Ticketbust.com Fights California illegal right-hand turn tickets and here is one client’s case:
A client was issued a ticket for a red light infraction while making an "illegal" right-hand turn. Failed to come to a complete stop before making the turn or illegal right on red.
Ticket cost: $200 plus court and administration fees
Insurance Premium: $5,995* annual for a Standard Insurance Policy, a male driving 6 to 8 years in Los Angeles with one prior ticket. This infraction carries one violation point on the client’s record, which could increase the auto insurance premium by 30% or $1,798.
The California Vehicle Code Section 21453 Circular Red or Red Arrow states:
21453. (a) 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).
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
Contributed by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets.
*According to the California Department of Insurance beginning January 1, 2010.