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Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
a. No motor vehicle shall make a U turn upon any curve, or upon the approach to, or near the crest of a grade, where such motor vehicle cannot be seen by the driver of any other motor vehicle approaching from either direction within five hundred feet.
b. No motor vehicle shall make a U turn within a school zone. For the purposes of this subdivision, the term “school zone” shall mean the distance along a highway passing a school building, entrance or exit of a school abutting on the highway for which a school sign (S1-1) has been posted pursuant to this chapter and in compliance with the manual on uniform traffic control devices maintained pursuant to section sixteen hundred eighty of this chapter.
c. No altered motor vehicle commonly referred to as a “stretch limousine” having a seating capacity of nine or more passengers including the driver shall make a U-turn upon any public highway or private road open to public motor vehicle traffic. Every person convicted of a violation of this subdivision shall: for a first conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than four hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than fifteen days or by both such fine and imprisonment; for a conviction of a second or subsequent violation, both of which were committed within a period of eighteen months, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than six hundred dollars nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars or by imprisonment for not more than forty-five days or by both such fine and imprisonment. A violation of this subdivision wherein the violator is operating such altered motor vehicle and such altered motor vehicle is carrying at least one passenger other than the driver shall be punishable by a fine of not less than seven hundred fifty dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one hundred eighty days or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - New York Consolidated Laws, Vehicle and Traffic Law - VAT § 1161. U turns in certain areas prohibited - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/vehicle-and-traffic-law/vat-sect-1161/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
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