I honestly cannot count the number of times I have been asked about left-turn lanes being used as merge lanes. I have had people complain about others using the left-turn lane to merge into traffic. I have had others complain about how difficult it is to get out into traffic without using the left-turn lane to merge into traffic, and how can it be against the law because so many people do it?

I personally observed it happening yesterday while I was in my private car in front of the hospital on Chisholm Street, on U.S.-23 South near Kipfmiller’s, and then on M-32 near Wal-Mart.

If you all remember back a few years ago, specifically five years ago, those of you who shopped at Wal-Mart saw a number of troopers right out in front of Wal-Mart enforcing that exact driving offense prior to the light being put in at the driveway. Specifically, the offense would have been termed “improper lane use.”

The use of the center left-turn lane as a merge lane in a number of people’s eyes is a safe way to enter the roadway before they are able to enter their chosen lane of travel. However, for those motorists who are in the chosen lane of travel and observe a vehicle pulling into the center left-turn lane, it is never clear if they are going to continue in the lane of travel or stop in the turn lane to wait for traffic. That could then possibly cause an accident, as the driver in the chosen lane may slam on their brakes or swerve out of the lane, all due to the motorist illegally using the center left turn lane as a merge lane.

Anywhere you see a center left-turn lane, it should only be used to turn off of the highway into a place of business. Those left-turn lanes are not to be used as a merge lane when exiting the place of business.

Under Michigan Compiled Laws 257.642, it talks about lane use. Within 257.642, Section (c) states, “Official traffic control devices may be erected directing specified traffic to use a designated lane or designating those lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction regardless of the center of the roadway and operators of vehicles shall obey the directions of the traffic-control device.”

Within this section, it discusses traffic-control devices. Many people think of traffic-control devices as signs or traffic lights. Michigan Complied Law states a traffic control device is, “all signs, signals, markings, and devices not inconsistent with this act placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic.” With that said, all painted markings on the roadway would then be considered traffic control devices. The lines painted around a center left turn lane would not allow the lane to be used as a lane of travel for the purpose of merging into traffic.

If a person is cited for the offense of improper lane use, the driver would be cited with a civil infraction, face fines of approximately $110, and have two points added to their driver’s license.

Here in Alpena, that driving violation is such a common practice, but I believe the problem is learned behavior. Motorists see other motorists using the turn lane as a merge lanes, so they think to themselves, “That is so easy, and then I can get right in the other lane once traffic clears instead of waiting for traffic to clear in both directions.”

All in all, using a lane of travel on a roadway for anything other than the intended purpose could result in a civil infraction for the driver.

Ashley Simpson is a Community Service Trooper for the MSP Alpena Post. If you have a question for Trooper Simpson, you can email her at asktroopersimpson@gmail.com or mail them to Ask A Trooper, Michigan State Police – Alpena Post, 3283 W. Washington Ave, Alpena, MI 49707.