What the signs, double yellow lines near Lisle police station mean

Q. Everyone knows you're not allowed to cross a double yellow line on the road, but I was curious about Short Street in Lisle just east and west of Route 53.

West of Route 53, there's a sign that reads, "Crossing Double Yellow Line Prohibited" right behind the police station as you approach Route 53 from the west.

The same sign is also on eastbound Short Street in the residential area just east of Route 53.

I was curious why these signs were posted when drivers already know the general rule. Do the extra signs mean the double yellow lines cannot be crossed to turn into the police station, your home, or under any circumstance at all?

-- J. B., Lisle

A. Sgt. Ron Wilke, Public Relations Officer with the Lisle Police Department, says backed-up traffic on Short Street near the police station is a problem -- particularly during rush hour.

"Short Street is such a narrow road right there, it's a bit of a quagmire," Wilke said.

"Eastbound cars looking to go northbound on Route 53 cross over the double-yellow line to try and get around the backed-up traffic waiting to cross Route 53 and continue east on Short Street."

The extra signs were posted to keep drivers from crossing the double-yellow lines as they impatiently drove around stopped cars, and created a dangerous condition by driving or stopping on the wrong side of the road.

"The left-turn lane from eastbound Short Street to northbound Route 53 couldn't be extended back any farther to the west because of the intersection of Riverview Drive and the police station front entrance just west of Route 53," Wilke said.

All that being said, it's perfectly legal for drivers to cross over the double-yellow line if they're making a left turn into the police station parking lot, to access Riverview Drive or to enter a residential driveway.

"The signs are just an extra reminder to keep drivers from doing something they know they shouldn't be doing," Wilke said.