Right on Red - from the outside lane?

[Scott B.]

Having an argument about 'is it legal?'

Scenario. Controlled intersection, 3 lanes wide. Left lane is left turn only. Middle lane is right turn or straight, and the right lane is right turn only. People turning right from the middle lane on red. Legal or no?

I say no (and it irritates me greatly as it's unsafe, particularly at the intersection we're arguing about).

Searching for an internet answer turns up a lot of opinions but not a lot of fact.

[Mick22]

I believe it's legal unless otherwise noted. Some of these intersections have a "No right on red" sign. However, this is only my opinion.

[ELB]

TRANSPORTATION CODE
TITLE 7. VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
SUBTITLE C. RULES OF THE ROAD
CHAPTER 544. TRAFFIC SIGNS, SIGNALS, AND MARKINGS

Sec. 544.007. TRAFFIC-CONTROL SIGNALS IN GENERAL.
...

(d) An operator of a vehicle facing only a steady red signal shall stop at a clearly marked stop line. In the absence of a stop line, the operator shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. A vehicle that is not turning shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown. After stopping, standing until the intersection may be entered safely, and yielding right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully in an adjacent crosswalk and other traffic lawfully using the intersection, the operator may:

(1) turn right; or

(2) turn left, if the intersecting streets are both one-way streets and a left turn is permissible.

...

Don't see anything about lanes. There are other provisions in the code that basically say, paraphrased, "don't do nuttin' dangerous", but otherwise doesn't look to me to be illegal if you turn right-on-red from a right-turn lane, as long as the intersection is not posted against it.

I find it more a problem when someone decides to "create" an outside turn lane where there is none...

[FastCarry]

My opinion is that it was legal, I do it all it the time. As long as it is safe to enter the intersection, I welcome the 2 turn lanes. The same rules apply to either lane for safe entry.

I asked a LEO who has a few in his city and one right outside his PD, he says only legal on the far right. He also said there is not a state law dictating this, only if there is a sign then it will be an offense.

[NTexCopRetired]

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.

[lildave40]

Where I live we have that set up leaving the neighborhood. I ask the sheriff about it and he said it is legal. Because it is a straight and turn lane.

[oohrah]

I know of two intersections where this condition exists, and both have signs posted that say "No right on Red from center lane", so I would agree it's legal unless posted.

[ScottDLS]

I was sure that in a state driver safety course I learned that it was illegal, but from the above it appears that I am wrong... Well at least I got the speeding ticket dismissed for taking the course...

[WTR]

The Policeman who pulled me over for turning right on a green arrow told me it was illegal.

[FastCarry]

The Policeman who pulled me over for turning right on a green arrow told me it was illegal.

Do you know if there was a sign? What city?

[Charles L. Cotton]

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.

[Jusme]

The Policeman who pulled me over for turning right on a green arrow told me it was illegal.

Unless their is signage prohibiting it, a right turn on red, after stop and yield to any traffic that has the right of way, which could also include u-turns on intersecting streets, a right turn is legal. Unfortunately, not all police officers are fully versed in the laws, and they sometimes revert to the old habit of "someone told me" rather than take the time to look it up. With all of the various combinations of intersections, it can get confusing, not only for drivers, but for those charged with enforcing traffic laws. When i was a LEO, there were officers who wrote tickets for violations that weren't real violations. I was a backup officer on one that was about to be written, and I told him the driver did not commit a violation. and he tried to argue with me until I pulled out my copy of the Uniform Traffic Code and showed him. He responded "Well, I always heard it was when I was growing up."

Please take the time to familiarize yourselves with the various laws, and if unsure, just wait until the light turns green. If you are ticked for a non-violation, don't argue with the officer, just bring your proof of the law to traffic court and have it dismissed and ask for the officer to receive additional training.

[allisji]

There is an intersection in Seabrook turning from Nasa Rd 1 on to SH146 where there are 4 traffic lanes, the two on the right are both right turn only lanes and they turn onto the southbound SH146 which is only two lanes. The 3rd from the right is straight or left turn, and the 4th is left turn only.

The intersection is marked with a sign that says "Right Turn on Red from Right Lane Only". Yet people are constantly turning on red from both right turn lanes while the signal is only allowing left turns off of SH146. This is unsafe because the cars turning left from SH146 onto Nasa Rd 1 are occupying the same space as the cars turning right from the second from the right lane on Nasa Rd 1.

It drives be crazy when people do that. I always try to get into the far right lane. Otherwise if I am in the second from the right I will stop on red and get honked at till the light turns green.

[allisji]

There is an intersection in Seabrook turning from Nasa Rd 1 on to SH146 where there are 4 traffic lanes, the two on the right are both right turn only lanes and they turn onto the southbound SH146 which is only two lanes. The 3rd from the right is straight or left turn, and the 4th is left turn only.

The intersection is marked with a sign that says "Right Turn on Red from Right Lane Only". Yet people are constantly turning on red from both right turn lanes while the signal is only allowing left turns off of SH146. This is unsafe because the cars turning left from SH146 onto Nasa Rd 1 are occupying the same space as the cars turning right from the second from the right lane on Nasa Rd 1.

It drives be crazy when people do that. I always try to get into the far right lane. Otherwise if I am in the second from the right I will stop on red and get honked at till the light turns green.