“U-turn At Protected Left Signal”

Hello

Am I alone in noticing that MANY people seem to think they are allowed to make a U-Turn from a protected left hand turn lane (where there is a separate traffic light for the left traffic) when that light is RED?

Where did this come from? While the logic of it says it is similar to making a right turn on a red light, as you don't actually cross in front of any conflicting traffic movement, just joining the direction you want to go, I can't understand why so many people do this...

What would the ticket be, if an officer observed this? Just a standard "fail to stop for red light"?

Here are the relevant section of the HTA.

Red light

(18) Every driver approaching a traffic control signal showing a circular red indication and facing the indication shall stop his or her vehicle and shall not proceed until a green indication is shown. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 144 (18).

.............

Exception – turn

(19) Despite subsection (18) and subject to subsection (14), a driver, after stopping his or her vehicle and yielding the right of way to traffic lawfully approaching so closely that to proceed would constitute an immediate hazard, may,

(a) turn to the right; or

(b) turn to the left from a one-way street into a one-way street,

without a green indication being shown. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 144 (19).

The only exemption for turning left on a red is for one way street to one way street maneuvers. Otherwise, it's a red light offense.