I had no idea that 1. this had a name and 2. it was illegal. I've done that Left so many times back when I lived in Pennsylvania, I figured it was totally acceptable. I've been in situations stuck behind a left-turner for 5+ light cycles because he couldn't/wouldn't turn left due to unrelenting oncoming traffic. What's the legal solution? You can't wait forever!

(We don't seem to have this problem out here in California, where every street has at least four lanes!)

As far as I know, the only legal solution is that one car gets to enter the intersection and then turn left after the signal has gone red. Of course, that's often a terrible answer - clearing one car per light cycle is a route to spectacular gridlock. (And with Boston drivers consistently running newly-red lights or blocking intersections, you sometimes don't even clear one car per cycle.)

Wikipedia does hint at a legal kludge, though - "I judged oncoming traffic to be moving so slowly that I could safely turn". The idea I guess being that it's not a change to driving rules, it's just slow acceleration and a legal turn.

I can't imagine that would hold up real well legally, especially if people are flashing headlights and making an invitation. On the other hand, I've never heard of this leading to a ticket in Boston - it just can't compete with the other violations that happen constantly!

>I want to turn left but rather "there are 30 cars behind me going straight, with no room to pass me on the right.

Thank you. I'm going to use this reasoning next time someone complains.