State Supreme Court rules turn signal use mandatory

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The state Supreme Court says: yes, you must use your signal when turning or changing lanes.

The court ruled unanimously that the phrase “when required” in state law dictates that drivers must use their signal continuously at least 100 feet ahead of making a turn or changing lanes.

The ruling reverses the Court of Appeals that found a signal is required only when public safety is affected.

The decision came in the case of a Kennewick drunk driver who claimed a State Trooper had no cause to pull him over when he didn’t signal a turn.