# Is "running a yellow light" a punishable offense? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 2, 2004, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-a-yellow-light-a-punishable-offense/232041 "2004-03-02T03:49:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-a-yellow-light-a-punishable-offense/232041/41 "2004-03-18T14:12:27Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Unless anyone can find a statute that explicitly makes entering an intersection while the light is yellow, or being in an intersection when it turns red, illegal, then it would appear that there is no such actual violation in this country. From Michigan: > [@](#): > > (b) If the signal exhibits a steady yellow indication, vehicular traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at the intersection or at a limit line when marked, but if the stop cannot be made in safety, a vehicle may be driven cautiously through the intersection ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-a-yellow-light-a-punishable-offense/232041/42 "2004-03-18T14:54:56Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Sorry, **Carnac the Magnificent!** … in the absence of a statute making (driving into an intersection while the light was yellow) _per se_ a violation of the law, then officers would have to apply other statutes with a more generalized purpose, such as reckless driving prohibitions. I wonder if this is what’s happening when people get tickets for “running yellows” in the New Orleans. Common knowledge is that one can expect a ticket when _accelerating_ through a yellow light in an effort to beat the red, whereas _coasting_ through a yellow is considered safe. Drivers get tickets that way all the time in N.O. I’ve never seen one of these tickets with my own two eyes. Maybe it is a reckless-driving violation. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-a-yellow-light-a-punishable-offense/232041/43 "2004-03-18T15:09:44Z")
“I know your rules. I have seen you drive. Red light–stop. Green light–go. Yellow light–go very fast.” --from STARMAN. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-a-yellow-light-a-punishable-offense/232041/44 "2004-03-18T16:08:44Z")
**Gfactor** , great job! Precisely the language we are looking for… now if you could perhaps let us in on the secret as to which code section? Pretty please? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-a-yellow-light-a-punishable-offense/232041/45 "2004-03-18T16:35:39Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > **Gfactor** , great job! Precisely the language we are looking for… now if you could perhaps let us in on the secret as to which code section? Pretty please? 🙂 Ok, but it’s gonna cost you . . . [Mich. Comp. Laws. section 257.612(1)(b)](http://198.109.173.11/mileg.asp?page=getObject&objName=mcl-257-612&highlight=) The analogous statute in Ohio is Ohio Rev. Code section 4511.13(B): > [@](#): > > § 4511.13. Signal lights. > > Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control signals exhibiting different colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red, and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying words or symbols, and said lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles, streetcars, and trackless trolleys, and to pedestrians as follows: > > (A) Green indication: > > (1) Vehicular traffic, streetcars, and trackless trolleys facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. But vehicular traffic, streetcars, and trackless trolleys, including vehicles, streetcars, and trackless trolleys turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles, streetcars, trackless trolleys, and pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited. > > (2) Vehicular traffic, streetcars, and trackless trolleys facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular traffic, streetcars, and trackless trolleys shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. > > (3) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal, as provided in section 4511.14 of the Revised Code, pedestrians facing any green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk. > > (B) Steady yellow indication: > > (1) Vehicular traffic, streetcars, and trackless trolleys facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal are thereby warned that the related green movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter when vehicular traffic, streetcars, and trackless trolleys shall not enter the intersection. > > (2) Pedestrians facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in section 4511.14 of the Revised Code, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway. > > (C) Steady red indication: > > (1) Vehicular traffic, streetcars, and trackless trolleys facing a steady red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown except as provided in divisions (C)(2) and (3) of this section. > > (2) Unless a sign is in place prohibiting a right turn as provided in division (C)(5) of this section, vehicular traffic, streetcars, and trackless trolleys facing a steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to make a right turn after stopping as required by division (C)(1) of this section. Such vehicular traffic, streetcars, and trackless trolleys shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. > > (3) Unless a sign is in place prohibiting a left turn as provided in division (C)(5) of this section, vehicular traffic, streetcars, and trackless trolleys facing a steady red signal on a one-way street that intersects another one-way street on which traffic moves to the left may cautiously enter the intersection to make a left turn into the one-way street after stopping as required by division (C)(1) of this section, and yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. > > (4) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in section 4511.14 of the Revised Code, pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone shall not enter the roadway. > > (5) Local authorities may by ordinance, or the director of transportation on state highways may, prohibit a right or a left turn against a steady red signal at any intersection, which shall be effective when signs giving notice thereof are posted at the intersection. > > (D) In the event an official traffic-control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any such sign or marking the stop shall be made at the signal. Are you hiring? ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-a-yellow-light-a-punishable-offense/232041/46 "2004-03-18T17:21:40Z")
Hmmm, I already knew the Ohio code section; if you read my prior postings you’ll see that I noted that Ohio and California have essentially the same wording, which does not make it illegal to proceed through a yellow light. 😉 Thanks for the Michigan code section citation. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-a-yellow-light-a-punishable-offense/232041/47 "2004-03-18T17:25:42Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Hmmm, I already knew the Ohio code section; if you read my prior postings you’ll see that I noted that Ohio and California have essentially the same wording, which does not make it illegal to proceed through a yellow light. 😉 > > Thanks for the Michigan code section citation. 🙂 Oh, yeah. You are right. Sorry. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-a-yellow-light-a-punishable-offense/232041/48 "2004-03-18T19:32:25Z")
