A court date rather than a fine after a left-turn collision on a permit
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Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Founding Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed December 2022
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
I was in an accident turning left and was cited for failure to yield. I was driving on a learner's permit and have been given a court date instead of a payable ticket. What happens now?
Attorney Answer
A mandatory court date usually means the citation is not one that can simply be paid — often because of the license status rather than the turn itself.
The underlying rule is O.C.G.A. § 40-6-71:
The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection…
That is the failure-to-yield charge. On its own it is ordinarily a payable citation.
Driving on a learner's permit adds conditions — permits carry restrictions on when and with whom the holder may drive, and a collision that reveals a restriction was not met is usually what converts a payable ticket into an appearance.
Separately, the citation is not the same thing as the civil claim. The other driver's insurer will reach its own view on fault, and the traffic matter does not resolve that.
Because a court appearance is required, how to respond is a conversation with a lawyer holding the citation, not a question to settle from a general page.
What you can do
1. Read the citation for every charge listed — there may be more than the failure to yield. 2. Check the permit's conditions and whether they were met at the time. 3. Note the court and date exactly and do not miss it. 4. Tell your insurer about the collision if you have not already. 5. Speak to a Georgia attorney before the appearance; many review a citation at no cost.
⏱ Time limits apply. Georgia sets deadlines for every kind of claim and they are shorter than most people expect. Confirm the one that governs your situation with a Georgia attorney before assuming there is time.
A Georgia attorney can tell you quickly how the facts here line up, and most will look at a matter like this at no cost.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does Georgia require of a driver turning left?
O.C.G.A. § 40-6-71 requires a driver intending to turn left within an intersection, or into an alley, private road or driveway, to yield the right of way to a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction that is within the intersection or so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.
Why would a citation require a court appearance rather than a fine?
Some charges are not payable and must be dealt with in person. License status and the circumstances of the stop are common reasons a citation is not simply payable.
Does a traffic citation decide the civil claim?
No. The insurer reaches its own view on fault, and the traffic case and the civil claim are decided separately and to different standards.