Holding Court is a series by retired Rye City Court Judge Joe Latwin. Latwin retired from the court in December 2022 after thirteen years of service to the City.
What topics do you want addressed by Judge Latwin? Tell us.
This week, an anonymous reader asks: This traffic law question has been nagging at me. A motorist on Haviland Lane at the intersection of Purchase Street and Boston Post Road encounters a stop sign. Are they also controlled by the signal that controls southbound traffic on Purchase Street? That is, is it a violation for someone to make a right turn from Haviland Lane when the traffic light is red?
By Joe Latwin
There is a particular intersection in Rye that presents issues not usually familiar to drivers. A reader asked for information on how to proceed at the intersection of Haviland Lane at Purchase Street. Haviland Lane runs one way from Locust Avenue next to the firehouse, hooks left in back of the Square House, and exits onto Purchase Street. Haviland Lane had limited use since until recently, it was restricted to firefighters only, and it had limited traffic since it served primarily only the firehouse and a few parking spaces.
At the intersection with Purchase Street, there is a stop sign before the sidewalk and Purchase Street. On Purchase Street, there is a stop line before the intersection with Haviland Lane (in front of the Square House). Beyond the intersection with Haviland Lane on Purchase Street, there is a traffic light.
Every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop sign shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, then shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or in the event there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of the approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection.
On Haviland Lane, there is no stop line and no crosswalk. Thus, a driver must stop at the point nearest Purchase Street where the driver has a view of the approaching traffic on Purchase Street before entering the intersection.
Traffic on Purchase Street will be facing the traffic light. Traffic facing a steady circular red signal shall stop at a clearly marked stop line . . .. before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown.
Purchase Street at Haviland Lane has a stop line right before Haviland Lane. So, a driver driving on Purchase Street and facing a red light must stop at the stop line until the light turns green. Of course, at a green light, a driver may proceed straight through the intersection.
A driver entering Purchase Street from Haviland will have entered Purchase Street beyond the stop line and must stop at the point nearest Haviland Lane where the driver has a view of the approaching traffic Purchase Street before entering the
intersection and shall remain standing until the light turns green.
In my years as Rye City Judge, I never saw the police issue a ticket to someone who had exited Haviland Lane onto Purchase Street. As a volunteer firefighter, I have exited Haviland Lane onto Purchase Street numerous times and only twice have seen drivers on Purchase Street who did not understand these rules and get upset.
