Legal to stop in the middle of the road?

persian54 · 10-15-2011, 04:26 AM

Is it Legal to stop in the middle of the road?

I was going down Highland, a few blocks before Sunset, top down in the Z4

But there was a fire hydrant that had busted..shooting water all over the street.

I immediately stopped the car, put my hazards on, and started closing the top

cars ended up getting piled up behind me (i made sure i had enough room to stop so I wouldn't get rear ended, but they eventually caught up), but no one honked or tried to change lanes (I guess they understood? and were respectful?..which is rare in LA..)

So I was curious...is what I did legal? or should I have just driven through the pouring water, got us soaked as well as my interior?

Thanks

thai357sig · 10-15-2011, 05:50 AM

Absolutly nothing wrong with what you did. There was a state own equipment that was deficient and it would potentially damage your personal property and you averted it via inconveniencing people for a few seconds. Done.

KIS · 10-15-2011, 06:35 AM

I doubt you would be cited for what you described, but I also doubt that it was legal. If your car is impaired (but drivable) you are required to safely take it out of the flow of traffic and then come to a stop on the side of the road.

CBS · 10-15-2011, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KIS

I doubt you would be cited for what you described, but I also doubt that it was legal. If your car is impaired (but drivable) you are required to safely take it out of the flow of traffic and then come to a stop on the side of the road.

Agreed but if an accident had happened I am sure he would have been found at fault.

Mr. ///M3 RD · 10-15-2011, 08:21 AM

You had a reason to stop there was a situation and you took appropriate action. Nothing wrong with that.

Edjay · 10-15-2011, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBS

Agreed but if an accident had happened I am sure he would have been found at fault.

No, if he woud have been rear ended, it would be the other drives fault. Drivers are suppose to keep a safe distance, no matter what.
I dont think you would have gotten cited for it. I think given the senario, it was a legal move.

SchnellM3 · 10-15-2011, 09:25 AM

People stop in the middle of the road to BS with their buddies all the time and POLICE drive right by while there are plenty of spots to pull over and tie up traffic for 20 minuets. Your top goes up in a matter of seconds

immiketoo · 10-15-2011, 09:34 AM

There is a law regarding obstructing the flow of traffic, but you had a valid reason. No worries.

piloto · 10-15-2011, 01:38 PM

Agreed. you did the right thing. Aside from getting wet, I suppose if that stream of water hit you in the face, it could have distracted you enough to where you could have cause collided with another car in front, or worse, with a pedestrian or cyclist, given the perfect storm of course.

I'm more susprised people were curtious, especially in LA (same would apply for OC). I'd have though for sure you'd have been honked at, flipped off, and mocked for driving a bimmer, a convertible bimmer nonetheless.

rjd598 · 10-15-2011, 01:54 PM

im a cop and im going to report this to my superior so you are screwed cause this is illegal

persian54 · 10-15-2011, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjd598

im a cop and im going to report this to my superior so you are screwed cause this is illegal

The thing is, the hydrant's water pressure was extremely high, so if it had hit me in the face...that would have been pretty painful, to say the least

I wanted to pull over, but no place to do so. I even considered doing an (illegal) u turn but thought against it at that moment

A car did laugh while driving by me though lol.

IIRC, the Top closes in about 20 seconds or so

Thanks for the responses :P

rjd598 · 10-16-2011, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by persian54

The thing is, the hydrant's water pressure was extremely high, so if it had hit me in the face...that would have been pretty painful, to say the least

I wanted to pull over, but no place to do so. I even considered doing an (illegal) u turn but thought against it at that moment

A car did laugh while driving by me though lol.

