Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 2057 – Traffic-control devices
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An operator shall obey a traffic-control device, unless otherwise directed by a law enforcement officer. A traffic-control device conforming to the requirements for these devices is presumed to comply with this chapter. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
1. Lighted devices. A traffic-control device may emit only the colors green, red and yellow, except for a pedestrian signal carrying a legend. The lights have the following meanings.
A. A green light:
(1) If circular, means the operator may proceed straight through or turn right or left, unless a sign prohibits either turn; or
(2) If an arrow, alone or in combination with another indication, means the operator may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by the arrow or other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time.
Notwithstanding the light, the operator must yield the right-of-way to a vehicle or pedestrian lawfully within the intersection or crosswalk. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. A yellow light:
(1) If steady and circular or an arrow, means the operator must take warning that a green light is being terminated or a red light will be exhibited immediately; or
(2) If showing rapid intermittent flashes, means the operator may proceed only with caution. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
C. A red light, if steady and circular, means:
(1) The operator must stop and remain stationary until an indication to proceed is shown; or
(2) The operator may cautiously enter the intersection to make a right turn after stopping if:
(a) Not prohibited by an appropriate sign such as “NO RIGHT TURN ON RED”; and
(b) The operator executing a turn yields the right-of-way to pedestrians on a crosswalk and to a vehicle having a green signal at the intersection. [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §36 (RPR); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
C-1. A red light, if a steady arrow, means the operator may not enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by that arrow. [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §37 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
C-2. A red light, if showing rapid intermittent flashes, means the operator must stop and then proceed as if at a stop sign. [PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §37 (NEW); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
D. Red and yellow illuminated together, means the operator may not enter the intersection, as the intersection is reserved for the exclusive use of pedestrians. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. Q, §§36, 37 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 452, Pt. X, §2 (AFF).]
Attorney's Note
Under the Maine Revised Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class E crime | up to 6 months | up to $1,000 |
Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 2057
- Bicycle: means a device primarily propelled by human power, operated by a person usually seated on a seat and driven on the ground on wheels by the operator. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101
- Crosswalk: means the portion of a way:
A. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101Department: means the Department of Transportation. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101 Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other. Intersection: means :
A. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101Law enforcement officer: means a person who by virtue of public employment is vested by law with a duty to maintain public order or to make arrests for crimes, whether that duty extends to all crimes or is limited to specific crimes. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101 Motor vehicle: means a self-propelled vehicle not operated exclusively on railroad tracks, but does not include:
A. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101Municipality: includes cities, towns and plantations, except that "municipality" does not include plantations in Title 10, chapter 110, subchapter IV; or Title 30?A, Part 2. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 1 Sec. 72 Operator: means an individual who drives or is in control of a vehicle or who is exercising control over or steering a towed vehicle. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101 Parking area: means an area designed for use as access or parking for patrons and customers of establishments to which the public is invited. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101 Pedestrian: means a person on foot or an operator of a wheelchair or a 4-wheeled or 3-wheeled motorized wheelchair. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101 Person: means an individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, fiduciary, trust, estate or any other legal or commercial entity. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101 Traffic: means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, bicycles and other conveyances either singly or together using public way for travel. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101 Traffic control device: means a sign, a signal, a marking or a device placed or erected by a public body or official to regulate, warn or guide traffic. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101 Traffic infraction: means any violation of any provision of this Title, or of any rules established under this Title, not expressly defined as a crime or as a civil violation and otherwise not punishable by incarceration. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101 Vehicle: means a device for conveyance of persons or property on a way. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101 Way: means the entire width between boundary lines of a road, highway, parkway, street or bridge used for vehicular traffic, whether public or private. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 101
2. Basis for prohibiting turn. A municipality or the Department of Transportation, in determining whether to prohibit a right turn on a red light, must consider at least the following factors:
A. The proximity to that light of schools, fire stations, residences or institutions for the blind; [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. The number of pedestrians using the intersection; and [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
C. The complexity of the intersection. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
3. Lane direction control devices. When lane direction control devices are placed over the individual lanes, an operator may travel in a lane over which a green signal is shown, but may not enter or travel in a lane over which a red signal is shown.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
4. Located other than at an intersection. If a traffic control device is located at a place other than an intersection, this section is applicable except as to those provisions that by their nature can have no application.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
5. Pedestrians. Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal, a pedestrian facing:
A. A green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the way within a marked or unmarked crosswalk; [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. A steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal, may not start to cross the way, as there is insufficient time to cross before a red indication is shown; or [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
C. A steady circular red signal or a steady red arrow, may not enter the way. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
6. Pedestrian control devices. When a pedestrian control device exhibiting the words “walk” and “don’t walk” is used, it indicates as follows.
A. A pedestrian facing a “walk” signal may proceed across the way in the direction of the signal and must be given the right-of-way. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. A pedestrian may not start to cross a way in the direction of a “don’t walk” signal, but a pedestrian who has partially completed crossing may proceed to a sidewalk or safety island. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
7. Stop signs. Unless directed to proceed by a law enforcement officer or traffic control device, an operator of a vehicle approaching a stop sign shall stop and:
A. Yield the right-of-way to a vehicle that has entered the intersection or that is approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard; and [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. Having yielded, an operator may proceed. All other operators approaching the intersection shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle so proceeding. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
8. Place of stop. A stop must be made before entering the intersecting way as follows:
A. Where the intersection is regulated by a traffic control device, at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop is to be made or, in the absence of a sign or marking, at the device; or [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. Where the intersection is regulated by a stop sign, before entering the crosswalk or, in the absence of a cross walk, at a marked stop line; but if there is no stop line, at a point nearest the intersecting way where the operator has a view of approaching traffic. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
9. Evidence. The placing of a traffic control device in a position approximately conforming to this chapter is prima facie evidence that the device has been placed by the official act or direction of lawful authority.
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
10. Failure to yield; criminal offense. A person commits a Class E crime if the person operates a vehicle past a yield sign and collides with a vehicle, person riding a bicycle or pedestrian proceeding on the intersecting way.
[PL 2015, c. 164, §4 (AMD).]
10-A. Failure to yield; traffic infraction. A person commits a traffic infraction if the person operates a vehicle or a bicycle past a yield sign and fails to yield the right-of-way to a vehicle, person riding a bicycle or pedestrian proceeding on the intersecting way.
[PL 2015, c. 164, §5 (AMD).]
11. Avoidance of traffic control device prohibited. An operator may not operate a motor vehicle through a parking area to avoid obeying or conforming to the requirements of a traffic control device.
[PL 1999, c. 183, §9 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 1999, c. 183, §9 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §§Q36,37 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 452, §X2 (AFF). PL 2007, c. 348, §§21, 22 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 164, §§4, 5 (AMD).