Prohibited Turn Violation – Taylor, Michigan

Michigan traffic defense attorneys frequently see “prohibited turn” citations issued in Taylor, particularly around the Telegraph and Eureka corridors and other high-volume commercial areas where signage and lane markings change quickly. For truck drivers, these violations carry added weight because a prohibited turn is treated as a moving violation under Michigan law and is recorded on a CDL holder’s PSP report, where it can influence employment decisions and FMCSA safety scoring.

📄 What a “Prohibited Turn” Means Under Michigan Law

Most prohibited turn citations in Michigan are issued under MCL 257.612 or MCL 257.647, depending on the specific conduct:

• MCL 257.612 governs obedience to traffic control devices. If a sign or signal prohibits a right turn, left turn, or U-turn, ignoring that sign is a civil infraction under this section.
• MCL 257.647 governs turning movements and required positions. This statute applies when a driver makes a turn from an improper lane or a turn that is not permitted by lane-use indications.

These are civil infractions, not misdemeanors, unless the maneuver rises to the level of careless or reckless driving—which is uncommon for a standard prohibited turn ticket.

🚚 Common Scenarios in Taylor

Taylor’s commercial corridors create several predictable problem areas:

• No-turn-on-red signs at major intersections such as Telegraph & Eureka where heavy pedestrian movement and turning volumes cause frequent enforcement.
• Prohibited U-turns where median openings are restricted to emergency vehicles or where signage prohibits commercial vehicles from turning across multiple lanes.
• Lane-use control signals on divided highways that restrict left turns to dedicated arrows only.
• Improper wide turns involving commercial vehicles, especially where turning radius is tight and a driver swings too wide into an oncoming or adjacent lane.

Officers in Taylor—whether Taylor PD or MSP troopers working traffic enforcement—will document the sign, signal, or lane requirement that the driver allegedly violated.

🚗 Consequences for Non-CDL Drivers

Michigan treats a prohibited turn as a moving civil infraction. Consequences may include:

• Fines and mandatory court costs set by the local district court (23rd District Court in Taylor).
• Assessment of points on the driver’s record. While Michigan does not list a specific point value in the statute itself, prohibited turn violations are generally scored as two points under Michigan’s uniform point system when they involve disobeying a traffic control device or making an improper turn.
• Insurance premium increases based on the violation appearing on the master driving record.

📊 Additional Consequences for CDL Drivers

While Michigan assesses the same civil infraction to CDL and non-CDL drivers, the FMCSA consequences differ significantly:

• A prohibited turn is treated as a moving violation and appears on the driver’s PSP (Pre-Employment Screening Program) report.
• It may generate CSA severity points for the motor carrier under FMCSA’s Safety Measurement System if the violation is associated with a roadside inspection or crash report.
• Employers may treat this type of violation as a preventability issue, especially if an improper turn is made in a commercial vehicle at a controlled intersection.
• Repeated moving violations can trigger more frequent internal audits, remedial training, or job actions depending on company policy.
• Although a prohibited turn is not a “serious traffic violation” under 49 CFR §383.51, a pattern of moving violations can still jeopardize a driver’s standing with insurers and fleet managers.

⚖️ How the 23rd District Court in Taylor Commonly Handles These Cases

Taylor’s 23rd District Court routinely sees traffic cases involving commercial vehicles because of the city’s industrial traffic and interstate access. The court typically allows attorneys to negotiate civil infractions through informal or formal hearings. Depending on the facts and the driver’s record, outcomes may include:

• Amendment to a non-moving offense that carries no points.
• Reduction to a different moving violation with fewer consequences for a CDL holder.
• In some cases, a complete dismissal if the signage was unclear, obstructed, or improperly placed, or if the officer’s observations are not well-documented.

CDL drivers should avoid mailing in a payment because doing so is treated as an admission of responsibility, and the violation will immediately become part of their CDL history.

📝 Practical Steps for a CDL Driver in Taylor

If you were cited for a prohibited turn:

• Document the intersection immediately, including photographs of signs, lane markings, or visibility issues.
• Request a formal or informal hearing before the 23rd District Court rather than paying the ticket.
• Notify your safety manager, as most carriers require prompt reporting of any citation.
• Consult a Michigan traffic attorney who regularly handles CDL matters. The strategy for a CDL driver is different because avoiding a moving violation on the record is often more important than avoiding the fine.
• Do not ignore the ticket; unresolved infractions can lead to license suspensions, which for CDL drivers create additional compliance issues.