TexasCHLforum.com

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

NTexCopRetired wrote:Safely turning right after a stop while facing a red light is legal, as long as the lane is legal for a right turn. You should turn into the corresponding lane on the intersecting street.

I'm dating myself, but I recall a good deal of publicity on this issue when "right turn on red" was made legal in Texas. I sure thought there was a Texas law that required a "right on red" or "left on red" turn be made from the extreme left or right lane. That said, what NTexCopRetired posted makes sense. Unless marked otherwise, through traffic cannot make a right turn from any lanes to the left of the right-most lane. Therefore, unless marked otherwise, a right turn on red from anything other than the right lane should unlawful. Remember, I haven't read the Transportation Code since I left the academy 100 years ago.

Chas.

I remember what Charles said. Legal right turn from the extreme right lane and whether against a red or not must stay in the extreme right lane through the turn. A left turn on red is legal from extreme left lane from a one way to a one way only. Left turns can chose to turn into inside or outside lane as long as you maintain the same lane through the turn. But as Charles also stated the codes may be different now.

When I went through the academy, 1969, it was called the "Uniform Act".TCLEOSE didn't exist.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

NTexCopRetired wrote:Safely turning right after a stop while facing a red light is legal, as long as the lane is legal for a right turn. You should turn into the corresponding lane on the intersecting street.

I'm dating myself, but I recall a good deal of publicity on this issue when "right turn on red" was made legal in Texas. I sure thought there was a Texas law that required a "right on red" or "left on red" turn be made from the extreme left or right lane. That said, what NTexCopRetired posted makes sense. Unless marked otherwise, through traffic cannot make a right turn from any lanes to the left of the right-most lane. Therefore, unless marked otherwise, a right turn on red from anything other than the right lane should unlawful. Remember, I haven't read the Transportation Code since I left the academy 100 years ago.

Chas.

I also learned in Texas that right on red must be curb to curb adjoining lanes. Only outer lanes as allowed by a sign.

android wrote: ...
I also learned in Texas that right on red must be curb to curb adjoining lanes. Only outer lanes as allowed by a sign.

Per the current code I quoted earlier, just the opposite now -- right turn on red from outer right turn lanes allowed unless a sign forbids it.

ELB wrote:

android wrote: ...
I also learned in Texas that right on red must be curb to curb adjoining lanes. Only outer lanes as allowed by a sign.

Per the current code I quoted earlier, just the opposite now -- right turn on red from outer right turn lanes allowed unless a sign forbids it.

I love it when someone make a right turn from the inner lane into the outer lane (or vice versa), effectively almost hitting my vehicle.

It's kind of like the four-way stop sign. Rarely do you see four people with enough sense get together to make one work.

Special markings or traffic signs notwithstanding The traffic code 545.101 states
(a) To make a right turn at an intersection, an operator shall make both the approach and the turn as closely as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. -

Turning left, is much the same, use the left most lane to enter the intersection then you may use any available lane..ie you can turn into either lane if there are two available.

I turn right from the center lane at this intersection all the time. If you go straight from the left lane, you enter the parking lot for Tinseltown Theater in Grapevine......or you can turn left onto Mustang Drive, so that is not really a through street. Both the center and right northbound lanes are clearly marked for a right turn only. The westbound left-turn pocket feeds large numbers of cars onto southbound Stone Myers. There is no difference between turning right off of Stone Myers from the center lane or the right lane, as the center lane can ONLY go to the right. It is perfectly safe.

The Annoyed Man wrote:I turn right from the center lane at this intersection all the time. If you go straight from the left lane, you enter the parking lot for Tinseltown Theater in Grapevine......or you can turn left onto Mustang Drive, so that is not really a through street. Both the center and right northbound lanes are clearly marked for a right turn only. The westbound left-turn pocket feeds large numbers of cars onto southbound Stone Myers. There is no difference between turning right off of Stone Myers from the center lane or the right lane, as the center lane can ONLY go to the right. It is perfectly safe.

stonemyersatmustang.jpg

You describe my exact situation. Only difference is that if you were go straight from the 3rd lane from the right, you would end up in a Kinko's/FedEX parking lot. You may be perfectly safe turning right from the second lane from the right but you are also perfectly illegal. I was told this by the City Policeman who pulled me over, a Sergeant I know with the County Sheriffs Dept. and an Attorney I deal with who specializes in traffic court violations.

As a side not, I drive a extended cab 1 ton P/U. I can manage to make a right turn and keep in completely in the right lane. I'm amazed at the folks driving cars that take 2 to 3 lanes to make a right.

It depends on who's the fastest or who has the biggest vehicle.

It may not be the definitive answer, but if you search for the word "right" on this page and go down to the 68th one there is this little tidbit.

http://www.texashighwayman.com/laws.shtml

RIGHT ON RED FROM DUAL TURN LANES
In a related matter, I often get the question of whether it is legal to make a right on red from the left lane of dual right turn lanes (i.e. the "outer" right turn lane). The answer is yes, so long as there aren't any signs prohibiting it such as those shown below.

Doing a similar search through the Texas traffic code only returns information dealing with single turn lanes and does not address dual turn lanes at all.

Well...I'm not sure I'm any closer to answer now or not.

WTR wrote:

The Annoyed Man wrote:I turn right from the center lane at this intersection all the time. If you go straight from the left lane, you enter the parking lot for Tinseltown Theater in Grapevine......or you can turn left onto Mustang Drive, so that is not really a through street. Both the center and right northbound lanes are clearly marked for a right turn only. The westbound left-turn pocket feeds large numbers of cars onto southbound Stone Myers. There is no difference between turning right off of Stone Myers from the center lane or the right lane, as the center lane can ONLY go to the right. It is perfectly safe.

stonemyersatmustang.jpg

You describe my exact situation. Only difference is that if you were go straight from the 3rd lane from the right, you would end up in a Kinko's/FedEX parking lot. You may be perfectly safe turning right from the second lane from the right but you are also perfectly illegal. I was told this by the City Policeman who pulled me over, a Sergeant I know with the County Sheriffs Dept. and an Attorney I deal with who specializes in traffic court violations.

As a side not, I drive a extended cab 1 ton P/U. I can manage to make a right turn and keep in completely in the right lane. I'm amazed at the folks driving cars that take 2 to 3 lanes to make a right.

Maybe it is illegal.....I'm not an expert. But.... I have made this turn in plain view of Grapevine's finest on more than one occasion, and it doesn't seem to pique their interest.