The Indianapolis City-County Council might backtrack on its decision to ditch a proposal to ban right turns on red lights in certain portions of downtown.
The measure was yanked from the May council meeting due to concerns that a new state law overruled the proposed ordinance. But the state legislation contains at least a section that declares it does not take effect until July 1, possibly giving the city time to impose its right-turn ban.
The local proposal was introduced April 3 by three Democratic councilors who represent areas of downtown. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett also endorsed the measure, which looked to increase street safety in the city amid an increasing number of pedestrian deaths.
Initially, council members thought the state legislation sought by Republican Sen. Aaron Freeman to block the city’s ban took effect immediately when Gov. Eric Holcomb signed it into law on May 4.
Freeman said he still believes that’s the case.
Further review suggests the effective date may actually be July 1, but the council’s legal team is continuing to analyze the legislation and recommend the best course of action, according to council spokeswoman Sara Hindi.
The three Democratic councilors who authored the proposal—Council President Vop Osili, Council Vice President Zach Adamson and Councilor Kristin Jones—have not yet made a decision on whether to re-introduce it.
“This due diligence is necessary to ensure the City is not faced with a lawsuit by moving forward with the no-turn-on-red proposals,” the three councilors said in a joint statement.
If the councilors decide to move forward with the proposal, they could vote on it at the next full council meeting on June 5.
Freeman, who has called the proposed city ordinance stupid and characterized it as a war on cars, isn’t ruling out legal action against the city if it proceeds with the turn-on-red ban.
“Courts and judges are there in place for a reason, right? If the city of Indianapolis wants to try to defy a law, they can do so,” Freeman said.
He maintains that the state legislation contains an emergency clause making it effective immediately.
By Taylor Wooten of Indianapolis Business Journal.
