Ticket for legal turn on red?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Turning right on red just isn't safe anymore, anyway. There are far too many pedestrians nowadays, in addition to other traffic, so the time has probably come to do away with it. I remember the initial ad campaign in the 70's trying to get people to get used to doing it because it saved fuel. But now cars turn off when stopped, so it's not needed.

Bottom line, just wait for the green light to turn. Yes, this means it might takes you an extra 10 seconds to get wherever you're going. So what? And occasionally you'll get a jerk behind you at a red light who will lean on their horn if you don't turn right on red. Ignore them. If they keep honking, hold your middle finger up at them until they stop.

Only a handful of new cars do this. The majority of cars on the road keep polluting.

My car is 6 years old and has stop-start. WTH are you talking about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

OP here again with an update.

DH pulled up the video on the Montgomery County website that shows my car slowing down at the intersection before turning right, but not stopping. So they have proof, I am in the wrong, and I have paid the fine.

The language used in the letter is definitely unclear, though, hence my initial doubts.

What was unclear about the wording? You made an illegal right turn by not coming to a full stop. They said you made an illegal right hand turn, which you did.

Read before you post. My letter said no such thing, and I already explained that. They made it sound as if I was going straight through and had run a red light. They did not mention stopping before turning. In the end, I was in the wrong anyway, but in order to avoid confusing people, they should really be specific about the infraction.

It sounds like you didn’t learn to drive in Maryland. Our law is very clear on this. Entering any part of the intersection on red, without stopping, is illegal. Going straight or turning. The turn is particularly dangerous if there are pedestrians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

OP here again with an update.

DH pulled up the video on the Montgomery County website that shows my car slowing down at the intersection before turning right, but not stopping. So they have proof, I am in the wrong, and I have paid the fine.

The language used in the letter is definitely unclear, though, hence my initial doubts.

What was unclear about the wording? You made an illegal right turn by not coming to a full stop. They said you made an illegal right hand turn, which you did.

Read before you post. My letter said no such thing, and I already explained that. They made it sound as if I was going straight through and had run a red light. They did not mention stopping before turning. In the end, I was in the wrong anyway, but in order to avoid confusing people, they should really be specific about the infraction.

It sounds like you didn’t learn to drive in Maryland. Our law is very clear on this. Entering any part of the intersection on red, without stopping, is illegal. Going straight or turning. The turn is particularly dangerous if there are pedestrians.

This is why I refuse to turn right on red anymore. It clearly upsets people behind me judging by how much I get honked at, but they can just deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

OP here again with an update.

DH pulled up the video on the Montgomery County website that shows my car slowing down at the intersection before turning right, but not stopping. So they have proof, I am in the wrong, and I have paid the fine.

The language used in the letter is definitely unclear, though, hence my initial doubts.

What was unclear about the wording? You made an illegal right turn by not coming to a full stop. They said you made an illegal right hand turn, which you did.

Read before you post. My letter said no such thing, and I already explained that. They made it sound as if I was going straight through and had run a red light. They did not mention stopping before turning. In the end, I was in the wrong anyway, but in order to avoid confusing people, they should really be specific about the infraction.

You’re being obtuse and arguing semantics, and it’s really showing what kind of person you are. They didn’t make anything “sound” like anything but what it is/was. You should not have been in the intersection at all, considering you did not come to a complete stop. You DID run a red light by not coming to a complete stop before entering the intersection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This is why I refuse to turn right on red anymore. It clearly upsets people behind me judging by how much I get honked at, but they can just deal with it.

I'm getting to that point, too. Lots of pedestrians are getting hit because the drivers were turning and didn't look. I don't want to hit anyone when I'm driving (and I don't want to get hit when I'm walking). That's more important than saving 30 seconds by turning right on red.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

But now cars turn off when stopped, so it's not needed

Mine sure doesn't.

Then get a better car.

Race you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is why I refuse to turn right on red anymore. It clearly upsets people behind me judging by how much I get honked at, but they can just deal with it.

I'm getting to that point, too. Lots of pedestrians are getting hit because the drivers were turning and didn't look. I don't want to hit anyone when I'm driving (and I don't want to get hit when I'm walking). That's more important than saving 30 seconds by turning right on red.

Well, that’s not good either. If you are in a right turn lane only, At a red, and you can legally make that right turn then you have to or you’ll also be breaking the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I received a letter saying I need to pay $75 because my car was photographed in the intersection when the light was red. I was turning right, and my car is angled to the right in the photo. It is legal to turn right on red in that intersection because there is no sign prohibiting it. However, I remember not coming to a complete stop before turning right. The letter does not state that it has video showing my car did not come to a complete stop, it only says that I should not have been in the intersection at all, which is strange considering that cars are allowed to turn right when the traffic light is red.

Do you think I can contest this ticket?
Thank you.

Don't. The A-hole judge might reduce the amount to $25 but the court fees will be another $75-100 on top of that. Add in cost of time wasted you are better off just paying this..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is why I refuse to turn right on red anymore. It clearly upsets people behind me judging by how much I get honked at, but they can just deal with it.

