Revision: Dec. 24, 2015, midnight
\t \t\tHB 1643-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2016 SESSION
\t16-2516
\t03/08
HOUSE BILL\t1643-FN
AN ACT\tpermitting vehicles to proceed straight through an intersection after stopping for a red light.
SPONSORS:\tRep. Danielson, Hills. 7
COMMITTEE:\tTransportation
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ANALYSIS
\tThis bill permits vehicles to proceed straight through an intersection after stopping for a red light.
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Explanation:\tMatter added to current law appears in bold italics.
\t\tMatter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
\t\tMatter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
\t16-2516
\t03/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Sixteen
AN ACT\tpermitting vehicles to proceed straight through an intersection after stopping for a red light.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
\t1 Traffic Control Signal Legend; Steady Red Indication; Proceeding Through Intersection. Amend RSA 265:10, III(f) to read as follows:
\t\t\t(f) Except when the authority having jurisdiction over the intersection prohibits such a turn and a sign located at the intersection so indicates, vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone or a steady red arrow indication shall stop as required in this section and may after making such stop make a right turn if such right turn is lawful at that intersection. Drivers of vehicles facing a steady circular red signal shall stop as required by this section and may, after making such stop, proceed straight through the intersection subject to the rules applicable after making a stop at a stop sign, unless the authority having jurisdiction over the intersection prohibits such action and a sign located at the intersection so indicates. Under no circumstances may a driver make a left turn when facing a steady circular red signal. Such turning or proceeding vehicular traffic shall yield the right of way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
\t2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2017.
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t16-2516
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t12/21/15
HB 1643-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT\tpermitting vehicles to proceed straight through an intersection after stopping for a red light.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Department of Transportation, Department of Safety, and Judicial Branch state this bill, as introduced, will have an indeterminable impact on state revenue and state, county, and local expenditures in FY 2017 and each year thereafter. There will be no impact on county and local revenue.
METHODOLOGY:
The Department of Transportation states this bill provides for proceeding through an intersection after stopping at a circular red traffic light as the default condition and would not require any new signs. However, as the bill allows for the state or municipality to identify intersections where this could be prohibited, the Department states there may be costs at the state and/or local level related to such analyses and for signage at the intersection stating a prohibition. Any potential costs are not able to be estimated at this time.
The Department of Safety states this bill may result in an indeterminable impact to state revenues in the form of fine violations relative to traffic signal violations. Additionally, the Department states there may be an impact on state, county, and local law enforcement and other first responders if this bill were to result in increased motor vehicle accidents.
The Judicial Branch states this bill amends RSA 265:10,III(f), which may result in fewer violation offense cases under that statute, and may have an impact on the Judicial Branch. While there is no method to determine how many charges would be brought as a result of the changes contained in this bill to determine the impact on expenditures, the Branch states in FY 2015 there was a total of 43 motor vehicle violations filed in Circuit Court under RSA 265:10. The Judicial Branch has estimated the average cost for such cases to be $48 in FY 2017 and $51 in FY 2018. Any appeals could also have a fiscal impact.