Dear Cop - Cut Through Parking

I often drive my husband to work in the early morning hours. When I arrive at the nearest intersection to the highway I usually cut through the parking lot of the corner gas station to avoid waiting an inordinate amount of time for the lights to change green for me.

I have, on occasion, turned left on a red light after waiting a frustratingly long time, first having made sure there is no traffic coming in either direction - and I mean no traffic at all. I have also witnessed other people doing the same thing on occasion and I am wondering if this is
legal or whether I would be ticketed for it.

I think it is unfair to the gas station that so many people use their parking lot to avoid waiting at the light, yet sometimes I am all the way down the hill and thru the next intersection and the light far off behind me has never changed for the poor schmuck who was waiting there when I took the shortcut.

Red lights at intersections
Section 129 (1) of the Motor Vehicle Act indicates that when a red light alone is exhibited at an intersection by a traffic control signal, the driver of a vehicle approaching the intersection and facing the red light must cause it to stop before entering the marked crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no marked crosswalk, before entering the intersection, must not cause the vehicle to proceed until a traffic control signal instructs the driver that he or she is permitted to do so.

The violation fine is $167 and 3 points.

Constable R.A.(Richard) ASELTON
Central Okanagan Traffic Services - Media Liaison

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.