I was making my way home from work a few days ago, and due to the one way streets in my city of employment, I am forced to go “around the block” to get moving in the direction I need to go to make my way home (four turns instead of just two).  Upon pulling up at a light to turn left, I suddenly saw the driver in front of me stop at the red light, look to his right, and then proceed to make a left turn – while the light was still red.

A left on red?  Is that even legal?

So, being the scholarly lad that I am, I came home and looked it up.

Turns out, it is legal.  Back in 1993, the state of Maryland passed a law stating that a left turn on red was legal, provided that:

• The turn is made from a one-way street onto a one-way street
• The driver comes to a full stop to check for oncoming traffic
• No other signs indicate that the turn is not allowed

Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit. 

Of course, they passed this law in 1993 (when I was residing in Florida), so it’s not like I did a review of current traffic laws when I moved back to Maryland in 2007.  I also have to say that I’ve never seen it done before, so I was a bit shocked to witness it occurring right in front of me.

That got me to thinking, what other obscure laws or rules regarding the roadway am I not aware of in Maryland?  So – of course, I looked it up – and here they are:

• If a pedestrian crosses a roadway at any point other than a marked crosswalk (pay attention, jay-walkers), he or she MUST yield the right-of-way to any approaching vehicle.
• If a sidewalk is provided, a pedestrian MAY NOT walk along the adjacent roadway. (I break this one all the time in my small town during the winter, as my roadway is generally plowed while the adjacent sidewalk may be icy or snow-covered).
• All bicyclists MUST OBEY traffic signs and pavement markings, just as motor vehicle operators do. (If I only had a nickel every time I saw this law being broken – sheeesh)
• Contrary to popular belief, IT IS NOT ILLEGAL to drive barefoot in Maryland (take heart, West Virginians have been doing this since Henry Ford created the Model-T).  It is also perfectly legal to drive in flip-flops or sandals.

So, I feel a little bit better about what I can or cannot do when I’m behind the wheel in the “Old Line” State.

I’m still not turning left on red, though – even if it is legal.  It just feels wrong.