california driving united-states
Can one pass another vehicle if the line dividing the (two-way) roadway is double, dotted, yellow in California?
<p>Can one pass another vehicle if the line dividing the roadway is double, dotted yellow in California?</p>

<p>Example of such a line:</p>

<p><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/uFRk0.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>Video: <a href="https://youtu.be/EL1gieTP3kM" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://youtu.be/EL1gieTP3kM</a>. </p>

<p>Note it is a two-way street, where each way has one lane.</p>

<hr>

<p>What I found so far:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>I found the rules for solid and broken yellow lines (as shown below), but not double, dotted, yellow.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/5NbZI.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/5NbZI.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p></li>
</ul>

<p>No. Such a marking is equivalent to a solid double yellow line, and passing is not permitted.</p>

<p>These raised pavement markers are known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botts%27_dots" rel="noreferrer">Botts' dots</a> and are commonly used in California together with, or instead of,  painted lines.  A line of evenly spaced dots is meant to signify a solid line.  Since here there is a double line of dots, it is a solid double yellow line.  If passing were allowed, you would see a single yellow dashed line, which would be indicated with dots by a group of 3-4 evenly spaced dots, then a longer gap, and repeating.</p>

<p><a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&amp;division=11.&amp;title=&amp;part=&amp;chapter=2.&amp;article=3." rel="noreferrer">California Vehicle Code section 21460</a> provides as follows:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>(a) If double parallel solid yellow lines are in place, a person
  driving a vehicle shall not drive to the left of the lines, except as
  permitted in this section.</p>
  
  <p>[...]</p>
  
  <p>(e) Raised pavement markers may be used to simulate painted lines
  described in this section if the markers are placed in accordance with
  standards established by the Department of Transportation.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The relevant standards are found in the <a href="https://dot.ca.gov/programs/traffic-operations/camutcd/camutcd-rev4" rel="noreferrer">California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)</a>.  On page 655, Detail 23, you can see a diagram showing exactly this configuration of dots and stating that it is an alternative to a solid double yellow line.</p>

<p>It <a href="https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/transportation/article127811959.html" rel="noreferrer">appears</a> that current policy is to phase out the use of Botts' dots, so this question may become moot in the future.</p>
