You can turn right on red in Arizona, but only after you come to a complete stop and yield to pedestrians and cross-traffic. The rule lives in Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-645, and skipping any piece of it is a civil traffic violation that runs close to $489 once state surcharges are added to the base fine, plus two points on your license and a mandatory trip to Traffic Survival School.
Stop First, Then Yield
The statute sets out two steps, in order. First, bring the vehicle to a full stop before the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. If there is no crosswalk, stop before entering the intersection itself. A complete stop means every wheel has stopped rolling. Coasting through at two miles per hour is a rolling stop, and officers write tickets for it routinely.
Second, yield to anyone with the right-of-way. That includes pedestrians in the crosswalk, vehicles moving through the intersection on a green, and bicyclists in an adjacent bike lane whose path your turn would cross. If someone with the green is close enough that your turn would force them to brake or swerve, wait. Only when the way is genuinely clear can you complete the turn.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 28-645 – Traffic Control Signal Legend
When Right on Red Is Not Allowed
A posted “No Turn on Red” sign eliminates the option entirely, no matter how clear the road looks. These signs tend to appear where sight lines are poor, pedestrian traffic is heavy, or lane configurations make a safe turn impossible to judge.
A police officer directing traffic also overrides the signal. If an officer at the intersection is giving hand signals, follow the officer and ignore the light. Disobeying a law enforcement officer’s traffic directions is a separate violation under Arizona law.2Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 28-622 – Failure to Comply With Police Officer; Classification
A solid red arrow works differently from a round red. The round red controls all traffic facing it; the red arrow governs only the movement the arrow points to, and in practice Arizona treats a steady red arrow as a prohibition on that turn. Do not turn on a solid red arrow. Wait for a green arrow or a round green before proceeding.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 28-645 – Traffic Control Signal Legend
A flashing red light, round or arrow-shaped, works like a stop sign under ARS § 28-647. Stop fully, confirm the intersection is clear, and proceed when safe. A conviction for running a flashing red carries the same MVD consequences as running a steady red.3Arizona Department of Transportation. Penalties
Watch for U-Turns from the Opposite Direction
One scenario catches drivers off guard. A driver across the intersection making a U-turn on a green has the right-of-way over you. If you pull out on your right-on-red and collide with someone completing a legal U-turn, you are the one who failed to yield. Clear the opposing turn lane before you move.
What About a Left on Red?
Arizona permits a left on red in one narrow case: you are on a one-way street turning left onto another one-way street where traffic flows to the left. The same stop-and-yield rules apply, and a posted “No Turn on Red” sign still shuts it down. If either street carries two-way traffic, a left on red is illegal. The scenario comes up mostly in the one-way grids of downtown Phoenix and Tucson.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 28-645 – Traffic Control Signal Legend
What a Ticket Costs
An illegal turn on red is a civil traffic violation. The base fine caps at $250, but that number understates what you actually pay.4Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 28-1598 – Maximum Civil Penalty State law requires surcharges totaling 78% of the base fine, plus $44 in flat assessments that apply to every traffic fine. On a $250 base, that adds roughly $239, for a realistic total near $489. Exact amounts vary slightly by court, but the surcharges are set by statute, not local discretion.
Points on Your License
A red-light violation adds 2 points to your Arizona driving record under the MVD’s “all other moving violations” category. If the violation causes serious injury, the assessment rises to 4 points; if it causes a death, 6 points. Accumulating 8 or more points in any 12-month period can trigger a license suspension of up to 12 months.5Arizona Department of Transportation. Points Assessment
Traffic Survival School
The MVD requires Traffic Survival School for every red-light conviction it receives, including convictions for running a flashing red. It is not optional, and it is not reserved for repeat offenders. Fail to attend and your driving privilege is suspended until you complete the course.3Arizona Department of Transportation. Penalties