Officer wrote ticket for running red light turning right. It is legal to turn right on red in Ga. I was actually turning left. Do I have a chance to dispute the ticket or would it be considered an common error.
It is legal to turn left at a red light in Georgia when otherwise complying with the provisions of O.C.G.A. Sec. 40-6-21 (basically coming to a full stop at the right place) and, according to O.C.G.A. Sec. 40-6-21 (a(3(D))):
(D) Traffic, except pedestrians, facing a steady CIRCULAR RED signal, after stopping as provided in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, may make a left turn from the left-hand lane of a one-way street onto a one-way street on which the traffic moves toward the driver’s left but shall stop and remain stopped for pedestrians and yield the right of way to other traffic proceeding as directed by the signal at such intersection. Such vehicular traffic shall not make a left turn against a steady CIRCULAR RED signal at any intersection where a sign is erected prohibiting such left turn;
In other words, if the street you are turning onto is one-way, you are in the left-hand lane of traffic of a one-way street and you have come to a full stop at the stop line, then you may turn left on red unless otherwise posted by sign.
Please let me know if I can be of assistance:
Anne Marie Bishop, Attorney
A. Bishop Law, LLC
770.783.5296
annemariebishop@att .net
