Q: My question is in regards to the legality of passengers riding in the bed of a conventional pick-up. I have been told that it is legal as long as all seatbelts in the cab are in use. I have also been told that if its illegal to hold a child on your lap then how could it be legal to ride in the bed of a pickup. Commen sense tells me it isn't but I would really like to know the legal answer to this question. Per WA State law

Q: When cars are in a parking lot, do they follow the same rules as if they were on the street? There is a particular place in my apartment complex where drivers turning left assume they have the right of way and don't even look for cars traveling straight, resulting in many close calls. Thanks for your participation here, Sgt. Coley.

Q: ok, husband and i got into a huge disagreement over the following situation. came to an intersection with 2 lights. the left light has the green left turn arrow, which eventually goes to yellow left turn arrow, then solid green. right light is a regular light. when the left turn green arrow comes on both lights are red. i told my husband (who was sitting in the right lane) that technically if the left lane was clear and with reasonable caution, he could move into the left lane, roll forward and if the light changed to solid green prior to him reaching the intersection then he could proceed straigt. he insisted the lane was strictly a left turn lane. i told him if it were, the light would have a red left arrow or pavement markings. to be clear, the light has a solid green, solid yellow, solid red and below these a green left arrow which changes to a left yellow arrow. by the way there is a sign hanging from the sign which states left turn, not left turn only. who's right?

Q: What are the rules of the road when cars and bicycles are traveling on the same roadway, with or without a marked bike path?

Q: I am confused by the reply to Tom McNeely's question regarding right-of-way for vehicles at two-way stop signs where the first car to arrive intended to turn left and the second car traveling in the opposite direction intended to go straight. Your reply of 2/22/09 stated: "In short, access to arterials is granted on a first stopped, first served sort of basis." You cited a subsection of RCW 46.61.190 as support, but the text you provided stated that a driver "...after having stopped shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard..." Nothing was stated about a first-stopped, first served order of entering the intersection. In fact, the language seems to more closely support the rule that left-turning traffic must yield to oncoming vehicles. Is there a more precise discussion in Washington traffic code that defines rules for two-way stop intersections? Stated another way, who would be cited if a collision occurred where the left-turning driver in a two-way stop intersection assumed that the four-way stop first-to-arrive rule applied and the oncoming driver assumed that the left-turn yields to oncoming vehicles rule applied?

Q: Sgt. Coley, thanks for your input to this forum. My question is, at an intersection with a 4-way stop, normally when other cars are present, the rule of yield to the guy on the right applies if im not mistaken. I had a peculiar instance where the car to my right waved me thru the intersection so I took it. A short distance later, I was stopped by local law enforcement for failure to yield. I told the officer what happened and he explained to me the vehicle to my right ALWAYS has the right of way. Is this true? He just gave me a verbal warning and was on my way. This seems counter intuitive to me.

Q: What are the rules regarding bike riding and being intoxicated? Can you get a DUI for it?

Q: Please refresh me on the requirement for drivers when a pedestrian is in the marked crosswalks. I thought we needed to wait until they completed their travel across the street. I recently read in another newspaper that you could proceed driving after they pass through your side of the road. Thanks.

Q: Is it legal to make a free right on red onto a two-way street (if there is no sign saying not to) while oncoming has a left turn green arrow. I was the right turn arrow traffic has to turn into their close lane, so can I turn into my close lane at the same time, or do I still have to yield?

Q: I understand that the rules for bicycles essentially require that riders move in traffic as if they were automobiles. That may be appropriate in city traffic, but out on a highway, such as SR 539 or SR 546, bicycling on the right side of the highway means certain injury or death. Of course, if a motorist injures or kills a cyclist they will be subject to action by the courts, but then it's too late for the cyclist. A young lady who stayed with us was blown off the Guide and into the ditch by a passing truck. She was riding on the edge of the right lane and the trucker didn't bother to stop to inquire of her well-being. Motorists on the Guide and East Badger Roads can't be trusted to honor the cyclist's position on the highway. Now,if a cyclist were allowed to face approaching traffic, they could see a vehicle approaching and could prepare themselves for the blast of the bow wave or hit the ditch if the motorist appears to be steering a course for the cyclist. My conclusion is that those who write laws for cyclists have never ridden a bike on a highway. So much for rant. Will the WASP ticket a cyclist riding on the left side, facing oncoming traffic, even though that is a safer, more defensive position for a cyclist? I hope that safety is more important than compliance with a law. Thank you for your reply.