New Ordinance Makes All Left Turns Illegal in Point Borough

Point Pleasant Borough has become one of the first cities in the country to outlaw all left turns. Anyone driving in the borough will have to navigate using only right turns. Drivers who violate this law will face severe penalties.

"After careful consideration, the mayor and I felt it was the right thing to do," said assistant to the mayor, Holden DeLine. "I mean no one likes left turns, right?" DeLine said the idea came to him when he had to wait over five minutes to turn into the Stop & Shop parking lot. "The mayor and I often enjoy a rotisserie chicken for lunch, so I'll drive over to the supermarket and pick one up with some coleslaw, or maybe potato salad. If you ask, they'll even cut the chicken in half for you, which is great when you want to share. But the last time it took so long because of the left turns that the mayor got really annoyed. We realized we had to put things right" 

The transition to right turns only will begin on March 1, with the law going into full effect on June 1. Signs will be put up to help drivers figure out how to get around. It will mean that often drivers may have to go pretty far out of their way to get where they want to go, but the mayor's office believes this will be a small price to pay. According to DeLine, the new law will reduce traffic, make roads safer, and ensure timely delivery of the mayor's lunch.

Point Borough resident, Macon Lehftz, strongly disagrees. "I strongly disagree," he said. "I think this is a crazy idea. Did they even take into consideration that some people enjoy left turns? It makes no sense to me because for as long I can remember I've been making lefts," said Macon Lehftz. DeLine says Lehftz is wrong about the lefts and in time everyone will see the advantages and get used to the higher taxes they will pay for the changes.

DeLine says there will probably need to be some extensive roadwork done to accommodate the new law. "We anticipate that a number of roads will have to become one way. In other areas, for example the intersection of 88 and Bridge will require a circle be put in place. Once completed, we should see a great improvement to our town's traffic flow." 

Emergency and government vehicles will be exempted from the new law. "We want to be sure that in cases of emergencies, important vehicles can still make lefts. So, if an ambulance can arrive more quickly by making a left, that will be perfectly acceptable. Or if the mayor and I need a rotisserie chicken right away, I will be able to make a left into the Stop & Shop parking lot. It's always vital that new laws do not compromise important services."

DeLine said that residents can expect to receive a letter about the new law in the coming weeks.