IIRC, the Top closes in about 20 seconds or so

Thanks for the responses :P

hahhahah was messing with you bro. u did the right thing in my book

persian54 · 10-16-2011, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjd598

hahhahah was messing with you bro. u did the right thing in my book

I know lol

hence the smiley "

"

10-15-2011, 04:26 AM	#1
persian54 Lieutenant General 922 Rep 15,818 Posts Drives: M760/G83M4 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Valley, SoCal iTrader: (298)	Legal to stop in the middle of the road? Is it Legal to stop in the middle of the road? I was going down Highland, a few blocks before Sunset, top down in the Z4 But there was a fire hydrant that had busted..shooting water all over the street. I immediately stopped the car, put my hazards on, and started closing the top cars ended up getting piled up behind me (i made sure i had enough room to stop so I wouldn't get rear ended, but they eventually caught up), but no one honked or tried to change lanes (I guess they understood? and were respectful?..which is rare in LA..) So I was curious...is what I did legal? or should I have just driven through the pouring water, got us soaked as well as my interior? Thanks __________________ From E93 335i to E89 Z4 to E93 M3/E89 Z4 to E350/SL550
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10-15-2011, 05:50 AM	#2
thai357sig Lieutenant 30 Rep 409 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Amerika iTrader: (0)	Absolutly nothing wrong with what you did. There was a state own equipment that was deficient and it would potentially damage your personal property and you averted it via inconveniencing people for a few seconds. Done. __________________ 09'M3 JerezB/Tech/Cold/Prem/PDC/SR/Black Leather/ANTHRACITE Sycamore/IPOD/USB/Rear Sunshade/Premium Sounnd/6MT*Just Hit The Ground! Delivery 02/25/2009*
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10-15-2011, 06:35 AM	#3
KIS Lieutenant 38 Rep 543 Posts Drives: 2015 Jaguar F Type R Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Houston, Texas iTrader: (0)	I doubt you would be cited for what you described, but I also doubt that it was legal. If your car is impaired (but drivable) you are required to safely take it out of the flow of traffic and then come to a stop on the side of the road.
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10-15-2011, 08:21 AM	#5
Mr. ///M3 RD Happy Camper 612 Rep 7,869 Posts Drives: C63 AMG & 280 SL on Weekends : Join Date: May 2010 Location: GTA, Ontario - Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 1969 Restored Merce ... [7.50] 2011 M3 Coupe TRADED [7.34] 1987 BMW 535is [1.00] Cars from the Past [6.50] The ///M3 Engine S65 [9.59]	You had a reason to stop there was a situation and you took appropriate action. Nothing wrong with that. __________________ Cheers, Rolf-Dieter Life will take us to some interesting places, fortunately The ///M3 will too with a many of us know this very well, now my C6.3 AMG with 487 HP does it too ---> Click here for some good stuff I found
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10-15-2011, 09:25 AM	#7
SchnellM3 Digger 205 Rep 2,619 Posts Drives: 03 E46 M3 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pa iTrader: (5) Garage List 2003 BMW E46 M3 Tra ... [8.00] 2009 BMW E92 M3 [8.30] 2009 Yamaha R1 (FOR ... [9.50]	People stop in the middle of the road to BS with their buddies all the time and POLICE drive right by while there are plenty of spots to pull over and tie up traffic for 20 minuets. Your top goes up in a matter of seconds __________________ 2009 E92 M3 /// Melbourne Red /// Fox Red /// M DKG Full Innotech Exhaust - DINAN Intake - IND Engine Bay Appearance - IND Hand Stitched Boot Covers - and much more....
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10-15-2011, 01:38 PM	#9
piloto Captain 28 Rep 843 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 - AW/FR Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	Agreed. you did the right thing. Aside from getting wet, I suppose if that stream of water hit you in the face, it could have distracted you enough to where you could have cause collided with another car in front, or worse, with a pedestrian or cyclist, given the perfect storm of course. I'm more susprised people were curtious, especially in LA (same would apply for OC). I'd have though for sure you'd have been honked at, flipped off, and mocked for driving a bimmer, a convertible bimmer nonetheless.
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10-15-2011, 01:54 PM	#10
rjd598 Banned 1770 Rep 6,696 Posts Drives: F30 340i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Diego,CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2016 BMW 340i [0.00]	im a cop and im going to report this to my superior so you are screwed cause this is illegal
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