Vehicle Code § 21453: the red light rule

What the law says

A driver facing a steady red signal must stop at the limit line (or before the crosswalk or intersection if there is no line) and stay stopped until an indication to proceed is shown, subject to the rules for turning on red.

Official text (excerpt)

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

Read the full section on the official site

Why it matters in an injury claim

Intersection crashes often come down to who had the red light. Signal timing records, video from nearby businesses and independent witnesses are the usual evidence.