Can I take a shortcut to avoid a red light in Idaho? What the law says

Being stuck in traffic is a powerless feeling. There’s nowhere to go, nothing to do.

When you’re trapped at a busy intersection, you might be tempted to cut through a gas station, parking lot or other property to avoid waiting at the red light.

This practice is called “rat running,” and you’ve probably seen someone do it — or tried a similar shortcut yourself.

Is it legal?

Here’s what the Idaho Statesman found out:

Can I cut through a parking lot to avoid a red light in Idaho?

State law doesn’t specifically prohibit rat-running in Idaho, although certain cities have their own rules regarding the practice.

That doesn’t mean the practice is encouraged — or even always legal, according to Idaho State Police communications director Aaron Snell.

“Even without a specific law on rat-running, this type of driving can still violate traffic statutes and create safety hazards,” Snell told the Idaho Statesman. “Drivers who cut through private property often travel faster than intended for those areas, fail to yield to pedestrians or other vehicles, and disrupt normal traffic flow.”

Snell noted that state law requires drivers come to a full stop before entering a roadway from a driveway, alley or building.

Failure to do so could lead to a ticket.

“Bottom line: While not specifically prohibited by state law, this behavior can still result in a citation and endanger others on the road,” Snell said.

Which cities have banned rat running in Idaho?

A number of Idaho cities have banned rat-running, including Boise.

According to the Boise City Code, it’s illegal to “drive upon or use any private driveway, private property or parking lot as a throughway to bypass an intersection controlled by a stop sign or traffic control signal.”

In other words, drivers can’t treat private property like a public street.

Under city code, drivers commit this infraction when they enter private property and immediately exit to re-enter traffic without coming to a complete stop.

The city of Nampa has a similar ordinance, as does the city of Meridian.

Specifically, drivers who “enter public or private real property from a highway or street and immediately thereafter exit the same property without stopping or slowing before reentering an adjoining highway or street” are violating city rules against rat-running, Meridian’s city code reads.

Check the city code wherever you drive before attempting to cut through traffic using private property.

What’s the penalty for breaking Boise road rule?

Violating Boise’s rule about rat-running results in a fine of $90.