up into my driveway and started accusing me of harassing him, which I had nothing to do with. He kept it up long enough that I was able to call Police and have him arrested for Trespassing he has a bad reputation as a bully and had he stayed on the street I could not have done anything but once he was on my property game on. He still playing games but the whole street is was and logging every thing he does to his neighbor and others. He has also harassed me, my wife on others while driving, he is in for a big fall he can be sued in small claims court for up to 5k by each of us so it could get real nasty.
TomComment
LCHIEN
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