It sounds like there are 2 different laws around the country and it affects the timing of the yellow lights. In the restrictive states the yellow time has to be set longer than in permissive yellow states. Most places appear to be permissive states around the country but I guess virginia, new jersey, and connecticut are near to this area.

This thread is so depressing. No wonder it's hard to drive around here, when some people think they'll get a ticket if the light turns red after they've entered the intersection, and others know that that isn't the law here.

NP. Has anyone ever actually gotten a ticket for "running a yellow light"? I doubt many cops would care as long as you're being reasonable.

I got pulled over once for driving through a yellow, but no ticket. I'm pretty sure the police officer was profiling me, and just wanted an excuse to stop and question me.

Anonymous wrote:


You may know how to underline, but you don't know how to read. The very next sentence says if you are too close to stop safely, continue through the intersection with care. You do not have to clear before it turns red. I can legally take in an intersection trying to make a left turn for example, and I may not have a clear opportunity until the light changes. I am allowed to complete my turn at that point.

If you are making a left turn, yes, but in DC, you are breaking the law if you are going through or causing gridlock because you didn't clear and pedestrians start crossing. Obviously a lot of people do it, but it is what it is.

It depends on my speed and how heavy the traffic is. If I can safely stop without getting rear-ended (and thrown into the intersection or crosswalk), I stop. If not, I keep going even if it means risking a red light ticket, since that is better than an accident.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your rear tires need to enter the intersection before it turns red.

If I'm in DC or MD and there's a chance of a red light ticket, I brake hard and hope no one is behind me.

Your rear tires need to LEAVE the intersection before it turns red.

No, you are stopping too soon. If the light is yellow when you enter the intersection, that's fine. If you stop too sign, you run the risk of getting hit from behind by someone who is not expecting you to stop.

No, you are supposed to slow when the light turns yellow, but you sure as heck are not supposed to just blow through. Pedestrians on the other side start walking when the light changes, so if you are still going through, you will/may hit them.

Anonymous wrote:Your rear tires need to enter the intersection before it turns red.

If I'm in DC or MD and there's a chance of a red light ticket, I brake hard and hope no one is behind me.

No, you need to be clear of the intersection before the light turns red. If you enter before it turns red, you are going through the light. This is pretty basic.

I'm from New York and I got a ticket for running a red light. I think the cop's explanation was along the lines of the light turning red before I was either fully through the intersection or halfway through the intersection. So now I'm usually pretty cautious (especially because I'm afraid of car accidents!). I didn't realize that laws were different here, which is what is sounds like. But honestly people take so many crazy risks driving around here and it gives me agita - I'd rather play it safe myself.

Anonymous wrote:This website has a list of restrictive vs permissive states. Not sure if they are correct. Looks like virginia is restrictive but maryland is permissive?

http://www.jarlstrom.com/PDF/Exhibit_1_FINAL_An_investigation_of_the_ITE_formula_and_its_use_R14.pdf

Virginia and DC are permissive.

Anonymous wrote:Yellow means stop if you can do so safely.

No it doesn't. You suck.

This website has a list of restrictive vs permissive states. Not sure if they are correct. Looks like virginia is restrictive but maryland is permissive?

http://www.jarlstrom.com/PDF/Exhibit_1_FINAL_An_investigation_of_the_ITE_formula_and_its_use_R14.pdf

Which states have the restrictive rules? According to the above website I could not find any but other places that 37 states have the permissive rule but 13 have the restrictive rule. I think Connecticut is one of the restrictive ones.

I always learned that if you enter the intersection before the light turned red you were ok. I didn't know there were states that have "restrictive" yellow lights. Are there any near here? See below:
http://www.drivinglaws.org/resources/traffic-tickets/moving-violations/running-red-lights-and-stop-17


The “Yellow-Light Rule” in Maryland

In Maryland it is not illegal to deliberately drive through a yellow light. A yellow light means only that traffic facing the light is “warned” that a red light will soon follow. As long as your vehicle entered the intersection or passed the crosswalk or limit line before the light turned red, you haven’t broken the law.

Did you "Not in Maryland"ers read the Maryland manual that was quoted? The purpose is to allow vehicles to clear the intersection before the light turns red. Before.

I guess Md does have the worst drivers in the DMV. Congrats.

For the left turner, correct. It is also a different situation that was implied by using the words "going through". Please go pretend to be a lawyer elsewhere.

Anonymous wrote:This is kind of off-topic, and we are headed out of the winter season, but when it's snowy/bad roads, please just proceed through the intersection at a yellow light unless you have lots of stopping room. I've seen way too many people see a yellow light, hit the breaks too hard in order to stop before the intersection, and then skid/spin out. At a yellow light, it is much, much better to perhaps not get out of the intersection before the light turns red than try to stop with little distance/too hard of a break for the conditions and get in an accident or skid.

If they do this, that means they were driving too fast for the road conditions. When it is snowy/icy, you need to slow down to be safe.