Louisiana Revised Statutes & Codes

La. Rev. Stat. § 32:232 (2026)

Traffic-control signals

✓ current as of May 2026

Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section LA-LEGlegis.la.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

§232. Traffic-control signals

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 shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word legend, and said lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:

(1) GREEN indication:

(a) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. But vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall stop and yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk at the time such signal is exhibited.

(b) 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 such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular traffic shall stop and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

(c) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in R.S. 32:233, 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.

(2) Steady YELLOW indication:

(a) Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal alone is thereby warned that the related green signal is being terminated or that a red signal will be exhibited immediately thereafter and such vehicular traffic shall not enter the intersection when the red signal is exhibited.

(b) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in R.S. 32:233 a pedestrian facing a steady yellow signal is thereby advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red signal is exhibited and no pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.

(3) Steady RED indication:

(a) Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, or if none, then before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown except as provided in Subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph.

(b) Vehicular traffic facing a steady red arrow signal shall not enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by the arrow and, unless entering the intersection to make a movement permitted by another signal, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, or if none, then before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until an indication permitting the movement indicated by such red arrow is shown except as provided in Subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph.

(c) Except when a sign prohibits a turn, vehicular traffic facing any steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a one-way street into a one-way street, or to U-turn at a signalized U-turn after stopping as required by Subparagraph (a) or Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

(d) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as provided in R.S. 32:233, a pedestrian facing a steady circular red or red arrow signal shall not enter the roadway.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Section to the contrary, for red indications or signal infractions, if the violation results in the injury of another person, the offender shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars and may be subjected to a driver's license suspension for a period of ninety days, or both.

(f) If the violation results in the serious bodily injury of another person, the offender shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, imprisoned for not more than six months, or both. The offender may also be subjected to a driver's license suspension for a period of one hundred eighty days.

(g) If the violation results in the death of another person, the offender shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. The offender may also be subjected to a driver's license suspension for a period of up to three hundred sixty-five days.

(4) Flashing YELLOW indication. When a flashing yellow arrow indication is activated, vehicular traffic, on an approach to an intersection, facing a flashing yellow arrow signal indication, displayed alone or in combination with another signal indication, is permitted to cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow. In addition, vehicular traffic facing a flashing yellow arrow, turning left or making a U-turn to the left shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles approaching from the opposite direction. Such vehicular traffic, including vehicles making a U-turn, shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within the associated crosswalk, and to other vehicles lawfully within the intersection.

(5) In the event an official traffic-control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this Section shall be applicable except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any such sign or marking, the stop shall be made at the signal.

Acts 1962, No. 310, §1. Amended by Acts 1976, No. 152, §1; Acts 1978, No. 551, §1; Acts 2011, No. 244, §, eff. August 15, 2011; Acts 2013, No. 43, §1, eff. May 29, 2013; Acts 2024, No. 269, §1, eff. August 1, 2024.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 59 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1952–2026 · leading case: Thongsavanh v. Schexnayder, 40 So. 3d 989 (La. Ct. App. 2010).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

Thongsavanh v. Schexnayder, 40 So. 3d 989 (La. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 4× “32:232, which provides, in pertinent part: (1) GREEN indication: (a) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn. But vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning…”

Morales v. Par. of Jefferson, 140 So. 3d 375 (La. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 12× “R.S. 32:232, it is the driver of the car who is prohibited from running a red light; (3) the ATSE decriminalizes running a red light; and because, (4) the ATSE does not meet the methods proscribed in Louisiana law for the enforcement of traffic tickets.”

Green v. Nunley, 963 So. 2d 486 (La. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “R.S. 32:232(1)(b), which states: 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 such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by *490 other…”

Higgins v. Johnson, 349 So. 2d 918 (La. Ct. App. 1977). · cites it 2× “R.S. 32:232, which pertinently provides: "Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting the words `Go', `Caution', or `Stop', or exhibiting different colored lights successively at a time, or with arrows, the following colors only shall be used and said…”

Palmisano v. Ohler, 204 So. 3d 1134 (La. Ct. App. 2016). “R.S. 32:232. (Emphasis added). In essence, Mr.”

Albe v. City of New Orleans, 150 So. 3d 361 (La. Ct. App. 2014). “(b) A civil penalty may not be imposed under this article upon the owner of a motor vehicle, if the operator of the vehicle was arrested or was issued a speeding citation and notice to appear by a law or public safety officer as a violation of R.S. 32:232, even if such violation…”

Mosley v. Griffin, 191 So. 3d 16 (La. Ct. App. 2016). “R.S. 32:232 provides, in pertinent part: 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 th.”

