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by Jennas on April 7th, 2005

Jennas

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What constitutes running a red light in Dallas, Texas? If you enter while the light is yellow is that okay, or are you in violation unless you've crossed the first white line at the opposing cross walk?

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Answers. 10 helpful answers below.

  • by Anonymous on October 15th, 2008

    Anonymous

    All that matters is that you passed the "clearly marked stop line," or in the absence of a stop line, that you "enter[ed] the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection."

    A steady yellow signal means "(1) movement authorized by a green signal is being terminated; or (2) a red signal is to be given." Thus, the yellow light is treated as a green light, but is provided to give warning of an impending red light.

    The relevant portion of the Texas Transportation Code is cited below:

    § 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.

    (e) An operator of a vehicle facing a steady yellow signal is warned by that signal that:

    (1) movement authorized by a green signal is being terminated; or
    (2) a red signal is to be given.

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  • by notmrjohn on April 8th, 2005

    notmrjohn

    Texas Law applies here, the only local (Dallas) effect is how strict they are in enforcing it , everyone who drives in Dallas knows that Yellow means "Speed up! The light is gonna turn red!" But, Texas Drivers Handbook says
    " Red Light-Stop before entering intersection or crosswalk." ( That's the cross walk or wide "stop line" on your side of the intersection, and note it is "entering" not "exiting" or crossing the line on the other side.)
    "Yellow light- Stop before entering intersection or crosswalk if safe to do so." See? It doesn't matter if the light was yellow and then turned red after you entered the intersection or crossed the line. If the light was *yellow* and you coulda stopped, you shoulda stopped. It does matter ( in your favor) if the light turned *yellow* after or just as you passed the line. And it does matter if you sped up to beat the yellow (not in your favor). The 'safe to do so' part is open to the interpretation of the cop, and then the finding of the judge; as is where the intersection begins if there is no crosswalk or line.
    "Greenlight"-Proceed through the intersection if it is safe to do so." Aha! I know ya didn't ask but you can get a ticket for running a GREEN light. Obviously if there is an emergency vehicle with lights and siren approaching on the cross street, it's not safe to proceed, in addition to failure to yield to the emercency vehicle, you *could* get popped for unsafe entry into an intersection . The same could apply to road work or construction or other road or traffic hazards. You could be ticketed for trying to "nose" through jammed or stalled cross traffic. You could even, but not likely, get a ticket for another drivers infractions, if there is an obviously speeding or out of control vehicle approaching on the cross street and you coulda seen it you shoulda seen it, especially if the cop can prove somehow that you DID see it. Same thing if there is a crossing vehicle obviously running its red light and you coulda, you shoulda. I drive in Dallas and I have seen people who see another speed up to "beat the red" and actually accelerate into the intersection a few "safe" feet to "teach him a lesson." That makes as much sense and is as unsafe as driving the speed limit in the left hand lane so freeway speeders have to illegally pass on your right and "learn a lesson."
    Speakin of freeways and "Yellow means speed up." Using your turn signals on the freeway means " You other people speed up and block me off so I can't change lanes."

    So anyway, it probably isn't safe to proceed with your "entering while yellow and opposing crosswalk" defense.

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  • by mookels on October 15th, 2008

    mookels

    ok notmrjohn
    that may be all fine what u said, but i would like to read where your quotes came from, ive been trying to find a defined answer to this question: "at what exact moment am i breaking the law when i run a red light?" is it when i cross the white line and the light is red, or am i still breaking the law when my car is in the intersection when the light turns red but when i crossed the white line it was yellow? where exactly, in the Texas Statutes does it define where i break the law when running a red light. thats what i want, black and white proof, written in that lawyer jargon. (so to speak)

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  • by Anonymous on September 13th, 2009

    Anonymous

    Unless definitions have changed, a yellow ("caution") light means "be prepared to stop" - NOT to try to get on through. There are so many surveillance cameras now that you could easily received a citation by mail.
    Should you be stopped for such you won't have much of an excuse unless you are on a genuine emergency ... as determined by the officer.

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  • by dogmcby on April 2nd, 2007

    dogmcby

    Texas law states that if any part of your vehicle is in the intersection when the light turns yellow you have the right of way to clear the intersection. White lines and crosswalks only apply after you have come to a complete stop.

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  • by dogmcby on April 2nd, 2007

    dogmcby

    If any part of your vehicle is in the intersection when the light turns yellow you have the right to clear the intersection. The law on white lines and crosswalks apply after you have come to a complete stop.

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  • by DallasCarWreckLaw on November 5th, 2010

    DallasCarWreckLaw

    As a safety precaution you should always stop when you see the light turn yellow. Defensive driving is the best way to avoid accidents. Just be sure the driver behind you has enough room to stop safely once you hit the breaks.

    The Dallas car wreck lawyers @ http://www.1800-car-wreck.com/

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  • by Doug_S6206 on December 3rd, 2010

    Doug_S6206

    As a police officer in the metroplex, I won't pull a vehicle over, say, if the driver enters the intersection on a yellow and the signal light turns red wile the driver is still in the intersection. The designated stopping point does come into play if the light turns red and the driver of the vehicle crosses over that point ie, white line, crosswalk, ect, and enters the intersection. I personally do not like to stop for that violation due to a high risk of causing an accident trying to catch up to the violator during rush hour type traffic.

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  • by Anonymous on April 4th, 2006

    Anonymous

    The white line applies nationwide. the big, wide white painted line, at the crosswalk, is the determining factor of running a red light. If you are on this white line, while passing a red traffic signal, you are in violation. a yellow traffic signal means to slow down and prepare to stop.

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  • by jreyes1188 on June 10th, 2010

    jreyes1188

    texas handbook for drivers licens state if u cant safely come to a complete stop, proceed with caution. this means if u r in rt and cant stop safely. if u r stoped for wat evr reason or u porposely accelarate, u are doing so knowenly and with intention of running lite. only the driver driving will be able to make the judgement call. i may still thnk u ran a red lite.

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