Hey Amarillo it is Illegal to Do This on the Highways of Texas

Yes, we have a lot of construction in Amarillo. It can be a major headache. It can significantly add to your travel time to get anywhere you are going. I get that. It is a major pain as well.

You are not above the law and you can not find your own way to avoid the construction. Sure, you want to find another route to where you are going and avoid it at all counts, sure. Kudos to you for not adding to the problem.

The thing that you can't do. The thing that you shouldn't do. The thing that you still see people in Amarillo doing is deciding to get off of I40 somewhere other than an off-ramp. One vehicle does it and then several follow suit. I am not sure if you know it or not but that is illegal.

It doesn't matter what a pain traveling down I40 East recently became when it ended up being only two lanes. Yes, it meant traffic was backed up all the way to Western Street. That doesn't mean you can decide at Paramount Street to just get off the ride unless you use an exit. You travel in the grass and make your own exit and you are in the wrong.

I promise you:

Texas Traffic Code 545.064 says that an operator may not drive on or from a limited access or controlled-access roadway except at an entrance or exit established by a public authority.

Not only that but its just ugly. Drive up and down I40 and you can tell where drivers did just that. You see the grass all worn out in the area. It looks ugly. The grass is gone and nothing but dirty. Sure that makes Amarillo pretty. You are part of the problem if you do something like this.

I know your time is precious. I know you are in a hurry. Just wait your turn to get to the next exit and then get off the Highway. Do the right thing.