Can you legally drive through a yellow light in Idaho, or should you stop? Here’s the law

Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman

BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — It feels for illustration it happens astir each clip you get down nan wheel.

You’re approaching an intersection pinch a greenish ray that abruptly switches to yellow. If you support driving, you’ll astir apt conscionable make it. But what if a constabulary serviceman is adjacent and sees you passing done nan yellowish ray arsenic different cars slow down?

Are you required to slow down and extremity arsenic soon arsenic nan yellowish ray pops up successful Idaho? Or are you allowed to proceed driving done arsenic agelong arsenic nan ray isn’t red?

Here’s what Idaho laws say.

IDAHO’S PERMISSIVE YELLOW LIGHT LAW

Idaho is among nan mostly of states pinch laws regarding yellowish lights. The Gem State is one of astir 3 twelve states that employs a “permissive yellowish ray law,” which intends that arsenic agelong arsenic your beforehand bumper is successful nan intersection while nan ray is still yellow, you’re safe to go.

So, successful short, if you’re approaching an intersection and are assured that you’ll beryllium successful nan intersection earlier nan ray hits red, you tin support cruising.

But that doesn’t mean you should velocity up to effort and hit a reddish light. Boise Police Officer Kyle Wills previously told nan Idaho Statesman that seeing a yellowish ray “does not mean accelerate.”

HOW LONG DOES THE LIGHT STAY YELLOW?

If you’re debating whether to support cruising done a light, cognize that Idaho has circumstantial laws connected really agelong nan yellowish ray must beryllium displayed.

According to previous Statesman reporting, nan ray must stay yellowish for 3.2 seconds erstwhile nan velocity limit is betwixt 25 and 35 mph and 4 seconds erstwhile nan velocity limit is 40 mph aliases greater. Once nan ray turns red, each lights successful each directions stay reddish for 2 seconds to let immoderate cars to clear retired of nan intersection.

WHAT ABOUT IF THE LIGHT IS FLASHING YELLOW?

Sometimes, erstwhile location is construction, a malfunction pinch nan sign, aliases it’s simply precocious astatine nighttime erstwhile there’s not overmuch traffic, you whitethorn travel crossed a flashing yellowish aliases reddish light.

A flashing yellowish ray intends a driver whitethorn participate nan intersection without stopping but needs to proceed pinch caution, according to Title 49, Chapter 8 of nan Idaho Statutes. A flashing reddish should beryllium treated for illustration a extremity sign. That intends you must extremity earlier entering nan intersection and proceed only erstwhile it’s safe and nary different cars are approaching.

PUNISHMENT FOR RUNNING A RED LIGHT

Sometimes, you whitethorn wrongly judge nan postulation light’s timing and participate nan intersection aft nan ray turns red.

Running a reddish ray is an infraction successful Idaho and comes pinch a $90 fine. It’ll besides consequence successful 3 points being added to your license, according to nan Idaho Transportation Department.

The pursuing constituent totals wrong a definite play will consequence successful different lengths of licence suspensions:

• 12 to 17 points successful a 12-month play – 30-day licence suspension.
• 18 to 23 points successful a 24-month play – 90-day licence suspension.
• 24 aliases much points successful a 36-month play – Six-month licence suspension.