# Ticketed under CVC 21453? Find your subsection.

Title: CVC 21453 Red Light Violation: Subsections & Penalties
URL: https://californiaticketlawyerhelp.com/codes/21453-red-light/
Last reviewed: 2026-10-13

> CVC 21453(a) is running a steady red, (b) is a turn on red that breaks the stop-and-yield rules, and (c) is entering on a red arrow. Statewide totals are $467.90 for (a) and (c) and $226.16 for (b), each with 1 point.

## Find your subsection

[Vehicle Code 21453](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=21453) splits red-signal rules into subsections. Match the one on your citation.

| Subsection | What it means | Statewide total | Points |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| (a) | A driver facing a steady circular red must stop at the marked limit line, or before the crosswalk, or before the intersection, and stay stopped until an indication to proceed. | $467.90 | 1 point |
| (b) | After stopping, a driver may turn right, or turn left from a one-way street onto a one-way street, while yielding to pedestrians and traffic. A sign can prohibit the turn. | $226.16 | 1 point |
| (c) | A driver facing a steady red arrow must not enter the intersection to make the movement the arrow shows. | $467.90 | 1 point |
| (d) | Listed on the schedule. Read the section for what (d) covers. | $186.87 | 0 points |

## Penalties by subsection

The statewide 2026 schedule lists these base fines:

| Subsection | Base fine | Statewide total |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 21453(a) and (c) | $100 | $467.90 |
| 21453(b) | $35 | $226.16 |
| 21453(d) | $25 | $186.87 |

The totals include the court operations and conviction assessments. Santa Clara County's 2026 schedule lists base bail of $100 for failing to stop at a red light, $35 for an improper right turn on red, and $100 for failing to stop for a red arrow. Construction-zone rows are higher: $135, $70 and $135.

## Check your points

The statewide schedule lists 1 point for subsections (a), (b) and (c) and 0 points for (d). The text of [Vehicle Code 12810](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=12810) does not name 21453, so confirm the count with the court or the DMV.

See [points and insurance](https://californiaticketlawyerhelp.com/tickets/points-and-insurance/) for what points add up to.

## Was it a camera?

A notice mailed after a camera flash follows different rules. Read [red light camera tickets](https://californiaticketlawyerhelp.com/tickets/red-light-camera/) if your citation arrived by mail.

## Your next steps

1. Find the subsection and the due date on your citation.
2. Look up the case in your court's online system. Use the [courts page](https://californiaticketlawyerhelp.com/courts/).
3. Pick a route: pay, traffic school if eligible, or contest.
4. Act before the due date.

## Ways to resolve it

- **Pay.** It ends the case and records a conviction.
- **Traffic school.** Open to eligible drivers. See [traffic school vs. contest](https://californiaticketlawyerhelp.com/tickets/traffic-school-vs-contest/).
- **Contest in writing.** Use a trial by written declaration. See the [written declaration guide](https://californiaticketlawyerhelp.com/tickets/written-declaration/).
- **Estimate first.** The [ticket cost estimator](https://californiaticketlawyerhelp.com/tools/ticket-cost/) shows the total and points.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much is a 21453(a) ticket?

The statewide 2026 schedule lists a base fine of $100 and a total bail of $467.90 for 21453(a), with 1 point. Santa Clara County's schedule lists a base bail of $100 and a construction-zone row of $135. Your notice shows the amount due.

### Is a 'California stop' on a right turn a 21453(b)?

Subsection (b) allows a right turn on red only after stopping, and you must yield to pedestrians and traffic. A turn made without stopping does not meet that condition as the section is written. Whether a ticket was correct depends on the facts, so compare your situation with the text.

### Do red light tickets add points?

The 2026 schedule lists 1 point for 21453(a), (b) and (c). The text of Vehicle Code 12810 does not list 21453, so confirm the point count with the court or the DMV before you decide how to respond. A row for 21453(d) shows 0 points.

### Can I contest a red light ticket in writing?

Yes, if your court offers it. Vehicle Code 40902 lets you elect a trial by written declaration for any alleged infraction, and you submit bail with the request. See the written declaration guide for the forms and steps. Check your notice for the deadline.

## Sources

- [Vehicle Code 21453 (leginfo)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=21453)
- [Vehicle Code 12810, points (leginfo)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=12810)
- [Vehicle Code 40902 (leginfo)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=40902)
- [Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule, 2026 (Orange County Superior Court edition)](https://www.occourts.org/system/files/criminal/uniform-bail-and-penalty-schedule-orange-county-edition.pdf)
- [Santa Clara Superior Court, 2026 Traffic Bail Schedule](https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/system/files/traffic/2026-traffic-bail-schedule_rem.pdf)