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An Act To Allow a Motorist To Make a Left Turn at a Red Light under Certain Conditions
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §2057, sub-§1, ¶C, as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §36 and affected by Pt. X, §2, is amended to read:
 
C. A red light, if steady and circular, means:
 
(1) The operator must stop and remain stationary until an indication to proceed is shown; or
 
(2) The operator may cautiously enter the intersection to make a right turn after stopping if:
 
(a) Not prohibited by an appropriate sign such as "NO RIGHT TURN ON RED" or "NO TURN ON RED"; and
 
(b) The operator executing a turn yields the right-of-way to pedestrians on a crosswalk and to a vehicle having a green signal at the intersection.; or
 
(3) The operator may cautiously enter the intersection to make a left turn after stopping if:
 
(a) Not prohibited by an appropriate sign such as "NO LEFT TURN ON RED" or "NO TURN ON RED"; and
 
(b) The operator executing a turn yields the right-of-way to pedestrians on a crosswalk and to a vehicle having a green signal at the intersection.
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §2057, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 and affected by Pt. B, §5, is amended to read:
 
2. Basis for prohibiting turn.   A municipality or the Department of Transportation, in determining whether to prohibit a right turn or a left turn on a red light, must consider at least the following factors:
 
A. The proximity to that light of schools, fire stations, residences or institutions for the blind;
 
B. The number of pedestrians using the intersection; and
 
C. The complexity of the intersection.
 
SUMMARY
This bill allows a motor vehicle operator to make a left turn at a red light after stopping if not prohibited by a sign such as "NO LEFT TURN ON RED" or "NO TURN ON RED" and the operator yields the right-of-way to pedestrians on a crosswalk and to a vehicle having a green signal at the intersection.