I was ticketed for failure to observe a no left turn sign. What are
the specifications and/or requirements that the sign must meet. For
example, height off the ground, distance from intersection, and
anything else that is
required.  City is Tigard, Oregon.

Hello ticketed_in_oregon-ga,

I should emphasize the disclaimer at the bottom of this page, which
indicates that answers and comments on Google Answers are general
information, and not intended to substitute for informed professional
legal advice.  If you need such advice, you should contact a lawyer in
Oregon.  A Google Answers Researcher, as a layperson, can only do
general research on this topic, which you might then discuss with a
lawyer.

Tutuzdad-ga notes a provision that allows the Oregon Department of
Transportation (ODOT) to select the places and design of road signs. 
I have found another provision, Section 734-020-0005, where ODOT has
apparently made its selection.

"DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, HIGHWAY DIVISION - DIVISION 20 -
TRAFFIC CONTROL
- 734-020-0005 - Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices"
The Oregon Administrative Rules
http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARS_700/OAR_734/734_020.html

[See also Section 810.200, to which that rule refers:
"Chapter 810 — Road Authorities; Courts; Police; Other Enforcement
Officials" (2001 Edition)
Oregon Revised Statutes
http://landru.leg.state.or.us/ors/810.html ]

Specifically, the rule adopts the following standards:

"Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices" (MUTCD) (Millenium
Edition, with incorporated Revision No. 1 changes, dated December 28,
2001)
U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/kno-millennium_12.28.01.htm

"Oregon Supplements to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices"
(March 2002 Edition)
Oregon Department of Transportation
http://www.odot.state.or.us/traffic/PDF/General/Oregon%20Supplements%20(March%202002).pdf

It appears that the relevant provisions concerning No Left Turn signs
are on Page 2B-17 and 2B-18 of the MUTCD, in Section 2B-17:

"CHAPTER 2B. REGULATORY SIGNS" [pages 17-18 of PDF file]
U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration
http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/pdfs/millennium/06.14.01/2bndi.pdf

You might wish to ask a lawyer what the meaning of these provisions,
or other provisions, might be for your situation.

- justaskscott-ga


Search strategy:

Browsed Oregon rules and statutes

Searched on Google for:

"Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices"

Browsed MUTCD

---

Clarification of Answer by justaskscott-ga on 29 Aug 2003 13:47 PDT

Incidentally, you might wish to browse the MUTCD, to see if other
provisions seem important in your situation.

So am I correct to assume that city government can place a "no left
turn" sign 12 inches off of the ground and that is considered
"adequate"?  If so, you guessed it, I won't win.

Dear ticketed_in_oregon-ga;

Unless you were ticketed in a location off the state highway where a
local goverment maintains the signs and a local ordinance mandates
specifics with regard to the dimensions, distances and height of
signage, you appear to be out of luck as far as using this as your
defense. It looks like the state is well within it’s right to post
signs in any manner it sees fit:

OREGON REVISED STATUTES CHAPTER 366
http://landru.leg.state.or.us/ors/366.html
"366.450 Road signs. The Department of Transportation may erect and
maintain such directional road and other signs on the state highways
at such places and of such material and design as it selects. [Amended
by 1957 c.663 §1]"

Let me know if this answers your question and I will be happy to close
it for you.

Regards;
Tutuzdad-ga

By the way, this gives me enough information to make my case.  You may
close this.  Thanks.

Wait a minute.  Don't close this yet.

You said in your reply "Unless you were ticketed in a location off the
state highway where a
local goverment maintains the signs and a local ordinance mandates
specifics with regard to the dimensions, distances and height of
signage,"

According to my question as written, "the city is Tigard, Oregon"
thus, local ordinances apply.  I am specifically looking for these
ordinances to make my case.  The ticket did NOT occur on a state
highway but OFF the highway.  Could you please post traffic sign
ordinances for Tigard, Oregon.  I have already been to the tigard site
"http://www.ci.tigard.or.us/city_hall/departments/municipal_court/violations.asp"
and its subdirectories.

I would rather not close this until I get answers specific to Tigard
as stated.  Thanks
Thanks.

If there is a local ordinance, it would probably be here:

http://www.ci.tigard.or.us/business/municipal_code/title-10.asp

The site is very slow at the moment, so I haven't been able to check
these provisions.  Perhaps when you look at them, they will load more
quickly.