Red light camera - if you are merging in traffic when the light goes yellow to red

[Anonymous]

Do you get a ticket?

[Anonymous]

It's illegal to merge in an intersection

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's illegal to merge in an intersection

Yes it is but you won't get a ticket from a red light camera for it. Only for running the light.

BTW, I assume OP is local. There are a couple states that consider that, entering the intersection on the yellow but exiting on the red, to be running the red light.

[Anonymous]

OP's question doesn't make sense as I doubt there are any formal merges in the middle of an intersection.

I'm guessing there was a back-up and OP changed lanes to an available lane in the middle of an intersection.

But in all 3 local jurisdictions you are not supposed to enter an intersection until you can clear it. So if you were caught in the middle of an intersection when the light turned red that would be a legitimate red light violation.

But OP needs to better explain what happened.

In any case don't worry about it - in most murky situations local jurisdictions won't issue a traffic camera ticket so no need to fret about something you are likely getting cited for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP's question doesn't make sense as I doubt there are any formal merges in the middle of an intersection.

I'm guessing there was a back-up and OP changed lanes to an available lane in the middle of an intersection.

But in all 3 local jurisdictions you are not supposed to enter an intersection until you can clear it. So if you were caught in the middle of an intersection when the light turned red that would be a legitimate red light violation.

But OP needs to better explain what happened.

In any case don't worry about it - in most murky situations local jurisdictions won't issue a traffic camera ticket so no need to fret about something you are likely getting cited for.

Fascinating. I was taught to enter the enter the intersection and complete the turn (even on red). The only exception would be intersections with signs posted “don’t block the box/intersection.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP's question doesn't make sense as I doubt there are any formal merges in the middle of an intersection.

I'm guessing there was a back-up and OP changed lanes to an available lane in the middle of an intersection.

But in all 3 local jurisdictions you are not supposed to enter an intersection until you can clear it. So if you were caught in the middle of an intersection when the light turned red that would be a legitimate red light violation.

But OP needs to better explain what happened.

In any case don't worry about it - in most murky situations local jurisdictions won't issue a traffic camera ticket so no need to fret about something you are likely getting cited for.

Fascinating. I was taught to enter the enter the intersection and complete the turn (even on red). The only exception would be intersections with signs posted “don’t block the box/intersection.”

OP referred to merging and not turning which are very different things.

But the same principle applies - locally if you enter an intersection you are supposed to be able to clear it.

In DC at least it makes no different if there is a sign advising you to not block the box or not - it is illegal either way.

[Anonymous]

No changing lanes allowed in an intersection.

And you can't enter an intersection unless the path is clear all the way through. It's illegal to block an intersection.

The only 'exception' is entering to turn without a green arrow, and then needing to wait until the lights change to finish the turn to cross the oncoming traffic once it stops. Which isn't "merging" so probably has nothing to do with your question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP's question doesn't make sense as I doubt there are any formal merges in the middle of an intersection.

I'm guessing there was a back-up and OP changed lanes to an available lane in the middle of an intersection.

But in all 3 local jurisdictions you are not supposed to enter an intersection until you can clear it. So if you were caught in the middle of an intersection when the light turned red that would be a legitimate red light violation.

But OP needs to better explain what happened.

In any case don't worry about it - in most murky situations local jurisdictions won't issue a traffic camera ticket so no need to fret about something you are likely getting cited for.

Fascinating. I was taught to enter the enter the intersection and complete the turn (even on red). The only exception would be intersections with signs posted “don’t block the box/intersection.”

You are correct and PP is muddling things.

[Anonymous]

One car only is allowed to enter the intersection and complete the key turn on red to clear it. If two cars pull forward, that second car should receive a ticket but not the first.

I know of at least one camera that will give red light tickets if you make a right on red without first coming to a complete stop. That one is diabolical. I know people that got dozens of those tickets because they take a couple weeks to mail them out.