You can turn right on red in Minnesota at most intersections, as long as you come to a complete stop, yield to pedestrians and cross-traffic, and no sign or red arrow prohibits the turn.1Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 169.06 – Signs, Signals, Markings The rule sounds simple, but a few details trip drivers up, and the penalties for getting it wrong can climb quickly if you have other recent tickets.
The Three Steps for a Legal Right on Red
Minnesota Statutes Section 169.06, Subdivision 5, sets out what you have to do before turning right against a solid circular red light.1Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 169.06 – Signs, Signals, Markings
Stop completely, as close as practicable to the crosswalk entrance on your side of the intersection. If there is no crosswalk, stop before entering the intersection itself. A rolling stop does not count, and it is one of the easiest ways to pick up a ticket even when the turn itself would have been legal.
Yield to any pedestrians in the crosswalk and to all traffic moving through the intersection on a green signal. That includes vehicles making legal U-turns and any cyclist or scooter rider approaching from your right, which is the blind spot that produces a disproportionate share of right-on-red crashes.2The Minnesota Star Tribune. Where There Are Double Right-Turn Lanes, Can I Turn Right on a Red Light?
Only after you have a safe gap in cross-traffic may you complete the turn. If the traffic is heavy enough that you would be forcing your way in, wait for the green.
Red Arrows Flip the Default
The detail most Minnesota drivers get wrong: a steady red arrow is not the same as a solid circular red. With a circular red, you may turn unless a sign says no. With a red arrow, you may not turn unless a sign says yes.1Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 169.06 – Signs, Signals, Markings
If a posted sign specifically permits turning on a red arrow at that intersection, the usual procedure applies: full stop, yield, then turn when safe. Without that sign, treat the red arrow the same as a straight-ahead red that bars all movement, and wait for the arrow to turn green.
When a Sign Prohibits the Turn
Cities and counties can ban right turns on red at any intersection where safety conditions call for it, and you will know by a “No Turn on Red” sign near the signal. These signs cluster at intersections with poor sight lines, heavy pedestrian traffic, or complex signal phasing. Some are permanent; others activate only during certain hours using electronic displays.1Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 169.06 – Signs, Signals, Markings
When one of these signs is posted, it overrides the general permission in state law at that location. Turning anyway counts as disobeying a traffic control device whether or not cross-traffic is present. Volume does not matter; the sign governs.
Dual Right-Turn Lanes
Minnesota law requires you to approach and complete a right turn as close as practicable to the right curb or edge of the road.3Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 169.19 – Turning, Starting, and Signaling Where an intersection has two right-turn lanes, a Minnesota State Patrol spokesperson has said that a vehicle may turn right on red from either lane after a complete stop, unless a sign indicates otherwise. Local jurisdictions can direct a different path through pavement markings or signs.2The Minnesota Star Tribune. Where There Are Double Right-Turn Lanes, Can I Turn Right on a Red Light?
In practice, turning on red from the inner right-turn lane is harder to judge safely because you have to track cross-traffic across more lanes, and the geometry can push you into a conflict with vehicles entering from the cross street. Many drivers in that inner lane simply wait for the green.
What About Turning Left on Red?
Minnesota allows a left turn on red in one narrow situation: you must be on a one-way street turning left onto another one-way street where traffic flows to the left. After a full stop and yielding to pedestrians and cross-traffic, you may complete the turn unless a sign prohibits it.1Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 169.06 – Signs, Signals, Markings If either street carries two-way traffic, the option disappears entirely.
Penalties for an Illegal Turn on Red
An illegal turn on red is a petty misdemeanor under Minnesota law, the same classification as most traffic violations in the state.4Minnesota House of Representatives. Traffic Citations A petty misdemeanor is not technically a crime, because jail time is not available as a punishment. The maximum fine is $300, plus a mandatory $75 state surcharge and a law library fee that varies by county.5Minnesota House of Representatives. Criminal Offense Levels
The ticket is not always the end of it. Minnesota does not use a traditional demerit-point system for driver’s licenses, but the state assigns insurance rating points through a separate schedule. A standard moving violation like an illegal turn carries a half-point, and those points can raise your premiums at renewal.
Repeated violations trigger something more serious. If you collect two or more petty misdemeanor traffic convictions within a 12-month window, the next one jumps to a full misdemeanor, carrying up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.6Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 169.89 – Violation, When Petty Misdemeanor Enhanced to Misdemeanor A single violation also gets enhanced to a misdemeanor if the turn endangered another person or property, which usually means the illegal turn caused or nearly caused a crash.