Doug Dahl, The Bellingham Herald Journalist Profile

Articles

Police need ‘reasonable suspicion’ to ID vehicle passengers

1 week ago | bainbridgereview.com | Doug Dahl

Q: If you are a passenger in a car that police suspect might be stolen, do you need to identify yourself? I know that for a traffic infraction stop, you don’t need to provide identification, but in this situation, I would think the cops have a good reason to identify everyone in the car. A: I don’t like to tell people they’re wrong, so how about this: you’re mostly right. Also, this question is a good prompt for the reminder that I’m a traffic safety nerd, not an attorney.
Some clarity on how to use a two-way left turn lane

1 week ago | bellinghamherald.com | Doug Dahl

Q: When there is a street with a turn lane in the center, I see many drivers come from a side street and pull into the center turn lane to then merge into the right lane when there is an opening. My understanding is the center turn lane is only for left turns, so using it to merge right would not fit that law. I am confused! Please help straighten out myself and many others!A: It's called a two-way left turn lane, so I get why you'd conclude that it's only for left turns.
The Wise Drive | U-Turns: Legal until they're not?

2 weeks ago | wenatcheeworld.com | Doug Dahl

Q: Washington's default rule (as I learned it half a century ago) is that a U-turn is unlawful except where it is marked as lawful. Contrariwise, California allows U-turns almost everywhere. Given that a lot of people move to different states…A: Who plays the devil’s advocate to the devil’s advocate? Would that be the angel’s attorney?
Legalities of off-road vehicles in the neighborhood

2 weeks ago | bainbridgereview.com | Doug Dahl

Q: I live in a neighborhood in the county, and we have people who race up and down our streets on mini-bikes, dirt bikes, and three- and four-wheelers, often after dark with no lights. These vehicles are loud, none of them are licensed, and some of the riders are too young to even get a driver’s license. All I can see is a disaster happening. Are these vehicles legal on neighborhood streets? A: This might set a new record for most laws broken in one question.
Road Rules: The legality of U-turns - The Northern Light

2 weeks ago | thenorthernlight.com | Doug Dahl

Question: Washington’s default rule (as I learned it half a century ago) is that a U-turn is unlawful except where it is marked as lawful. On the contrary, California allows U-turns almost everywhere. Given that a lot of people move to different states …Answer: Who plays the devil’s advocate to the devil’s advocate? Would that be the angel’s attorney?
Road Rules: The legality of U-turns - All Point Bulletin

2 weeks ago | allpointbulletin.com | Doug Dahl

Question: Washington’s default rule (as I learned it half a century ago) is that a U-turn is unlawful except where it is marked as lawful. On the contrary, California allows U-turns almost everywhere. Given that a lot of people move to different states …Answer: Who plays the devil’s advocate to the devil’s advocate? Would that be the angel’s attorney?
When is it legal to make a U-turn in Washington state?

2 weeks ago | bellinghamherald.com | Doug Dahl

Q: Washington's default rule (as I learned it half a century ago) is that a U-turn is unlawful except where it is marked as lawful. Contrariwise, California allows U-turns almost everywhere. Given that a lot of people move to different states ... A: Who plays the devil's advocate to the devil's advocate? Would that be the angel's attorney?
Consider consequences of resting feet on the dashboard

3 weeks ago | bellinghamherald.com | Doug Dahl

Q: I saw a person riding in the passenger seat of a car with their feet up on the dashboard. I'm concerned about what would happen in a collision, since there's an airbag in the dash. Can police pull them over and warn them not to put their feet on the dash? A: Maybe you've noticed that in movies, when a passenger in a car puts their feet on the dashboard, it's often to convey that the character is a free spirit; someone who can't be confined by traditional expectations.
There are limits to window tinting in Washington

4 weeks ago | bainbridgereview.com | Doug Dahl

Q: Is it legal in Washington to have windows so dark that cross traffic cannot see the driver’s face? I have had two incidents where a car has pulled out in front of me, where a near-crash situation would have been avoided had I been able to see if the driver had looked my way. A: I know someone who bought a car with tint so dark he had to drive with the windows down at night. Not a joke. He promptly removed the tint, both for functionality and legality.
Right of way dilemma boils down to this simple question

1 month ago | bellinghamherald.com | Doug Dahl

Q: I have never found the answer to this - even in the Washington Driver Guide. If two cars coming from opposite directions on the same street want to turn onto the same side street, and there aren't stop signs on the main street, who has the right-of-way to make that turn first? A: If you're looking for a rule for that exact scenario, you're right, you won't find it in the Washington Driver Guide or in Washington's traffic laws.