ORLANDO, Fla. – News 6 traffic safety expert Trooper Steve answers viewer questions and shares tips about the rules of the road, helping Central Florida residents become better drivers by being better educated.
Trooper Steve on Tuesday was asked about getting “stuck” in an intersection.
“Why did I get a ticket if my light was green when I entered the intersection, but I couldn’t move because I got stuck with stopped traffic?”
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Here’s the scenario.
You’re driving in heavy traffic, the light turns green and everything starts moving. You pull into the intersection, only for traffic ahead to suddenly stop. The light changes, and now you’re stuck in the middle of the intersection. Moments later, you’re being pulled over... cited for blocking it.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. It’s a situation drivers ask about often, especially when their intention was to move through legally.
Under Florida law, drivers are not permitted to enter an intersection unless they can complete the maneuver and fully clear it.
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While entering on a green light is required, it does not override the responsibility to ensure there is enough space on the other side of the intersection to continue moving.
This is why a citation can still be issued even when the light was green at the time a driver entered. The violation isn’t about the color of the signal, it’s about stopping within the intersection and obstructing traffic once the signal changes.
A good way to understand this rule is to compare it to making a left turn. Drivers are expected to wait until they know they can safely complete the turn before beginning it. Entering an intersection in heavy traffic follows the same principle. If traffic ahead is backed up, drivers should leave enough space or wait through the cycle until they can move all the way through.
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Blocking intersections doesn’t just slow traffic, it creates safety risks for cross traffic, emergency vehicles and pedestrians who rely on clear intersections to move safely.
The takeaway is simple: a green light gives you permission to go, not a guarantee that you should. When traffic is thick, patience and spacing are the difference between moving smoothly and getting an unexpected ticket.