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Can You Make A Right Turn On Red In NYC?

Traffic red light ticket

Can you make a right turn on red in NYC?

In many places, it’s legal to make a right turn at a red light as long as you yield to oncoming traffic first. 

However, in NYC, making a right turn on red is illegal unless the traffic signal posts otherwise. 

Sadly, the “I didn’t know” defense rarely works to get you out of a traffic ticket. It’s clearly written in the NYC driver’s manual that you can access online at any time. It states, “You are not allowed to turn on a red light in New York City unless a sign that permits it is posted.”

If you received a traffic ticket after turning right on a red light, reach out to a New York red light ticket lawyer from Feifer & Greenberg. Call us at (888) 842-5384 to set up a free consultation and discuss your next steps. 

You Can Turn Right on Red in the State of New York, but Not in the City

Traffic laws in New York state can be complicated if you drive in and out of the City often.

In the rest of the state, you can make a right turn at a red light if you come to a complete stop, yield the right of way to all oncoming traffic and pedestrians, and as long as there is no sign posted that prohibits a right on red.

It’s the opposite in NYC. You still have to come to a complete stop, but the law states you must not turn right on red unless there is a sign posted allowing you to do so. 

There’s a red light law that’s the same in both the state and the City. If you see a flashing red light, you treat it as a stop sign. That means you should come to a complete stop, yield to pedestrians and traffic, and then proceed with caution when it’s your turn. 

Another law that is the same throughout the entire state is the red arrow law. Drivers are never allowed to turn right on a red arrow under any circumstances. You must wait until it turns green – in the city and elsewhere in the state. 

You Can Turn Right on Red in the State of New York, but Not in the City

Traffic laws in New York state can be complicated if you drive in and out of the City often.

In the rest of the state, you can make a right turn at a red light if you come to a complete stop, yield the right of way to all oncoming traffic and pedestrians, and as long as there is no sign posted that prohibits a right on red.

It’s the opposite in NYC. You still have to come to a complete stop, but the law states you must not turn right on red unless there is a sign posted allowing you to do so. 

There’s a red light law that’s the same in both the state and the City. If you see a flashing red light, you treat it as a stop sign. That means you should come to a complete stop, yield to pedestrians and traffic, and then proceed with caution when it’s your turn. 

Another law that is the same throughout the entire state is the red arrow law. Drivers are never allowed to turn right on a red arrow under any circumstances. You must wait until it turns green – in the city and elsewhere in the state. 

Penalties for an Illegal RTOR in NYC

There are penalties for making an illegal right turn on red in New York City. If you receive a ticket, you will get three points added to your driving record. You’ll also receive a fine, but the amount will vary depending on the circumstances and the area. 

Most illegal right turn on red fines range from $50 to $300. If you did any of the following things, your fines might be higher: 

If you accrue 11 or more points within 18 months, you could have your license suspended. Whenever you are within the city limits and you aren’t sure whether a right on red is allowed, assume it isn’t. 

It’s better to be safe than suspended. 

Received an NYC traffic ticket? We can help.

If you received any kind of traffic ticket in NYC – including illegal right turns at red lights – we can help.

 Contact a New York traffic ticket lawyer from Feifer & Greenberg for a free consultation. Call us today at (888) 842-5384 and we’ll look at your case and tell you what the best course of action is.

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FAQ

Your office is in NYC. How do you handle cases statewide?

We have organized a statewide network of attorneys. In our network are both attorneys who work for Feifer & Greenberg and attorneys who work for other firms that regularly provide of-counsel representation to our clients. This statewide network allows us to match clients in a particular county or court with local attorneys who regularly appear on similar matters in the same county or court. It enables us to help clients anywhere in New York State and in our opinion provide particularly effective and affordable representation for our clients. Local attorneys can draw on their particular local experiences and, with travel time and expense removed from the equation, help us keep our legal fees low.

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We can only guarantee that we will provide the best possible client service and legal representation. We can’t guarantee results. These are legal proceedings and we can’t promise you that every case will end in our favor. We will always honestly assess your case (both good and bad) and set realistic expectations during your consultation. We’ll discuss our goals and objectives but no attorney can ever guarantee how a case will conclude.
Should I just pay my ticket or should I fight?

We recommend fighting almost all tickets. Even if the current NY traffic tickets aren’t particularly harmful, you have an incentive to keep your record clean for the future. Convictions quickly lead to surcharges, insurance increases and other complications. You should strongly consider any decision to pay a ticket without fighting.

How can our traffic ticket lawyers help you?

Our lawyers are experienced, prepared attorneys who understand the nuances of fighting traffic tickets. Experience, preparation and good decision making help us to help our clients avoid points, surcharges, insurance increases and the other negatives that can easily result from a traffic ticket.

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