With San Francisco alone having issued over 8,000 red light violations (The San Francisco Standard) this year, there is every chance you or someone you know will get caught by one. Sometimes, it's a simple mistake, but $500 is no joke, and neither is it the only possible punishment for the action. So, how serious of an offense is running a red light, and what are the legal consequences of a traffic violation such as that?
Below, we provide information on how running a red light may:
- Affect your driving record
- Impact your insurance rates
- Reduce your freedom to drive legally
- Give you a fine
- Reduce your reputation
- Result with you in court
However, by the time you finish reading, you will have found several examples of how to act defensively and reduce the consequences. So, read on to learn more.
How Serious of an Offense Is Running a Red Light
From the point of view of law enforcement, running a red light is seen as an act of driving aggression and is dealt with severely. While mistakes are still punished, doing it with the intent to flout traffic laws is not only illegal but considerably dangerous due to the potential for other vehicles not to expect your presence.
Running a red light in California is one of several "moving violations" in California state law. These are considered more severe than other infractions, such as illegal parking, as you may cause harm to others. They involve you being in control of the vehicle and, as such, may lead to you earning points on your license and, eventually, a possible license suspension.
In addition, in comparison to speeding tickets, red light violations have the added danger of cross-traffic collisions. Judges and law enforcement will thus be far less lenient as this runs a high risk of causing a fatal collision.
Similarly, running a red light will result in more common penalties, such as tickets and fines. However, if you continue to flout the rules, they will quickly escalate. For this reason, it is a good idea to hire a traffic lawyer to help you handle the challenges of such a consequence.
Traffic Violations: Consequences of Running a Red Light
Running through a red light may lead to you facing steep traffic ticket penalties, which could harm your budget and many other areas of your life.
As mentioned above, the primary fines for this offense can regularly reach as high as $500. For many people, this is a significant problem, but you are likely to find that there are also administrative fees and surcharges you must pay. For example, court costs or other forms of funding you are ordered to cover.
If it is not your first offense, the repeat offenses can add up, leading to significant financial problems. Especially as resolving these debts will help prevent more significant punishments or legal action for non-payment.
Negligent Operator Points
In California, running a red light adds points to your driving record. These are a method for the state to track the nature of your driving and have several thresholds that can lead to the loss of specific driving privileges. In California, this system is called the Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS).
While some locations will limit your ability to drive based purely on points, in California, this depends on the license category and the time the driver gained them.
For example, if a driver will find their license suspended if they collect:
- Four points within 12 months
- Six points within 24 months
- Eight points within 36 months
Some individuals may be able to apply for a restricted license if theirs is suspended; this license allows the driver to operate a vehicle only in specific conditions, such as driving to and from work. However, these are exceptional circumstances, and the DMV will not always grant the privilege.
As employers who run commercial driving fleets often vet drivers for these licenses and points, having them on a license can affect someone's opportunities for employment.
Insurance Premium Increases
Car insurance providers will watch for any suggestion that an individual does not drive safely. If they find one, they will increase their premium to ensure the insurance policy is still a good deal for them.
Running a red light and the penalties that follow are high-risk events. As such, insurers will consider the person likely to commit further infractions, possibly causing a collision.
Sometimes, the insurance company may allow someone to complete a defensive driving course to prove their ability to drive safely. However, this is not always the case, nor is it a universal offer. If someone displays a repeated propensity to run red lights, they may even consider canceling the policy outright.
Earning Habitual Offender Status
If it is not your first time offending while on the road, you may earn the status of a "habitual offender." When this occurs, the law believes that the individual disregards traffic laws or laws in general. As such, a judge will offer them more scrutiny and give out harsher penalties for future offenses, such as:
- Longer license suspensions
- Increased fines
- Higher likelihood of receiving NOTS points
- Orders to attend traffic school
- Increased insurance premiums
As such, it is essential that, if you receive one offense, you make an active effort to boost your driving ability to avoid this possibility.
Even if you do not receive this status from a legal perspective, getting a reputation as a public safety risk comes with significant social repercussions. It can influence whether people feel safe with you while in a vehicle and lead to fewer professional opportunities.
Safeguard Your Future as a Driver
How serious of an offense is running a red light? Extremely.
If you receive a ticket for unsafe driving, you must fight it to ensure it doesn't affect you long-term. For this reason, a high-quality lawyer can give you the help you need to not only respond to a driving charge but potentially expunge it.
FYourTicket.com has the resources and experience to work with you to prove your innocence or reduce your punishment. So, consult us today to learn what we can do to address your ticket promptly.