| Minnesota Criminal Justice Statute Service | Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

169.06.5

Statute ID: 20359

Statute Function ID: 40455

Traffic Regulations - Traffic Control Signals

In Effect

New Search Refine Search Back to Results

Details are only available for Penalty and Charging Statutes.

Statute Number:

169.06.5

Enactment Date:

Jun 14, 2025

Effective Date:

Aug 1, 2025

Expiration Date:

Repealed?:

Summary Text:

Traffic Regulations - Traffic Control Signals

Statute ID:

20359

Created:

Jul 14, 2025 by mnjis.legal.analyst@state.mn.us

Updated:

Jul 14, 2025 by mnjis.legal.analyst@state.mn.us

Last Update Action:

Added

Legal Analyst Comment:

Amended 2025 SS1 c8 art2 sect32; Minor technical changes throughout; Effective 08/01/2025

Summary Text:

Traffic Regulations - Traffic Control Signals

Link to MN Statute Text:

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/169/06.html

Legislative Session:

2025 - Special 1

Session Law Text?:

Statute text last updated on:

Jul 14, 2025

(a) Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors Green, Red, and Yellow are permitted to be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word or legend symbol. The traffic-control signal lights or colored lighted arrows indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:

(1) Green indication:

(i) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign prohibits either turn. But vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, must yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or adjacent crosswalk at the time this signal is exhibited. Vehicular traffic turning left or making a U-turn to the left must yield the right-of-way to other vehicles approaching from the opposite direction so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard.

(ii) Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by the arrow, or other movement as permitted by other indications shown at the same time. Vehicular traffic must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

(iii) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in subdivision 6, pedestrians facing any green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked crosswalk. Every driver of a vehicle must yield the right-of-way to such pedestrian, except that the pedestrian must yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that the green signal indication is first shown.

(2) Steady yellow indication:

(i) Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal is thereby warned that the related green movement or flashing yellow movement is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter when vehicular traffic must not enter the intersection, except for the continued movement allowed by any green arrow indication simultaneously exhibited.

(ii) Pedestrians facing a circular yellow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in subdivision 6, are thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and a pedestrian must not then start to cross the roadway.

(3) Steady red indication:

(i) Vehicular traffic facing a circular red signal alone must stop at a clearly marked stop line but, if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and must remain standing until a green indication is shown, except as follows:

(A) the driver of a vehicle stopped as close as practicable at the entrance to the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then at the entrance to the intersection in obedience to a red or stop signal, and with the intention of making a right turn may make the right turn, after stopping, unless an official sign has been erected prohibiting such movement, but shall must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic lawfully proceeding as directed by the signal at that intersection; or

(B) the driver of a vehicle on a one-way street intersecting another one-way street on which traffic moves to the left shall must stop in obedience to a red or stop signal and may then make a left turn into the one-way street, unless an official sign has been erected prohibiting the movement, but shall must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic lawfully proceeding as directed by the signal at that intersection.

(ii) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in subdivision 6, pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone must not enter the roadway.

(iii) Vehicular traffic facing a steady red arrow signal, with the intention of making a movement indicated by the arrow, must stop at a clearly marked stop line but, if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and must remain standing until a permissive signal indication permitting the movement indicated by the red arrow is displayed, except as follows: when an official sign has been erected permitting a turn on a red arrow signal, the vehicular traffic facing a red arrow signal indication is permitted to enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a one-way street into a one-way street on which traffic moves to the left, after stopping, but must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic lawfully proceeding as directed by the signal at that intersection.

(b) In the event an official traffic-control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section are applicable except those which can have no application. Any stop required must be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop must be made, but in the absence of any such sign or marking the stop must be made at the signal.

(c) When a traffic-control signal indication or indications placed to control a certain movement or lane are so identified by placing a sign near the indication or indications, no other traffic-control signal indication or indications within the intersection controls vehicular traffic for that movement or lane.