Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 20, 2016
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It may be the most universal of traffic signals: the red light. We all know what it means when we see it: Stop. Same goes for the ubiquitous red stop sign. Yet, from coast to coast, every day there are traffic citations being written for running stop lights or stop signs.
A red light ticket can result from a lot of different driving maneuvers. A driver may not stop long enough (the famed "California stop" or "rolling stop") or a traffic camera could snap a photo of a driver while still in the intersection. It all depends on the regulations and enforcement in your specific area.
All states carry traffic laws that specifically require "obedience to traffic control signals and devices" (or similarly-worded language), meaning that drivers must observe and obey all traffic lights and stop signs when operating vehicles.
The most common traffic violation associated with traffic control signals and devices is "running" a red light or stop sign -- when a driver proceeds through an intersection:
Below, you will find a list of red light and stop sign laws for all 50 states (and the District of Columbia). If you need further information, visit FindLaw's Driver's License Laws section.
| State | Statute |
| Alabama | Obedience to traffic-control devices (AL Code 32-5A-31) |
| Alaska | Negligent Driving (AK Statutes 28.35.45) |
| Arizona | Obedience to and required traffic control devices (ARS 28-644) |
| Arkansas | Traffic-Control Devices (AR Code Title 27, Ch. 52) |
| California | Offenses Relating to Traffic Devices (California Vehicle Code Sections 21450 - 21468) |
| Colorado | Obedience to official traffic control devices (CRS 42-4-603) |
| Connecticut | Traffic control signals (GSC section 14-299) |
| Delaware | Traffic Signs, Signals, and Markings (DE Code Title 21, Ch. 41, Subchapter II) |
| District of Columbia | Browse the D.C. Vehicle Code (scroll to Title 50) |
| Florida | Traffic control signal devices (FS 316.075) |
| Georgia | Traffic signals (Georgia Code 40-6-21) |
| Hawaii | Obedience to and required traffic control devices (HRS section 291C-31) |
| Idaho | Obedience to and required traffic control devices (ID Statutes section 49-801) |
| Illinois | Traffic Signs, Signals, and Markings (625 ILCS 5/11-301 to 5/11-313) |
| Indiana | Traffic Control Signals (Indiana Code 9-21-3) |
| Iowa | Obedience to official traffic control devices (IA Code section 321.256) |
| Kansas | Official traffic control devices; required obedience (KS Statutes 8-1507) |
| Kentucky | Traffic control signals [PDF] (KRS 189.338) |
| Louisiana | Obedience to and required traffic control devices (LRS 32:231) |
| Maine | Traffic control devices (MRS Title 29-A section 2057) |
| Maryland | Traffic Signs, Signals, and Markings (MD Transp. Code Title 21 scroll to Subtitle 2) |
| Massachusetts | Traffic control signs and devices (89 MGL section 9) |
| Michigan | Traffic Signs, Signals, and Markings (MI Vehicle Code sections 257.608 to 257.616a) |
| Minnesota | Signs, signals, and markings (MN Statute 169.06) |
| Mississippi | Traffic signs, signals, and markings (MS Code Title 52, Ch. 3 scroll to Article 7) |
| Missouri | Observance of traffic-control devices (MRS 304.271) |
| Montana | Obedience to traffic control devices (MCA section 61-8-201) |
| Nebraska | Obedience to traffic control devices (R.R.S. Nebr. § 60-6, 119) |
| Nevada | Obedience to devices for control of traffic (NRS 484.278) |
| New Hampshire | Obedience to any required traffic control devices (NH Statutes 265:9) |
| New Jersey | Traffic control devices; drivers' obedience (NJ Statutes 39:4-120.9 |
| New Mexico | Obedience to any required traffic-control devices (NMS 66-7-104) |
| New York | Traffic signs, signals, and markings (NY Vehicle & Traffic Code Article 24) |
| North Carolina | Vehicle control signs and signals (NCGS section 20-158) |
| North Dakota | Obedience to and required traffic-control devices [PDF] (ND Code Chapter 39-10 scroll to 39-10-04) |
| Ohio | Obeying Traffic Control Devices (ORC section 4511.12) |
| Oklahoma | Obedience to and required traffic control devices (OK Statute 47-11-201) |
| Oregon | Rules of the Road: Traffic Control Devices [PDF] (OR Vehicle Code scroll to 811.260 to 811.270) |
| Pennsylvania | Operation of Vehicles: Traffic Control Devices [PDF] (PA Vehicle Code Ch. 31; scroll to Subchapter B) |
| Rhode Island | Traffic Control Devices (RI Code Ch. 31-13) |
| South Carolina | Obedience to and required traffic-control devices (SC Code scroll to section 56-5-950) |
| South Dakota | Traffic Control Devices (SD Codified Laws Ch. 32-28) |
| Tennessee | Obedience to any required traffic control device (TN Code section 55-8-109) |
| Texas | Traffic Signs, Signals, and Markings (TX Transp. Code Ch. 544) |
| Utah | Obeying Devices (UT Code 41-6a-304) |
| Vermont | Obedience to traffic-control devices (23 VSA section 1021) |
| Virginia | Traffic lights; penalty (VA Code 46.2-833) |
| Washington | Obedience to and required traffic control devices (RCW section 46.61.050) |
| West Virginia | Obedience to traffic control devices (WV Code section 17C-3-4) |
| Wisconsin | Traffic Signs, Signals, and Markings [PDF] (WI Code Chapter 346 scroll to Subchapter VI) |
| Wyoming | Traffic-Control Devices (WY Statutes Title 31, Ch. 5, Article 4) |
Fighting a traffic ticket on your own isn't easy. Traffic laws and traffic court procedures can be confusing. Consider speaking with an experienced, local traffic ticket lawyer about your case today.
Contact a qualified traffic ticket attorney to help you get the best result possible.
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