The question: At what point in an intersection has a motorist run a red light?

The answer: According to Detective Richard Curry of the Lost Hills Sheriff's Station, a motorist has run a red light if his/her tires have not crossed over the first line of the intersection by the time the traffic signal light turns to red.

If a motorist's front tires have crossed over the first line of the intersection before the light changes to red-even if the light is yellow-then the motorist has not run a red light, Curry said.

He added that the "first line" of an intersection with a crosswalk is the first line of the crosswalk itself. The fine for running a red light

in California is $351 (which includes penalty assessments) for a first time offenders. The fines are higher for each additional offense within a year of the preceding offense.

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