Which traffic light do you mean?   It is against the law to pass on the shoulder.  But if it is 23 northbound at Morse, Boonton or Kiel that lane is the right lane of the highway; same for 23 southbound at Kinnelon and Boonton.   If the lane is marked with a right turn arrow then it is only for right turns but in the case of that far right lane on 23 where direct right turns are permitted (Morse northbound, Boonton northbound and southbound) there is nothing restricting drivers to only right turns.   At Kiel northbound and Kinnelon southbound no turns are permitted except through the jughandles thus vehicles can only go straight. 

 

Maybe it would be easier on all of us if the old NJ State Highway Department had gotten its way back in the early 1960's when those officials wanted to use Route 23 as the path for a 3 digit interstate highway spur connecting I-287 in Piscataway or Edison with I-84 at Port Jervis.

 

Rich Dean