EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0087*
SENATE BILL 87
R5 2lr0825
HB 311/21 – ENT (PRE–FILED) CF HB 137
By: Senator Young
Requested: October 19, 2021
Introduced and read first time: January 12, 2022
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Vehicle Laws – Intersections – Prohibited Acts 2
FOR the purpose of prohibiting a vehicle from entering certain intersections when facing 3
certain traffic signals if the vehicle is unable to completely proceed through the 4
intersection; prohibiting a police officer from issuing a citation for a violation of this 5
Act unless certain signage requirements are met; and generally relating to 6
prohibited acts by vehicles at intersections. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Transportation 9
Section 21–202 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Transportation 15
21–202. 16
(a) (1) Except for special pedestrian signals that carry a legend, where traffic 17
is controlled by traffic control signals that show different colored lights or colored lighted 18
arrows, whether successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red, 19
and yellow may be used. 20
(2) These lights apply to drivers and pedestrians as provided in this 21
section. 22
2 SENATE BILL 87
(b) [Vehicular] SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (M) OF THIS SECTION, VEHICULAR 1
traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or, unless a sign at the 2
place prohibits the turn, turn right or left. 3
(c) Vehicular traffic described under subsection (b) of this section, including any 4
vehicle turning right or left, shall yield the right–of–way to any other vehicle and any 5
pedestrian lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk when the signal is 6
shown. 7
(d) [Vehicular] SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (M) OF THIS SECTION, VEHICULAR 8
traffic facing a green arrow signal, whether shown alone or with another indication, 9
cautiously may enter the intersection, but only to make the movement indicated by the 10
arrow or to make another movement permitted by other indications shown at the same 11
time. 12
(e) Vehicular traffic described under subsection (d) of this section shall yield the 13
right–of–way to any pedestrian or bicycle lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to any 14
other traffic lawfully using the intersection. 15
(f) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in § 16
21–203 of this subtitle, a pedestrian facing any green signal, unless the green signal is only 17
a turn arrow, may cross the roadway, within any marked or unmarked crosswalk, in the 18
direction of the green signal. 19
(g) (1) Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is warned that the 20
related green movement is ending or that a red signal, which will prohibit vehicular traffic 21
from entering the intersection, will be shown immediately after the yellow signal. 22
(2) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in 23
§ 21–203 of this subtitle, a pedestrian facing a steady yellow signal is warned that there is 24
not enough time to cross the roadway before a red signal is shown, and a pedestrian may 25
not then start to cross the roadway. 26
(h) (1) Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone: 27
(i) Shall stop at the near side of the intersection: 28
1. At a clearly marked stop line; 29
2. If there is no clearly marked stop line, before entering any 30
crosswalk; or 31
3. If there is no crosswalk, before entering the intersection; 32
and 33
(ii) Except as provided in subsections (i), (j), and (k) of this section, 34
shall remain stopped until a signal to proceed is shown. 35 SENATE BILL 87 3
(2) Vehicular traffic facing a steady red arrow signal: 1
(i) May not enter the intersection to make the movement indicated 2
by the arrow; 3
(ii) Unless entering the intersection to make a movement permitted 4
by another signal, shall stop at the near side of the intersection: 5
1. At a clearly marked stop line; 6
2. If there is no clearly marked stop line, before entering any 7
crosswalk; or 8
3. If there is no crosswalk, before entering the intersection; 9
and 10
(iii) Except as provided in subsections (i), (j), and (k) of this section, 11
shall remain stopped until a signal permitting the movement is shown. 12
(i) Unless a sign prohibiting a turn is in place, vehicular traffic facing a steady 13
red signal, after stopping as required by subsection (h) of this section, cautiously may enter 14
the intersection and make: 15
(1) A right turn; or 16
(2) A left turn from a one–way street onto a one–way street. 17
(j) If a sign permitting any other turn is in place, vehicular traffic facing a steady 18
red signal, after stopping as required by subsection (h) of this section, cautiously may enter 19
the intersection and make the turn indicated by the sign. 20
(k) In each instance, vehicular traffic described in subsections (i) and (j) of this 21
section shall yield the right–of–way to any pedestrian or bicycle lawfully within an adjacent 22
crosswalk and to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway so 23
closely as to constitute an immediate hazard. 24
(l) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in § 25
21–203 of this subtitle, pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone may not enter the 26
roadway. 27
(M) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION 28
AND SUBJECT TO PARAG RAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A VEHICLE FACING A 29
CIRCULAR GREEN SIGNA L, A GREEN ARROW SIGNAL , OR A STEADY YELLOW S IGNAL 30
MAY NOT ENTER AN INT ERSECTION IF THE VEH ICLE IS UNABLE TO CO MPLETELY 31
PROCEED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION . 32
4 SENATE BILL 87
(2) (I) A VEHICLE THAT IS MAKI NG A LEFT TURN WHEN FACING A 1
CIRCULAR GREEN SIGNAL MAY ENTER THE INTERS ECTION WHILE YIELDIN G THE 2
RIGHT–OF–WAY TO ANY OTHER VEH ICLE THAT IS APPROAC HING FROM THE 3
OPPOSITE DIRECTION O R TO A PEDESTRIAN . 4
(II) A VEHICLE THAT IS MAKI NG A RIGHT TURN MAY ENTER THE 5
INTERSECTION WHILE Y IELDING THE RI GHT–OF–WAY TO A PEDESTRIAN OR A 6
BICYCLIST. 7
(3) A POLICE OFFICER MAY N OT ISSUE A CITATION FOR A VIOLATION 8
OF THIS SUBSECTION U NLESS: 9
(I) THE APPROACH TO THE I NTERSECTION HAS APPR OPRIATE 10
SIGNS INSTALLED THAT NOTIFY THE PUBLIC TH AT A VEHICLE MAY NOT MAKE A 11
MOVEMENT AT THE INTE RSECTION THAT VIOLAT ES THIS SUBSECTION ; AND 12
(II) THE SIGNS ARE INSTALL ED IN ACCORDANCE WIT H THE 13
MANUAL AND SPECIFICA TIONS FOR A UNIFORM SYSTEM OF TRAFFIC CO NTROL 14
DEVICES ADOPTED BY T HE STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION UNDER § 25–104 OF 15
THIS ARTICLE. 16
[(m)] (N) (1) Except for those provisions of this section that by their very 17
nature cannot apply, this section applies to a traffic control signal placed at a location other 18
than an intersection. 19
(2) Each stop required by the signal shall be made at a sign or 20
marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made or, if there is no sign or 21
marking, at the signal. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 23
October 1, 2022. 24