Red Light Violation

Red Light Violation - In California red light violations are enforced by two methods; 1- Automated red light enforcement by issuing red light camera tickets or 2- An officer issued ticket. Since early 2000s many cities in California installed automated red light enforcement systems to capture a photographic or video image of the driver and the vehicle violating a red light. However, over the past ten years many of these cities stopped using the automated red light enforcement systems due to public complaints. Despite that, there are still many cities in California that still operate red light cameras and issue red light camera tickets. 

Red Light Violation in California

The red light violations are issued for violating California Vehicle Code Sections 21453 a vc, 21453 b vc and 21453 c vc. These code sections distiguish the type of red light violation; as follows:

21453 vc -   
21453 a vc - A driver facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a marked limit line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain stopped until an indication to proceed is shown, except as provided in subdivision (b).
21453 b vc - Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn, a driver, after stopping as required by subdivision (a), facing a steady circular red signal, may turn right, or turn left from a one-way street onto a one-way street. A driver making that turn shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to any vehicle that has approached or is approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard to the driver, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to that vehicle until the driver can proceed with reasonable safety.
21453 c vc - A driver facing a steady red arrow signal shall not enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by the arrow and, unless entering the intersection to make a movement permitted by another signal, shall stop at a clearly marked limit line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain stopped until an indication permitting movement is shown.
21453 d vc - Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in Section 21456, a pedestrian facing a steady circular red or red arrow signal shall not enter the roadway.
(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 14, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2002.)

How to Fight a Red Light Violation

Depending on the enforcement type, there are many red light violation defenses that can help get a red light violation dismissed in California. Red light operation in California are subject to strict design and operating guidelines established by the California Manual of Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). As an example, the traffic signals must provide adequate yellow clearance time at an intersection that is adjusted according to the approach speed of the roadway. The higher the speed the longer the yellow clearance time must be. Therefore, when looking to fight a red light violation analysing the yellow clearance time at the itersection could prove to be helpful in getting the red light violation dismissed. Please refer to the following table for red light yellow clearancce time:

Red light violations may be contested by going to a court trial or a trial by written declaration. We have prepared a trial by written declaration sample for a red light violation to help people understand some of the critical issues when they fight a red light violation using a trial by written declaration. If you have decided to fight a red light violation with a trial by written declaration, we can help. Take advantage of our 100% money back guarntee offer and fight your red light violation.

Are Red Light Camera Tickets Legal in California?

In California, governmental agencies are allowed to use an atomated enforcement system to issue red light camera tickets. 

Red light Violation Fines in California

Red light violation fines are very expensive in California. However, the total cost of a red light violation is much higher than the cost of the fine because of the impact of a red light violation on the automobile insurance premium.