Garnetpalmetto From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 5244 posts, RR: 55 Reply 2, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 8860 times:
It doesn't just vary from state to state, Lnglive, but it can vary from city to city within a state, I believe. My rule of thumb when I'm driving in a new environment is just wait for the light to change and if I hear honking, I know it's OK to turn.
South Carolina - too small to be its own country, too big to be a mental asylum.
Cptkrell From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 2549 posts, RR: 14 Reply 4, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 8858 times:
I believe that it is currently legal to turn right-on-red in ALL U.S. states (after coming to a complete stop) unless prohibited by specific signage. IIRC, this was a result of a nationwide rendition of enablers to smooth the traffic flow aimed at fuel conservation during the last "fuel crisis". I could be wrong on that point of origin, but in any event, it makes sense. Furthermore, left turns on red from a one-way street onto another one-way street with traffic flow travelling from the stopped driver's right is also legal. Regards...Jack
ANCFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 8857 times:
State Law provides for Right on Red in ALL states and territories.
Individual jurisdictions can however limit that priviledge . . .
I believe it's been this way for quite some time . . . at least twenty years or so in Alaska. . . I don't know the break down state to state . . . sorry.
Big777jet From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 8830 times:
It depends where the city requires or not requires. In Chicago are most permit turn right unless the post says 7AM-7PM no turn right.
Some idiot drivers stay until green lights to make turn right. The post sign says: No turn right 7AM-7PM. The driver stays when it's at 845PM. I blew the honk 4 times so the driver doesn't get it! Pfft!
AsstChiefMark From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 8820 times:
I like the left turn on red law.
You're on a one way street and you come to a red traffic light at an intersection. The perpedicular street in front of you is also one way and the traffic is coming from the right. You may turn left on a red light if you're in the left lane, have come to a complete stop, and it is safe to do so.
Here's Wisconsin's statute:
346.37(1)(c)3.
3. Vehicular traffic facing a red signal at an intersection may, after stopping as required under subd. 1., cautiously enter the intersection to make a right turn into the nearest lawfully available lane for traffic moving to the right or to turn left from a one-way highway into the nearest lawfully available lane of a one-way highway on which vehicular traffic travels to the left. No turn may be made on a red signal if lanes of moving traffic are crossed or if a sign at the intersection prohibits a turn.
A lot of stupid people don't realize it's legal to do so. The drivers in front of me just sit there. I honk and they continue sit there. They must not know they rules. I once saw a Milwaukee cop stopped behind one of these idiots. She got out of her squad car and told the driver, "Would you please turn? You're impeding traffic." The police officer got back in her squad car. The driver wouldn't go. When the light turned green the driver finally turned. The cop immediately turned on the red/blue lights and pulled the driver over. The police officer got out of her squad car again...this time with her handy-dandy ticket book in hand. I believe failure to comply with a lawful order from a traffic officer in Wisconsin is a $200+ fine and 3 points. SUCKER !
MKEdude From South Korea, joined May 2005, 1008 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 8747 times:
I always that right turn on red was in the constitution, right next to freedom of speech.
It was funny traveling to other places and trying to explain this concept. When I first moved to Japan and got my car I asked if there was such a thing as left turn on red (left because they drive on the other side) In typical Japanese fashion my supervisor deadpanned "but the light is red, you cannot go" I never was able to successfully explain the concept.
"You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline." Frank Zappa
BigOrange From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 2358 posts, RR: 3 Reply 12, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 8666 times:
Quoting NIKV69 (Reply 6): In the city of NY you can not make a right on red unless posted. Outside that you can make rights on red unless it's posted that you can't.
Just to clarify, the city of NY includes all 5 boroughs for the purpose of this law.
NASBWI From Bahamas, joined Feb 2005, 1254 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 8652 times:
As ANCFlyer mentioned, it's legal in most states unless otherwise posted. In many places here in Maryland, there will be signs indicating whether or not a right turn can be made on a red light, depending on traffic patterns (rush hour, etc) or if the corner is a blind spot.
Gipper913 From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 176 posts, RR: 3 Reply 14, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 8643 times:
Quoting NIKV69 (Reply 6): In the city of NY you can not make a right on red unless posted. Outside that you can make rights on red unless it's posted that you can't.
Yup, exactly.
Quoting MrChips (Reply 10): I think the only place in North America where right turns are illegal on a red light is Quebec.
Mind you, that doesn't stop Montrealers from driving right through them...
Nope, NYC as mentioned above. And, I thought Montreal drivers were pretty sedate and unaggressive...but maybe that comes from my NYC upbringing and Boston grad school experiences!
The size of the federal budget is not an appropriate barometer of social conscience or charitable concern. --R. Reagan
PHLBOS From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 7253 posts, RR: 25 Reply 15, posted (7 years 9 months 1 week 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 8637 times:
I believe that Massachusetts was the last state to adopt the Right On Red law back in 1980; as a means to save fuel. I remember when that law took effect, No Turn On Red signs started popping up all over the place. Over time, many of those signs eventually came down.
Quoting AsstChiefMark (Reply 8): 3. Vehicular traffic facing a red signal at an intersection may, after stopping as required under subd. 1., cautiously enter the intersection to make a right turn into the nearest lawfully available lane for traffic moving to the right or to turn left from a one-way highway into the nearest lawfully available lane of a one-way highway on which vehicular traffic travels to the left. No turn may be made on a red signal if lanes of moving traffic are crossed or if a sign at the intersection prohibits a turn.
A lot of stupid people don't realize it's legal to do so. The drivers in front of me just sit there. I honk and they continue sit there. They must not know they rules.
That Left on Red principle is one of the most overlooked part of the turning on red laws, which I believe applies in all states that allow right-on-red. I can not tell you the number of times I get behind someone that will not move even though they legally can.
Quoting BigOrange (Reply 12): Quoting NIKV69 (Reply 6):
In the city of NY you can not make a right on red unless posted. Outside that you can make rights on red unless it's posted that you can't.
Just to clarify, the city of NY includes all 5 boroughs for the purpose of this law.
I'm actually suprised about the NYC exception to the Right-On-Red statute. I didn't even know that that was indeed the case until SHUPirate1 told me about it while we were riding from the JFK spotting areas (part of the A.net 8/6 NYC Meet) to Little Italy for dinner over a week ago.
"TransEastern! You'll feel like you've never left the ground because we treat you like dirt!" SNL Parady ad circa 1981
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