Traffic Signals. (a) It is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to disobey the directions of any official traffic signal placed in accordance with the provisions of this division unless otherwise directed by a police officer. (b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, whenever traffic at an intersection is alternately directed to stop and go by the use of mechanical light signals, the colored lights shall indicate as follows: (1) Green. Traffic facing the signal may proceed straight ahead, and make right or left turns except where no such turns are permitted, when so indicated by official traffic signs. Vehicles shall yield the right of way to pedestrians crossing on the crosswalk at the intersection who have started across the roadways prior to the green signal for such vehicles. (2) Yellow. Traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the nearest crosswalk at the intersection, but if the stop cannot be made in safety, the vehicle may be driven cautiously through the intersection. (3) Red. Traffic facing the signal shall stop before entering the intersection and remain stopped until green is shown and, except as otherwise provided in this section, no movement or turns are lawful while the red color shows. (4) No “U-turns” may be made on a two-way street in a business or residential district, unless they are made at least 100 feet from an intersection and then only on such signal and at such times and places as may be indicated by official traffic signs. (c) Where official traffic signs indicate permissible turns, as provided for in this section, they shall be attached to the regular traffic signals, or immediately adjacent thereto, and shall be clearly illuminated at night. (d) Traffic signal interpretations set forth in this section do not apply to vehicles operated under the direction of the police in the chase or apprehension of suspected violators of the law or of persons charged with a law violation, nor to fire fighting vehicles when traveling in response to a fire alarm, nor to ambulances when traveling in emergencies, but the above emergencies do not protect the operator of any emergency vehicle from the consequences of a reckless disregard of the safety of others. (e) It is unlawful for the operator of any vehicle to disobey the directions of any official traffic sign to regulate the flow of traffic. (f) Whenever any uniformed police officer is present at any intersection or at any place on the public highways, the officer’s verbal or visible signals and instructions take precedence over any official traffic sign, symbol, signal or marking. It is unlawful for any person to fail or refuse to comply with a police officer’s signals or instructions. (g) The operator of a vehicle stopped at the entrance of an intersection in obedience to a red light signal may make a right turn but shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic proceeding as directed by the signal at the intersection. The director may, however, by regulation, prohibit any right turn
against a red light signal at any intersection, which regulation is effective when a sign is erected at the intersection giving notice of the prohibition. Source: PL 3-61, § 1 (§ 509). Commission Comment: With respect to the reference to the “director” of the Department of Public Safety, see Executive Order 94-3 (effective August 23, 1994), reorganizing the executive branch, changing agency names and official titles, and effecting other changes, set forth in the Commission comment to 1 CMC § 2001.