, right turns on red are usually allowed as long as you come to a full stop at the intersection and yield right of way to pedestrians and other drivers. However, some intersections have signs prohibiting right turns, so it’s important to always check before assuming a turn is legal.

In most of the United States, most of the time, you can legally turn right on red. Emphasis, of course, on “most.” Right turns on red aren’t legal at every intersection, so it’s important to learn the rules in your area to avoid being ticketed or accruing demerit points on your license.

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Can you turn right on red in Virginia?

Put simply, yes. Virginia drivers can turn right on a red light unless there is a sign posted at the intersection explicitly prohibiting right turns.

According to

Section 46.2-833

of the Code of Virginia, it is permissible for drivers to turn right at a steady red light if:

The driver comes to a full stop at the intersection before making the right turn

The driver yields right of way to other vehicles and pedestrians

The driver has checked for regulatory signs banning right turns on red at the particular intersection, and none are posted

In short, you can determine whether a right turn on red is legal by looking for a sign. If you can’t find one, you can legally make a right turn—but be sure to come to a full stop first and check carefully that the intersection is clear.

In Virginia, flashing red lights are equivalent to a stop sign. You may legally turn right at flashing red lights after checking for oncoming traffic and making sure you’ve properly yielded right of way.

What about left turns on red?

Like most states in the US, Virginia allows left turns on red only from a one-way street onto another one-way street. It’s essential to watch for oncoming traffic and yield the right of way to other drivers and pedestrians.

Key Takeaway It’s almost always legal to turn right on red in Virginia, so long as there’s no sign prohibiting it and you follow other rules of the road.

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Penalties for an illegal right turn on red in Virginia

Even though right turns on red are legal in the state of Virginia, you might get ticketed if you perform an illegal right turn at an intersection that bans it.

Stop sign and red light violations are penalized with fines up to $350, although most convicted motorists typically pay just $101 for a red light citation and $88 for a stop sign ticket. Such an infraction will also likely cause 3 demerit points to accumulate on your license—and in rare cases a red light or stop sign violation could even lead to a reckless driving conviction.

Bear in mind that 18 demerit points in 12 months—or 24 points in 24 months—will result in your license being suspended for 90 days. You will also be required to take a driver improvement clinic to restore your driving privileges.

Unfortunately, on top of the cost of the ticket, you might also be looking at

higher insurance rates

once the points accumulate on your

driving record

. If you want to enjoy the best coverage and the best rates, you’ll need to maintain a

clean driving record

to prove that you’re a safe driver.

MORE:

Does running a red light increase your car insurance rates?

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