Ask the officer Ask the officer (March 24, 2004)

Menlo Park police officer Glenn J. Raggio answers questions about the police and law enforcement. Call 330-6396, or e-mail: asktheofficer@menlopark.org.

Q. In a parking plaza, such as those in downtown Menlo Park, where cars park nose to nose, is it illegal (or just dangerous) to leave a parking place by driving straight ahead through an empty parking place, rather than backing out?

A. It is not illegal to make that maneuver. You should, however, do it with great caution. Keep in mind you might suddenly find yourself face to face with another car that has the right-of-way. If that should happen, and if there is not an easy avenue of escape, you are now going to have to back out of the lane. Your hoped-for shortcut just became a small journey.

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