I'm getting to that point, too. Lots of pedestrians are getting hit because the drivers were turning and didn't look. I don't want to hit anyone when I'm driving (and I don't want to get hit when I'm walking). That's more important than saving 30 seconds by turning right on red.

Well, that’s not good either. If you are in a right turn lane only, At a red, and you can legally make that right turn then you have to or you’ll also be breaking the law.

dp I don't think you are correct because it always says you can make a right turn when possible. So, no one is going to give you a ticket for NOT turning on red.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is why I refuse to turn right on red anymore. It clearly upsets people behind me judging by how much I get honked at, but they can just deal with it.

I'm getting to that point, too. Lots of pedestrians are getting hit because the drivers were turning and didn't look. I don't want to hit anyone when I'm driving (and I don't want to get hit when I'm walking). That's more important than saving 30 seconds by turning right on red.

Well, that’s not good either. If you are in a right turn lane only, At a red, and you can legally make that right turn then you have to or you’ll also be breaking the law.

Please cite the law that says you must turn right on red.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is why I refuse to turn right on red anymore. It clearly upsets people behind me judging by how much I get honked at, but they can just deal with it.

I'm getting to that point, too. Lots of pedestrians are getting hit because the drivers were turning and didn't look. I don't want to hit anyone when I'm driving (and I don't want to get hit when I'm walking). That's more important than saving 30 seconds by turning right on red.

Well, that’s not good either. If you are in a right turn lane only, At a red, and you can legally make that right turn then you have to or you’ll also be breaking the law.

dp I don't think you are correct because it always says you can make a right turn when possible. So, no one is going to give you a ticket for NOT turning on red.

Agree. The driver MAY turn right on red after coming to a complete stop behind the white line (if there is one) but is not required to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is why I refuse to turn right on red anymore. It clearly upsets people behind me judging by how much I get honked at, but they can just deal with it.

I'm getting to that point, too. Lots of pedestrians are getting hit because the drivers were turning and didn't look. I don't want to hit anyone when I'm driving (and I don't want to get hit when I'm walking). That's more important than saving 30 seconds by turning right on red.

What? You aren't required to turn, but people turning right on red is what is assumed and what the intersection is designed to do. You can end up backing up a long line of traffic behind you, all having difficulty making that turn because...you don't trust yourself to look for pedestrians? I don't think you should be driving if you don't feel competent enough to make a right on red. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is why I refuse to turn right on red anymore. It clearly upsets people behind me judging by how much I get honked at, but they can just deal with it.

I'm getting to that point, too. Lots of pedestrians are getting hit because the drivers were turning and didn't look. I don't want to hit anyone when I'm driving (and I don't want to get hit when I'm walking). That's more important than saving 30 seconds by turning right on red.

What? You aren't required to turn, but people turning right on red is what is assumed and what the intersection is designed to do. You can end up backing up a long line of traffic behind you, all having difficulty making that turn because...you don't trust yourself to look for pedestrians? I don't think you should be driving if you don't feel competent enough to make a right on red. Seriously.

Then the intersection is designed to endanger pedestrians, and the design needs to be changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

OP here again with an update.

DH pulled up the video on the Montgomery County website that shows my car slowing down at the intersection before turning right, but not stopping. So they have proof, I am in the wrong, and I have paid the fine.

The language used in the letter is definitely unclear, though, hence my initial doubts.

What was unclear about the wording? You made an illegal right turn by not coming to a full stop. They said you made an illegal right hand turn, which you did.

Read before you post. My letter said no such thing, and I already explained that. They made it sound as if I was going straight through and had run a red light. They did not mention stopping before turning. In the end, I was in the wrong anyway, but in order to avoid confusing people, they should really be specific about the infraction.

It sounds like you didn’t learn to drive in Maryland. Our law is very clear on this. Entering any part of the intersection on red, without stopping, is illegal. Going straight or turning. The turn is particularly dangerous if there are pedestrians.

This is why I refuse to turn right on red anymore. It clearly upsets people behind me judging by how much I get honked at, but they can just deal with it.

Interesting. I see more and more people not turning right on red with no obvious traffic and honestly no obvious pedestrians. I never beep, but I have wondered what’s up. I’ll just assume from now on they are being cautious. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is why I refuse to turn right on red anymore. It clearly upsets people behind me judging by how much I get honked at, but they can just deal with it.

I'm getting to that point, too. Lots of pedestrians are getting hit because the drivers were turning and didn't look. I don't want to hit anyone when I'm driving (and I don't want to get hit when I'm walking). That's more important than saving 30 seconds by turning right on red.

What? You aren't required to turn, but people turning right on red is what is assumed and what the intersection is designed to do. You can end up backing up a long line of traffic behind you, all having difficulty making that turn because...you don't trust yourself to look for pedestrians? I don't think you should be driving if you don't feel competent enough to make a right on red. Seriously.

I don't care how far traffic backs up behind me - they can wait on me. I'll go when the light turns green. If they don't like that, well that's just too bad.