Violations of California Vehicle Code 21543(a), ‘running’ a red light, are unfairly applied to motorists whose vehicle have small detection signatures, in particular motorcycles, scooters, and bikes. Many intersections in California employ inductive sensors beneath the pavement designed to detect cross-traffic vehicles along busy streets. These are intended to alleviate traffic but do not always detect waiting cross-traffic vehicles; many traffic signals never cycle until detectors are triggered. Often, there is no way for the driver to progress without some sort of infringement: running the red light; making a right turn from a left-turn lane (VC 22101(d)); or making a right turn followed by an illegal U-turn. Even maneuvering legally, a driver may be inconveniently, and unjustly, delayed with detoured routes. Under these circumstances, issued violations waste the time and money of the motorists, law enforcement officers, and court judges and administration.



Several other states have adopted laws to mitigate this problem, and it's time for California to do the same.