2 Points And A Big Fine Await Grand Rapids Drivers Caught Doing This

Is it me or does it seem like all of Grand Rapids is under construction right now?

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I swear I've never seen so many orange barrels in my life.

The latest headache affecting me and many drivers in Grand Rapids is at the intersection of Fuller and Michigan.

The intersection is currently closed for the next 3-4 weeks while sewer repairs are done by the city.

Drivers that normally travel through the intersection are having to find different ways around the area, and anyone caught doing this will be getting pulled over and issued a ticket by police.

I was getting some parts at the Ace Hardware on Michigan Street when I noticed some new signs up that warned drivers about cutting through private property to avoid the closure.

Any driver caught doing that will get a $170 ticket and a minimum of 2 points on their driver's license.

A spokesperson for the Grand Rapids Police Department told Wood TV that using parking lots as a detour to avoid construction is illegal, citing the Michigan Vehicle Code.

"This is for everyone's safety—parking lots are not designed for heavy traffic volumes, especially at higher speeds, which can endanger patrons and employees of the businesses who use the lots, construction workers in and around the area, and other pedestrians. There is also a high risk of traffic crashes."

I'm not sure when these signs went up; I just noticed them on Monday, July 8th.

I agree that people breaking the law and cutting through business parking lots is dangerous, but I also don't think it's fair to start issuing tickets when many drivers were not aware of the new signs.

Bottom line: if you are in that area, make sure you follow all posted detours and don't cut through any parking lots, or you could find yourself getting pulled over.

And while it's a headache, it's important to support businesses in the area that are being impacted by the repair work.