You must stop before crossing a drawbridge any time the traffic signal shows red, the warning gates are lowering or already down, a bridge tender or flagger directs you to stop, or the bridge is visibly open or in the process of opening. Any one of these is enough on its own. The signals at a movable bridge do not work exactly like a regular intersection, and the penalties for ignoring them run higher than a standard red-light ticket, especially if you drive commercially.
Reading the Signals at a Movable Bridge
The federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices sets two signal types for drawbridges. The common three-section signal shows green when the bridge is closed and safe to cross. Before an opening, it goes to steady yellow for three to six seconds, then to steady red. Red means stop and stay stopped until the bridge closes and the light returns to green.1Federal Highway Administration. MUTCD 2009 Edition – Traffic Control for Movable Bridges
At bridges that go long stretches without opening (more than five hours), you may see a flashing yellow in place of steady green. Flashing yellow means the bridge is closed and you can proceed with caution, but be ready for the signal to change. The second signal type is a vertical array of red lights that flash alternately. When those lights are flashing, stop. When they are off, the bridge is closed and you may cross.1Federal Highway Administration. MUTCD 2009 Edition – Traffic Control for Movable Bridges
Before the signal itself, a yellow diamond-shaped “DRAW BRIDGE” sign warns you a movable bridge is ahead.2Federal Highway Administration. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices 11th Edition – Chapter 2C Some bridges also sound horns or bells before opening. Slow down when you see or hear either.
Warning Gates
Most drawbridges have gates that lower across the roadway before the span moves. They look like railroad crossing gates: striped red and white, with flashing red lights. Federal standards place them at least 100 feet back from the movable span.1Federal Highway Administration. MUTCD 2009 Edition – Traffic Control for Movable Bridges
Driving around or under a gate is illegal in every state, even if it hasn’t finished coming down. The gate is down because the bridge is already in motion or about to be. Vehicles that squeeze past end up in the gap between spans or in the water, and those incidents are almost always fatal.
Bridge Tenders and a Bridge That’s Already Moving
A bridge tender or flagger directing traffic carries the same legal authority as the signals. If one of them tells you to stop, stop, no matter what the lights are doing. Manual control is routine during equipment problems or scheduled maintenance.
Stop also if you can see the bridge opening, whether or not the signal has caught up. Equipment malfunctions, and a green light means nothing when the roadway is separating in front of you. The same goes for traffic ahead stopped on or near the span. Don’t block the deck.
Where to Stop
Federal standards require a stop line on every approach to a movable bridge span.1Federal Highway Administration. MUTCD 2009 Edition – Traffic Control for Movable Bridges If a stop line is painted on the road, stop behind it. If a gate is down, stop before the gate. If neither is visible, most states require you to stop at least 50 feet from the bridge, the same rule most states apply to railroad crossings. Either way, position yourself where you can see the bridge and any approaching traffic.
Penalties for Running a Drawbridge Signal
Every state treats failing to stop at a drawbridge as a moving violation. Fines are generally in the low hundreds of dollars, comparable to running a red light or slightly higher, and many states add points to your driving record. If you went around a gate or crossed while the bridge was moving, the charge can escalate to reckless driving.
One figure that circulates online needs correcting. The $25,000 civil penalty under 33 U.S.C. ยง 499 does not apply to drivers. That statute covers bridge operators who fail to open for vessels, and vessel operators who improperly signal a bridge to open.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 33 U.S. Code 499 – Regulations for Drawbridges Drivers pay state traffic penalties, not federal maritime fines.
CDL Holders: It’s a Serious Traffic Violation
If you hold a commercial driver’s license, running a drawbridge signal is a serious traffic violation under federal regulations. A first offense means a 60-day CDL disqualification. A second serious violation within three years means 120 days. The disqualification runs on top of any state fine or points.4eCFR. 49 CFR 383.51 – Disqualification of Drivers
For a passenger-car driver, a drawbridge ticket is a fine. For a commercial driver, it’s two to four months off the road, and the second one escalates sharply. If your route crosses drawbridges, treat every signal change as if your license depends on it.