> [@Carnac the Magnificent!](#): > > Sure, a particular state may have an odd twist, but can anyone explain why the applicable laws aren’t common knowledge? We’re not talking quantum mechanics here. Because what you need to do to earn your driver’s license varies from place to place. Did you need to take lessons, and if so, how many hours in a classroom and how many on the road? How many answers are you allowed to get wrong when doing the written portion of your exam? Did you end up getting caught going through a yellow during your practical exam? Then you also have what the law says, and what the local drivers actually _do_, which can be two very different things. Fr’instance, the ‘vancouver left turn’ means drive into the intersection while it’s green, and sit there waiting until no one is coming in the direction before turning left-- even if the light has been solid red for 5 seconds. It’s legal, and everyone does it in Vancouver, but it’s mighty odd. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-a-yellow-light-a-punishable-offense/232041/49 "2004-03-18T19:37:24Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > Because what you need to do to earn your driver’s license varies from place to place. > > Did you need to take lessons, and if so, how many hours in a classroom and how many on the road? > How many answers are you allowed to get wrong when doing the written portion of your exam? Did you end up getting caught going through a yellow during your practical exam? > > Then you also have what the law says, and what the local drivers actually _do_, which can be two very different things. Fr’instance, the ‘vancouver left turn’ means drive into the intersection while it’s green, and sit there waiting until no one is coming in the direction before turning left-- even if the light has been solid red for 5 seconds. It’s legal, and everyone does it in Vancouver, but it’s mighty odd. The do it here in MI, too. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-a-yellow-light-a-punishable-offense/232041/50 "2004-03-18T23:24:47Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > Then you also have what the law says, and what the local drivers actually _do_, which can be two very different things. Fr’instance, the ‘vancouver left turn’ means drive into the intersection while it’s green, and sit there waiting until no one is coming in the direction before turning left-- even if the light has been solid red for 5 seconds. It’s legal, and everyone does it in Vancouver, but it’s mighty odd. That’s pretty common I would suppose everywhere, since during peak travel hours on major roads a vehicle turning across traffic at an intersection without a protected arrow phase may otherwise have to wait many light cycles until there’s a break in opposing traffic. This way, at least one vehicle gets through per light cycle. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-a-yellow-light-a-punishable-offense/232041/51 "2004-03-19T02:08:40Z")
Ok, I’m confused about California law, so bear with me here. Let’s say you want to make a left hand turn on an intersection that doesn’t have a protected turn signal. Oncoming traffic is heavy. So you creep out into the middle of the intersection while your light is still green, and once it turns yellow (or even red depending on the intersection and traffic) you make your turn…is that illegal? Or does the law says it’s legal as long as you inch out there before the light turns? Because if it is illegal…well, I think every single driver in CA is guilty, guilty, guilty. ---
**Author:** ![tadc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@tadc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tadc)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-a-yellow-light-a-punishable-offense/232041/52 "2004-03-19T03:08:25Z")
> [@Barbarian](#): > > Fr’instance, the ‘vancouver left turn’ means drive into the intersection while it’s green, and sit there waiting until no one is coming in the direction before turning left-- even if the light has been solid red for 5 seconds. It’s legal, and everyone does it in Vancouver, but it’s mighty odd. Funny, in my experience the “Vancouver left turn” consists of turning left real fast, right after the light goes green, before the oncoming traffic has a chance to hit you. 🙂 What you describe is the normal procedure (my mom taught me) for turning left without a protected left turn signal/arrow. I wish more people were familiar with it. ---
**Author:** ![tadc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@tadc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tadc)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-a-yellow-light-a-punishable-offense/232041/53 "2004-03-19T03:12:18Z")
to address the OP, in Oregon you are required to stop at a yellow light if it’s safe to do so. It’s entirely the officer’s discretion as to what is “safe”. Not-so-coincidentally, we have REALLY long yellows here. Every time I go out of state I have to remind myself that the yellow lights are going to be shorter. I just wish the US would adopt the euro-style “get ready” use of the yellow light, where the yellow comes on at the end of the red cycle to let you know the light is about to change. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-a-yellow-light-a-punishable-offense/232041/54 "2004-03-19T11:15:54Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Pepperlandgirl_ > Oncoming traffic is heavy. So you creep out into the middle of the intersection while your light is still green, and once it turns yellow (or even red depending on the intersection and traffic) you make your turn…is that illegal? I don’t know anything about driving in California, but I have a personal anecdote about this from the lovely state of Maryland. I did exactly this thing one time (creeping out into the intersection while the light was green, the ligh turned red, I had no choice but to make my left), and I got pulled over and ticketed for it. I thought the ticket was unfair, so I went to court. The judge actually _scolded_ the ticketing officer, saying that obviously, there was no safe thing for me to do _except_ to make the turn! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-running-a-yellow-light-a-punishable-offense/232041.md?page=2)