You're Not From Around Here - Are You

Pet Peeve Time

OK, this is a local pet peeve of mine. I live in Arizona and we have a LOT of transplants from other states, primarily California. I don't know how many times per day I come to an intersection to turn left and there is someone waiting to turn left in front of me (and or in front of several others) and they are NOT IN THE INTERSECTION! 

OK, not a huge deal here - and perhaps an opportunity to learn the virtue of patience - but for informational purposes, and perhaps to reduce frustration and maybe some road-rage for other drivers, let me clarify - (unless otherwise posted) IT IS LEGAL IN ARIZONA TO ENTER THE INTERSECTION FOR A LEFT TURN! Well, provided the intersection is not controlled by a left-turn arrow - in which case, we are all stuck waiting for the red arrow to go away. Some intersections have a green arrow that goes away, and no red arrow follows - in which case, IT IS LEGAL IN ARIZONA TO ENTER THE INTERSECTION FOR A LEFT TURN!

Why the frustration? 

Because generally if that lead car enters the intersection, 1) they can make the turn quicker if they are already out there, and 2) usually more than one car can get into the intersection (beyond the crosswalk and/or line of demarkation) so when the light changes, those cars which have entered the intersection can now legally make their left turn - thus clearing the intersection of at least one to two cars - speeding up everyone's day by a couple minutes. If you have not entered the intersection before the light turns yellow - at this point you CANNOT enter (legally) and make your left turn - so you are stuck there and likely at least one other driver behind you.

I believe it is illegal in California to enter the intersection (going to look this one up to be sure) so it becomes rather obvious who the transplants are when they sit outside the intersection.

(A few minutes later) - OK, it appears I am wrong! It is LEGAL in California too! If you are IN the intersection before the light turns red, you are OK - just like in Arizona, it is illegal to enter the intersection after it turns red. https://www.nbccomedyplayground.com/can-you-be-in-the-intersection-when-the-light-turns-red-california/ 

This is LEGAL - car 1 is legally in the intersection, car 2 must wait for the intersection to clear enough to allow room, or wait for the next light:

AND - if the intersection is large enough, and cars are small enough, the following is LEGAL for the first two cars - the third needs to wait for the intersection to clear or for the next light:

OK, I have vented.