Is Rat-Running Legal in Louisiana?

You might have noticed that the city of Shreveport has been installing brand-new traffic lights across the city. You can tell the new ones because they're the ones with the yellow 'box' around the light-stack.

One of the changes the new lights have brought is the flashing yellow arrow turn signal. We've never had the flashing yellow turn signal arrow. Many drivers in Shreveport Bossier were confused about what the flashing yellow arrow turn signal meant, and how it worked. You can read more about it HERE.

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But even before the implementation of the confusing flashing yellow turn signal arrows, many people wouldn't want to sit through a red light, or wait for a turn signal at all, or even just wait for a light to turn green. And some intersections are worse than others.

What is "Rat-Running?"

So, those drivers that don't want to wait for, or just want to avoid traffic at the intersection, might be tempted to cut through a parking lot, and emerging back into traffic on the other side of the intersection. This is know as "Rat-Running."

It might seem like it's convenient, and might save you a whole 23 seconds off your journey, but is it legal to do in Louisiana? The simple answer is... No. It certainly is not legal. By cutting through a parking lot, you could end up trying to merge with the very traffic you were trying to avoid, disrupting the flow of traffic. You're also increasing the risk to pedestrians and other drivers.

And depending on whether or not the parking lot is private property, you might even could be cited for trespassing. Far-fetched sure, but hey, it could happen.

You could be cited under Louisiana Statute R.S. 32:101 C. No person shall drive any vehicle through or over private property, including, but not limited to, any corner parkng or driveway facility, from a highway solely for the purposes of entering another highway. Acts 1962, No. 310, Section 1, Acts 1985, No. 953, Section 1. And there's a city ordinance that mirrors the state statute.

Bottom line is, it might seem like a good idea at the time, but just don't do it.