Boutte v. Kelly, 863 So. 2d 530 (La. Ct. App. 2003). “R.S. 32:232(3)(a) provides that vehicular traffic facing a "steady circular red signal alone" shall stop at a clearly marked stop light, or if none, then before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection.”

Amos v. Taylor, 244 So. 3d 749 (La. Ct. App. 2017). “R.S. 32:232 provides: (1) GREEN indication: (a) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn.”

Welton v. Falcon, 341 So. 2d 564 (La. Ct. App. 1977). “R.S. 32:232(1)(a). While plaintiff's act of stopping may have misled Falcon into not slowing from his excessive speed, that act at most could be considered a cause-in-fact of the accident.”

Lewis v. Smith, 920 So. 2d 920 (La. Ct. App. 2006). · cites it 2× “R.S. 32:232(1)(a). A motorist *925 favored with a green signal when approaching an intersection cannot depend exclusively on the favorable light.”

Bates v. Garrett Marine Supply, Inc., 368 So. 2d 1171 (La. Ct. App. 1979). · cites it 3× “R.S. 32:232. 1 The record provides no basis for finding that Mrs.”

Show all 59 citing cases →

— La. Rev. Stat. § 32:232(1) — 2 cases

Bettis v. Paulsen-Webber Cordage Corp., 217 So. 2d 662 (La. Ct. App. 1969).

Seaton v. Widlitze, 258 So. 2d 390 (La. Ct. App. 1972).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 32:232(1)(a) — 8 cases

Lewis v. Smith, 920 So. 2d 920 (La. Ct. App. 2006). “R.S. 32:232(1)(a). A motorist *925 favored with a green signal when approaching an intersection cannot depend exclusively on the favorable light.”

Patterson v. Meyers, 583 So. 2d 79 (La. Ct. App. 1991).

Miller v. Lowry, 409 So. 2d 1252 (La. Ct. App. 1982).

Smith v. Reg'l Transit Auth., 559 So. 2d 995 (La. Ct. App. 1990).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 32:232(1)(b) — 3 cases

Green v. Nunley, 963 So. 2d 486 (La. Ct. App. 2007). “R.S. 32:232(1)(b), which states: 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 such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by *490 other…”

Wilbert Payton v. Terry Torrence & Allstate Prop. & Cas. (La. Ct. App. 2023).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 32:232(2) — 5 cases

Correge v. Webb, 284 So. 2d 355 (La. Ct. App. 1973).

Morales v. Par. of Jefferson, 140 So. 3d 375 (La. Ct. App. 2014). “R.S. 32:232, it is the driver of the car who is prohibited from running a red light; (3) the ATSE decriminalizes running a red light; and because, (4) the ATSE does not meet the methods proscribed in Louisiana law for the enforcement of traffic tickets.”

Times v. Wickman, 261 So. 2d 113 (La. Ct. App. 1972).

Compton v. Com. Stand. Ins., 224 So. 2d 506 (La. Ct. App. 1969).

Grigsby v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins., 316 So. 2d 191 (La. Ct. App. 1975).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 32:232(2)(a) — 2 cases

Dale v. Carroll, 509 So. 2d 770 (La. Ct. App. 1987).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 32:232(3) — 1 case

Weber v. Phoenix Assurance Co. of New York, 256 So. 2d 752 (La. Ct. App. 1971).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 32:232(3)(a) — 3 cases

Weber v. Phoenix Assurance Co. of New York, 273 So. 2d 30 (La. 1973).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 32:232(l)(a) — 6 cases

Smart v. Calhoun, 174 So. 3d 168 (La. Ct. App. 2015).

Owen v. Smith, 16 So. 3d 1274 (La. Ct. App. 2009).

Bouldin v. Williams, 472 So. 2d 244 (La. Ct. App. 1985).

Bernard v. City of Lafayette, 735 So. 2d 804 (La. Ct. App. 1999).

Pablo Danilo Gonzalez Versus Destiny Wricks & State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (La. Ct. App. 2024).

— La. Rev. Stat. § 32:232(l)(b) — 2 cases

Hampton v. Marino, 725 So. 2d 503 (La. Ct. App. 1998).

Griffin v. Hampton, 10 So. 3d 800 (La. Ct. App. 2009).

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.