entering when yellow

[nullify]

Ohio

I was in the middle turn lane waiting to make a left at an intersection. There was one car in front of me when the light turned yellow. When that car turned, I saw the light was still yellow so I entered the intersection. Then after a brief wait to be sure traffic has stopped, I turned. Was it wrong of me to have entered the intersection? One cop I asked said that if you're not sure that you can immediately clear the intersection, whether it's green or yellow, you shouldn't move forward into the intersection.

I've seen in internet searches that some say it is illegal while others say it is the cautious thing to do to not enter. I know of a handful of intersections here where at the busier times, there are basically an endless number of cars going straight, preventing cars from turning because there also are no left turn arrows. By the time the car is sure oncoming traffic has stopped, the light is red. Or, it's so late that by the time the car moves forward, traffic going in the perpendicular direction might be going.

Just a point I want to account for in court. Thanks for your opinions.

 

[sukharev]

Yellow light does not mean "go". If you have ability to stop or are not moving (which is what you just described), then you should stay put, and not turn. You will keep yourself safer, too, keep in mind some folks are trying to make yellow lights going straight!

 

[nullify]

Yes, I understand that in this case, I probably shouldn't have entered. Other times it does however seem like the reasonable thing to do.

Aside from that, is it actually illegal though?

Then, will it put me partially at fault? Let's say that if I do that, and a car that witnesses say ran a red light hits me, would I be somewhat at fault because I shouldn't have gone in the first place?

 

[sukharev]

Yes, I understand that in this case, I probably shouldn't have entered. Other times it does however seem like the reasonable thing to do.

Aside from that, is it actually illegal though?

Then, will it put me partially at fault? Let's say that if I do that, and a car that witnesses say ran a red light hits me, would I be somewhat at fault because I shouldn't have gone in the first place?

Yes, you would be at fault, at least partially. In the situation you described, it may be over 50% your fault, because timing is exactly same, and you did not yield right-of-way. Every state has different rules, and every insurance company within each state has different rules also. It's impossible to tell, and will depend on how your insurance company handles the case.

 

[nullify]

Is that illegal in criminal court?

Now this question is in civil court. I actually got hit in the back two to three feet of my car. I also didn't accelerate fast. If the other driver ran a red light, and I entered when it was yellow but waited until it was red before turning, certain places would actually consider me more at fault? Wouldn't I be less at fault because I at least got into the intersection while it was still yellow? ;-D

 

[sukharev]

Tell this to the judge. But, to anybody hearing this, it would sound like you knew the road was blocked by oncoming traffic, but you chose to "enter the intersection" rather than wait until the road is clear. You are at fault, since it was your choice. The other driver would say same thing, that the light was yellow when he entered the intersection. Unless you have witnesses that say otherwise, he had the right of way, and you did not.

 

[grahamswilliams]

a cop pulled me in VA for 'going thro a red'. $100 plus 4 pts + $57 costs. I was sure it was yellow and went to court and pleaded my case. the judge gave me the benefit of the doubt - case dissmissed!
In VA at least yellow means you can still go through!