Poetryinpain
Posts: 341
Joined: 3/20/2008
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I was taught to enter the intersection on the green, wait for oncoming traffic to clear (or stop as the light changes), and then complete the left turn.
On a recent episode of People's Court, a person making a left turn had thought they had to clear the intersection before the light turned red, so they collided with a 'yellow light accelerator.' The judge made it clear that they would have been within the law to wait for the other car to go through, even if it meant being in the intersection when the light turned red. If it was green when they entered, they were within the law of their state. Thus, since they were making a left turn into the path of the oncoming car, they were at fault.
And in CA, if the roadway you are turning onto is one-way (i.e., if there's a barrier separating the two directions), you may turn into whatever lane you need. Otherwise your right turn must be into the right lane. It sounds as though the OP was turning onto a one-way roadway.
I can honestly say that I drove for 25 years without receiving a traffic ticket. My roommate has driven for about 45 years without a ticket. I can't drive anymore, but I feel safe riding with my roommate because of her excellent record.
Parking tickets, now - that's a different thing, although we have each received only a few. (Including the time we unwittingly parked in the handicapped access area instead of the handicapped space itself - that was embarrassing, but bad lighting and faded paint played a role in that.)
pip, always allowed the other drivers ample room to be stupid
_____________________________
There is none so blind as he who will not see.
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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 
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