Left Turns Before Lights Turns Green

[Archie]

This officailly drives me NUTS!!! Why is it ok to make a left turn at a light when the cross traffics lights are yellow? Are cops craking down on this when they see this or what? I mean this can cause a serious accident and people do this all the time. Before this becomes a rant, what actually goes down on the ticket if these fools get caught doing this?

[Bane]

if we what, see someone run a red light? yea we tend to not let someone blatantly run a red light

[Archie]

Originally Posted by Bane

if we what, see someone run a red light? yea we tend to not let someone blatantly run a red light

No, no, no. Well yes in a sence. The cars that start to make a left turn before the light turns just.to beat oncoming traffic. They do this alot in philly and yes it is technically running a light. Seems as though it's acceptable here. Then again I have never seen cop around when done, although I have seen cops do it which I can understand.

[TROLL]

To clarify... are you inquiring about when someone enters an intersection when the light is yellow, or red? I'll let the officers chime in on that but I think its safe to say that would make a big difference.

[scout]

Originally Posted by TROLL

To clarify... are you inquiring about when someone enters an intersection when the light is yellow, or red? I'll let the officers chime in on that but I think its safe to say that would make a big difference.

Like Troll said if the person has already committed into the intersection to make that left hand turn, the light turns yellow, and the person is just waiting on oncoming traffic to stop... I believe it to be officer discretion on this one (Bane maybe you have another opinion) To be honest you see it all the time and I would never stop someone for it unless he was doing it in a manner that's unsafe like speeding up to catch the light or is 4 cars back just ahead of the stop line and takes off.

[doug]

as troll said, we always let the officers handle the questions.. but i think the OP means.. when a driver is in a left turn lane that would get a green light the same time the opposite flow of traffic would get a green.. and that driver jumps the green light when the cross traffic lights on the road the driver is turning on to are turning from yellow to red. am i right? i see this happen all the time and have seen some close calls to some serious accidents occurring because of it.

[scout]

I see what you're talking about now... I think. So when the traffic lane you are in and the opposing traffic are red the person tries to jump the light before the intersecting traffic is red, and before yours hits green. Just to beat the opposing traffic. Am I on to it now?

[scout]

If this is the case and the officer witnesses the vehicle go when their light is red... it's running a red light! And yes a person can be ticketed for it. As long as the officer visually sees a car go on a red or run through a red, its a sure thing you can stop that vehicle.

[Bane]

Are we talking about a lane that has a green arrow and green light for the turning lane that the arrow doesn't activate sometimes unless the is a car in the lane before the lights are triggered?

If so, as long as they arent going full drift through the intersection to beat the cars or the move causes danger its not something you would see my lights behind you for.

[Archie]

Originally Posted by doug

as troll said, we always let the officers handle the questions.. but i think the OP means.. when a driver is in a left turn lane that would get a green light the same time the opposite flow of traffic would get a green.. and that driver jumps the green light when the cross traffic lights on the road the driver is turning on to are turning from yellow to red. am i right? i see this happen all the time and have seen some close calls to some serious accidents occurring because of it.

exactly what i am talking about.

Originally Posted by Bane

Are we talking about a lane that has a green arrow and green light for the turning lane that the arrow doesn't activate sometimes unless the is a car in the lane before the lights are triggered?

If so, as long as they arent going full drift through the intersection to beat the cars or the move causes danger its not something you would see my lights behind you for.

no left turn signal, plain lights. i see it the most on broad street in Philly which has no left turn arrow lights.

I am not talking about the cars that catch the tail end of the light, i am talking about when cross traffics lights are going from yellow to red and a car in the oncoming traffic lane turns infront of me before i get my green light. the car then is dead in front of me completeing the left turn as i get a green light. the funny thing about this.... the person jumping the light looks at you like your an idiot if you dont let them go?!?!

dang, funny how this is so tuff to explain on paper!