Originally Posted by
lostarchitect
Are you sure? When I lived in CA, I had to go to traffic school one time (don't ask), and as I was constantly having this problem with my motorcycle, I asked the sheriff instructing the class about it. His response was "turn right." He said I couldn't go though the light no matter how long I waited or how safe it is. I disregarded his advice, of course.
His answer is BS, anyway. There are many intersections with designated left and right turn lanes, which almost universally have solid white lines separating them. It's illegal to cross those lines to make a right hand turn. *Theoretically* it's not illegal to back up down the street until you are clear of all intersection markings, then change lanes to the right-hand one, pull forward, and turn right; but that's totally impractical and unsafe anywhere but an intersection with no traffic whatever.
The reality is that the signal is inoperative for your vehicle, and most states provide for you to treat it as a stop or yield sign in that case. Cops may write you for it anyway, and to my certain knowledge some cops will lie through their teeth about how long you waited; and it will be up to a judge to decide what to do about it. Yes, I've gotten that ticket in the middle of the night on a motorcycle after waiting over five minutes in a left turn lane. Cop claimed he observed me ride up and do a stop-and-go.
KeS