Is this ‘Right Turn Only’ sign in red letters on a white background enforceable? – Press Enterprise

Q: Carl Zitek of Moreno Valley asked about a sign he saw posted on a parking lot fence near the lot’s exit at an elementary school in the Jurupa Unified School District. The sign says, “Right Turn Only” in red letters on a white background.

Zitek asked if the sign is enforceable and whether a driver could receive a ticket for making a left turn out of the school parking lot, based on this sign. “It should be noted that it is often not safe to attempt a left turn exiting due to parked cars and the amount of traffic making visibility limited. A right turn requires caution as it is,” he said.

Zitek added that he believes the sign is probably meant to help the flow of traffic, although many drivers ignore it. He also said he has never seen any law enforcement personnel present issuing warnings or tickets to those turning left.

A: This red-and-white sign is not an official black-and-white regulatory sign and so is most likely not enforceable, said California Highway Patrol Officer Dan Olivas of the Inland Division. He said it has to be a legitimate regulatory sign.

“If you made an unsafe left turn onto a public street, you could be cited for that if it almost caused an accident,” Olivas said. Our reader’s instincts are likely correct as for the purpose of this sign. It’s really up to the drivers whether they want to obey this sign or ignore it.

Q: Richard Wood of San Jacinto complained about road conditions throughout San Jacinto and Hemet, and asked when streets would be fixed. He mentioned a few streets such as State Street, Lyon Avenue and Kirby Street, and said they have been “messed up” for years.

A: Without more specifics, we would refer him to the city websites so he can perhaps email or call the city with his specific requests or concerns, or he can lodge a complaint online.

The San Jacinto Streets Department website is: www.sanjacintoca.gov/city_departments/public-utilities/streets_department. All the contact information can be found here. The phone number to report potholes is 951-487-7382.

In Hemet, the Streets Division of Public Works maintains the roads with the exception of Highway 74 and Highway 79, which is maintained by Caltrans, the city website says. The website is www.hemetca.gov/100/Streets.