# Is turning right on Red legal in all 50 states? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 5, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023 "2009-07-05T23:43:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/1 "2009-07-05T23:43:55Z")
Is there a state in the US where turning right on Red is against the law? ---
**Author:** ![JerseyFrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@JerseyFrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyFrank)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/2 "2009-07-05T23:52:55Z")
not state-wide, but in New York City, turning right on red is illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/3 "2009-07-05T23:54:41Z")
> [@JerseyFrank](#): > > not state-wide, but in New York City, turning right on red is illegal. How does a visitor to the island become informed of this? ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/4 "2009-07-05T23:59:02Z")
A few places around here ban it. Usually in the suburbs, for no apparent reason whatsoever. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/5 "2009-07-06T00:07:29Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > How does a visitor to the island become informed of this? I seem to recall there were signs on the road approaches to the city. Last time I drove into Manhattan was the early 90s, though, so I could be misremembering. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/6 "2009-07-06T00:18:12Z")
I’ve found a few city intersections here in WI where it’s illegal, but in general, Wisconsin is good for right on red. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/7 "2009-07-06T00:27:07Z")
There are always places in a city or state where it is banned. Often times that is because of limited sight distances, traffic volume, or other reasons that make it less safe. ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/8 "2009-07-06T00:33:04Z")
Usually there are signs, indicating where it’s not legal. Much like in the city of Columbus, Ohio, it says “City wide ban on U-Turns” on pretty much every intersection. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/9 "2009-07-06T00:33:26Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > How does a visitor to the island become informed of this? FYI, it is not just Manhattan, but all five boroughs of the City in which it is not permitted. There are signs on the major highways leading into the City. Also, there are some intersections signed “Right Turn on Red Permitted After Stop”, in which right on red is lega. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/10 "2009-07-06T00:43:39Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > How does a visitor to the island become informed of this? States and municipalities do sometimes post signs and such to inform outsiders of their local laws/rules. To my knowledge nothing requires they inform you. It is a drivers responsibility to educate themselves in the driving laws of places they plan to travel. There are books available that list all the variations between different locals. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/11 "2009-07-06T01:03:48Z")
A similar problem is driving with cell phones. Some local governments allow it, and some don’t. This has become problematic for places like L.A. where one suburb merges into another and the driver has to figure out whether he can or cannot talk on the cell phone while he drives. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/12 "2009-07-06T01:05:45Z")
> [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](#): > > A few places around here ban it. Usually in the suburbs, for no apparent reason whatsoever. If they do, in California they would have to post No Right On Red signs at all their intersections. California doesn’t allow “home rule” type law-making to cities in the state, as I recall. ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/13 "2009-07-06T01:09:10Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > A similar problem is driving with cell phones. Some local governments allow it, and some don’t. This has become problematic for places like L.A. where one suburb merges into another and the driver has to figure out whether he can or cannot talk on the cell phone while he drives. If you are in California, no talking on a cell phone while driving unless you using hands free device. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/14 "2009-07-06T01:54:05Z")
All 50 states permit right on red, as I recall, and stated by wiki: > **[Turn on red | North America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_turn_on_red#North_America)** > > Right turns on red are permitted in many regions of North America. In the United States, California was the first state to legalize right-on-red in 1947, with some western states joining throughout the 1950s and 1960s and eastern states amended their traffic laws to allow it in the 1970s as a claimed fuel-saving measure in response to motor fuel shortages in 1973. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 required in §362(c)(5) that in order for a state to receive federal assistan As of 199... > [@](#): > > All 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico have allowed right turns on red since January 1, 1980, unless a sign otherwise prohibits this, such as “No Turn On Red” (less commonly “No Right On Red”), a No Right Turn symbol with the words On Red, or a red arrow or red light symbol is present. They are correct about some of the eastern states adopting the law in the 1970s. I remember PA adopting it then. IIRC, Vermont was the last one. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/15 "2009-07-06T03:29:27Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > All 50 states permit right on red, as I recall, and stated by wiki: > > [Turn on red - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_turn_on_red#North_America) > > They are correct about some of the eastern states adopting the law in the 1970s. I remember PA adopting it then. IIRC, Vermont was the last one. If I remember, it was part of the agreement to get federal highway money. Boston just posted No Right Turn On Red signs at every intersection. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/16 "2009-07-06T03:41:46Z")
Here’s a chart (from the references in the wiki article): [Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos](http://www.geocities.com/jusjih/trafficlightsignals.html#us) ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/17 "2009-07-06T03:51:18Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > If I remember, it was part of the agreement to get federal highway money. Boston just posted No Right Turn On Red signs at every intersection. That’s correct. Allowing right-on-red became a requirement to get federal highway money in the 80s, as a gas-saving measure. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2009, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/18 "2009-07-06T04:33:27Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > That’s correct. Allowing right-on-red became a requirement to get federal highway money in the 80s, as a gas-saving measure. Cite on the gas-saving part? Actually, most states went to right-on-red because they adopted in substantial part the Uniform Vehicle Code. This makes it easier to drive in a state other than the one you learned to drive in, by eliminating the variance of traffic rules that used to exist. Right-on-red is an example of one of the uniform rules in the Code. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/19 "2009-07-17T22:53:16Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > If they do, in California they would have to post No Right On Red signs at all their intersections. California doesn’t allow “home rule” type law-making to cities in the state, as I recall. The one I’m thinking of [does](http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=37.704221,-122.476127&spn=0,359.997693&z=19&layer=c&cbll=37.704257,-122.475619&panoid=s1YopbR-4_P0mb-y8igswA&cbp=12,257.44,,2,-15.56). (The real sign is much less blurry.) ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023/20 "2009-07-17T23:28:03Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Cite on the gas-saving part? > Actually, most states went to right-on-red because they adopted in substantial part the Uniform Vehicle Code. This makes it easier to drive in a state other than the one you learned to drive in, by eliminating the variance of traffic rules that used to exist. Right-on-red is an example of one of the uniform rules in the Code. Whoops, missed this message. Well, that’s what I recall reading in newspapers at the time, in any case. The idea was that having fewer cars idling at red lights would save gas. It might be hard to find a cite thirty years later. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-turning-right-on-red-legal-in-all-50-states/502023.md?page=2)