Are Right Turns on Red Quietly Taxing Drivers?
In cities across the U.S., drivers are being ticketed not for speeding or running red lights in a dangerous fashion, but for rolling right turns on red—a technically illegal maneuver, even when performed cautiously. These infractions, often captured by automated red light cameras, have turned into a massive revenue source for municipalities and private enforcement companies.
📊 Shocking Statistics: How Much Money Is at Stake?
Red light cameras were originally marketed as a way to reduce accidents, but data shows their real value might lie in ticket volume, not public safety.
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Up to 90% of all red light camera violations in some jurisdictions are for rolling right turns, not running straight through a red light.
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A single camera in Los Angeles generated $6 million in revenue annually, mostly from right-on-red violations.
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In Chicago, red light cameras generated over $600 million in fines from 2003 to 2020. A study by the Chicago Tribune found the vast majority of those tickets were for minor technical violations, including rolling right turns.
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In California, the fine for a right-turn-on-red violation can exceed $500, once administrative fees and court costs are added.
🚨 How Red Light Cameras Work
Most systems use sensors embedded in the roadway and high-resolution cameras to track when a car enters the intersection after the signal turns red. The camera snaps several photos and sometimes video, which is then reviewed by the city or a third-party vendor.
While a full-speed red light run poses obvious danger, right turns on red are usually:
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Performed at low speed
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Done after checking for oncoming traffic
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Involve no immediate hazard or pedestrian
Yet the strict interpretation of traffic law makes these actions ticketable—and highly profitable.
💸 Who’s Really Making the Money?
Revenue is often split between cities and private red light camera vendors like:
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Verra Mobility (formerly American Traffic Solutions)
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Redflex Traffic Systems
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Sensys Gatso
Many contracts guarantee a minimum payment to these companies, incentivizing high ticket volume. In fact, some cities are contractually obligated to keep cameras operating even if accident rates decline.
Case Study: Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles suspended its red light camera program in 2011 due to public backlash and questions over the program’s effectiveness. Yet rolling right turn tickets accounted for nearly 80% of citations, generating more than $2 million per year.
Case Study: Miami, FL
A local audit found that over 70% of red light camera tickets were for rolling rights, even though crash data showed these turns posed minimal risk. The city still collected over $10 million in annual fines.
🛑 Safety vs. Revenue: Is There a Real Benefit?
Studies offer conflicting views on whether these cameras improve safety. For example:
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A 2018 report from the AAA Foundation noted no conclusive evidence that ticketing right-turn violations significantly reduces crashes.
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A 2017 study by the Florida Department of Highway Safety found that right-on-red crashes made up less than 1% of total intersection crashes in camera-enforced areas.
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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), red light running contributes to thousands of accidents annually, but most involve straight-through violations, not right turns.
In many cases, public trust erodes when cameras seem to be placed more for maximum revenue than safety.
⚖️ Legal Battles & Community Backlash
Public and legal scrutiny is growing. Multiple cities have:
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Shut down red light camera programs after public referendums (e.g., Houston, TX; Albuquerque, NM)
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Faced lawsuits over improper signage, lack of due process, and unconstitutional ticketing
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Issued refunds or canceled citations due to technical flaws or public pressure
In Ohio, the state supreme court ruled that some camera enforcement laws violated home rule authority.
🧾 What to Do If You Get a Right Turn on Red Ticket
If you receive a ticket from a red light camera:
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Request the evidence (photo and video)
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Look for missing or unclear signage
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Verify your right to appeal in traffic court
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Check local laws—some areas require signage explicitly prohibiting right turns on red for a valid ticket
Some drivers have had success beating tickets when:
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The signage was not visible
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The stop line was not clearly marked
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The driver did stop but the camera system malfunctioned
🔄 A National Trend Worth Watching
As more cities adopt automated traffic enforcement, right-on-red ticketing remains a low-risk, high-reward strategy to fill municipal budgets. While the original intent may have been safety, the evidence suggests that revenue is driving the expansion.
Conclusion: Policy or Profit?
Rolling right turn enforcement via red light cameras might seem minor, but it’s a multi-billion dollar ecosystem. For drivers, it's a frustrating surprise. For cities and private vendors, it's a cash machine hiding behind the veil of public safety.
Until more states regulate or restrict automated enforcement, rolling right turns will likely remain one of the most profitable—and controversial—traffic violations in America.