Driving in the American South West

Does anybody know if a right turn on red is ok in California, Nevada, Arizona and what-not? 

When I was in Texas earlier this year I didn't know it was ok until the guy behind me went totally off the rails.  What a jerk.  Sorry if it's a lame question, but I always get so DAMNED confused stateside with all the various state rules and so forth.

The only places in North America where right on red is illegal are New York City (all boroughs, even Staten Island which is silly because it's the suburbs there) and the island of Montreal. It's legal unless there's a sign saying otherwise everywhere else.

Remember to come to a full and complete stop first, of course 

Remember to come to a full and complete stop first, of course 

Hee. I once got a stern talking to (but no ticket!) from a midwestern policeman for doing a "California Roll" through a stop sign.

Transpodia, the southwest is also FULL of speed traps. Keep your eye out on the freeways!

Many thanks for these helpful replies.  Knowing that it's legal everywhere except the various boroughs of NYC is comforting.

Last question.  The agent sent an email saying we all had to register ourselves on the net with the US government that we are planning a visit.     What sort of lunacy has possessed my countrymen this time?

Hee. I once got a stern talking to (but no ticket!) from a midwestern policeman for doing a "California Roll" through a stop sign.

My cousins, from NM, tried to convince me that a "California Stop" is when you race through the intersection when the person in front of you goes. I told them that they're crazy, a California Stop is when you slow down to almost but not quite a stop before going but they were adamant. The rolling stop is quite popular but I've rarely if ever seen someone doing the tail-gating one so either it's a SoCal thing or, like the French Pox, a name-unsavoury-things-after-the-neighbours-you-don't-like thing.  Either way, it sounds like it's actually a NM thing since they way they were talking about it it's very common there.

Ha. No! No racing through the intersection! Just "look left, look right, keep going".  The cop was actually super nice about it. It was a college town, so I think he just felt it was his duty to set all of the (blonde, tan) students right!

You can also turn left at a stop light from a one way street into another one way street

The agent sent an email saying we all had to register ourselves on the net with the US government that we are planning a visit.

Yes, you have to pay about $12.95 or so for the ESTA application before you go.  However, it covers any trips you will take to the States for the next two years.  It's not a visa, but it asks a lot of the same questions.  Sort of a pre-screen for any potential baddies! 

Here's the link: https://www.esta.cbp.dhs.gov

Always make sure it has the ".gov" in the address or it's a scam!

As far as driving, it might be helpful to Google known speed traps in the cities that you'll be travelling through.  In Alabama where i"m from, there is a main road to the beach that EVERYONE goes down.  This one small po-dunk town has NUMEROUS traps and it's very common to see out-of-towners pulled over for going only a couple of miles over the speed limit!  That's how they make their money!

Of course, ESTA doesn't apply to US citizens!

You can also turn left at a stop light from a one way street into another one way street

Really? I had no idea. Then again, most one way/one way intersections usually have stop signs anyway. Except the avenues/streets in Manhattan/New York and well, it's illegal there anyway. I think I'd feel weird doing that, even though I turn right on red all of the time.

Thanks for the link!  I'll check it out tonight.

Because of what happened to my cousin's son in Florida, I started watching clips from an American television documentary called "Cops" and after seeing some of those, the very *LAST* thing you want is to get pulled over for some infraction.  Plus it looks like half the country is driving around stoned.  Therefore I'm getting very organized wrt the rules and so forth...

Thanks for the link!  I'll check it out tonight.

Because of what happened to my cousin's son in Florida, I started watching clips from an American television documentary called "Cops" and after seeing some of those, the very *LAST* thing you want is to get pulled over for some infraction.  Plus it looks like half the country is driving around stoned.  Therefore I'm getting very organized wrt the rules and so forth...

To be fair, "Cops" is not a very fair and accurate depiction of America! LOL. 

The other thing to be aware of is U-turns. They are legal in some states, but not in others unless marked.  My brother in law got a stern warning when he did a U turn in a place other than the unmarked designated U-turn area (parents lived in a VERY small town and he wasn't local.)

To be fair, "Cops" is not a very fair and accurate depiction of America! LOL. 

I watched the British version for comparison.  Major big difference.  They told a drunk guy to go home.  Then they went to a restaurant where a man and wife were arguing and told them to go home.  And then for the climax, they scolded a Norwegian couple for fornicating on the sidewalk and told them to do it in their hotel.

And thanks for the tip about U turns.