Help settle a bet

[GalvestonDuck]

I say -- if you are in an intersection and the light turns red, it's considered running a red light and you can get a ticket.

My best buddy says - if it's red before you enter, that's running; if it turns red after you've crossed, you're safe.

And yet, she agrees, if you come to a stop and you're over the line when the light turns red (even though you're at a complete stop), that is considered running the red light.

Seems to me, either way, you're in the intersection, right? Her thinking is that if your car completely crosses over the line from your side of the intersection while it's still yellow and then turns red, you're okay because you didn't cross through from your side into the intersection while it was red -- it changed after you got there.

So, what's the law in your area and where do I find it for TX? Believe it or not, I never had to take a driver's test here. They just looked at my KY license, said "Oh, you're still valid," and then issued me a TX one. The vision test is the only thing I needed. That's pretty scary considering the KY test is next to nothing and I know darn well, there are laws that differ from state to state. I do know that in KY, it's considered running a red light if you are anywhere in the intersection and have not made it to the opposite side of the intersection at anytime when the light is red.

And whatever ya do, don't bring up the redlight camera thing. That's a non-issue in this bet. We're only concerned with what a cop sees and for what offense he could legally issue a ticket in this regard.

[Skywatch_NC]

I say -- if you are in an intersection and the light turns red, it's considered running a red light and you can get a ticket.

My best buddy says - if it's red before you enter, that's running; if it turns red after you've crossed, you're safe.

That's how many peeps in Raleigh seem to do it!

[mf_dolphin]

This is a judgement call for most cops. According to Florida law if you are in the intersection (across the line) and then the light turms red you are legal to continue. However, if the policeman sees you accelerate to "just make it across the line" then he could give you a ticket for reckless driving since you should "slow down and prepare to stop" on a yellow light.

[Brent]

I've always thought as long as you crossed the white line before it turned red then your OK. I mean if your right at the line and it's yellow do you slam on the brakes to stop??? Otherwise your car would be across the line and blocking traffic.

[vbhoutex]

This is a judgement call for most cops. According to Florida law if you are in the intersection (across the line) and then the light turms red you are legal to continue. However, if the policeman sees you accelerate to "just make it across the line" then he could give you a ticket for reckless driving since you should "slow down and prepare to stop" on a yellow light.

Same here in TX. Take it from one who got a ticket for running a red light when he really didn't. Yes, I got out of the ticket.

[kevin]

I've always thought if the light was yellow when you reached the line you aren't running a light. If it turns red before then you are definetely running a light.

[streetsoldier]

Yellow says, "SLOW DOWN, the light's changing". I spent many an hour (hundreds) reminding errant drivers of this fact by way of issuing traffic summons papers..and caught more than a few wanted perps, too.

[Brent]

I've always thought if the light was yellow when you reached the line you aren't running a light. If it turns red before then you are definetely running a light.

That's what I think too.

[Brent]

Yellow says, "SLOW DOWN, the light's changing". I spent many an hour (hundreds) reminding errant drivers of this fact by way of issuing traffic summons papers..and caught more than a few wanted perps, too.

But where is the cutoff for slowing down? If your going 40 mph and your almost to the line, do you slow down then? Because if you do... you wouldn't stop until the car is across the line which would block people crossing in front of you. That is the BIGGEST pet peeve of mine, people who's tail(or head in this case ) stick out IN THE WAY!!!

[streetsoldier]

If you are reasonably capable of stopping, do it; if not, proceed with CAUTION, because of the "other guy". OK?

[kevin]

Right, its a common sense kind of thing. Don't get yourself killed or anyone else! Use caution wherever possible. And if you break the law, make sure a police officer isn't anywhere in sight. Just kidding streets.

[MSRobi911]

Duckie

In Mississippi there is a manual that they study in the police academy, its called Rules of the Road. I am sure there is something similar for Texas.

From what my husband says, as a Deputy Sheriff, if your car is still in the intersection when the light turns red, you have run the red light. The yellow tells you to slow down, its fixin to change and therefore you should already be preparing to stop, you know the intersection is ahead, etc......its mostly up to the officers feelings on what he sees when he writes you a ticket if you are still "under the light" and it turns red. That is what most folks call an "Amber" light...hahaha but you can still get a ticket. And if you accelerate upon seeing the yellow light they can and will write you a ticket for reckless driving to boot!

Mary

[kevin]

I've seen police officers around here do it constantly. Guess that's our equal protection under the law.

[Miss Mary]

Which line are we talking about? LOL I consider the line before the light important. If the light is yellow as you cross this line, then you're okay. If you cross this line, and the light suddenly turns red, you speed up a bit. Hoping it's a millisecond.....that's not considered running a redlight b/c the light was yellow as you entered the intersection. Of course as you approach the line/light, if it turns red, you must slam on your brakes, giving everyone in your car whiplash almost. Spilling their drinks and/or snacks.

BTW, we still have a few intersections in Cincinnati w/o left turn lights. You have to turn on yellow if you're ever to get thru these intersections. I'm sure as I am turning at these very spots, the light is red. But I have never been given a ticket, b/c it's the only way to keep traffic moving.

Mary

[JenBayles]

A few years ago I got a ticket for running a red light. The light was apparently short-cycling as it was green when I entered the intersection, turned yellow halfway through, and just as I passed under the signal on the opposite side it turned red. You want to talk about MAD?!

[MSRobi911]

Mary

If any part of your car is in the intersection when the light turns red regardless of what it was when you started through the intersecton, i.e. crossing the white line which you are supposed to stop behind you are running a red light.

Mary

[GalvestonDuck]

*snicker* So some agree with me, some agree with her. I need to find a link.

[vbhoutex]

*snicker* So some agree with me, some agree with her. I need to find a link.

The policeman told me that in TX it is considered running a red light if your entire car is not past the line when the light turns to red. I asked him when he pulled me over. His problem was there was no way he could tell whether I was over the line from where he was sitting and I was ready to point it out to the judge if he had bothered to show up for the hearing on the ticket.

[Miss Mary]

Mary

If any part of your car is in the intersection when the light turns red regardless of what it was when you started through the intersecton, i.e. crossing the white line which you are supposed to stop behind you are running a red light.

Mary

Mmm, why do police officers look the other way when you are turning left, without the left turn arrow? You HAVE to turn on yellow, sometimes when it just turns red if the on coming traffic rushes the light. Otherwise you'd have a long line of cars turning left at some of my local intersections, b/c there never would be a large enough opening to turn left between cars. You have to wait until oncoming traffic has to stop for the light change, before a left turning car can get thru, one car at a time too.

Mary

[Brent]

I have a headache.