A right turn on red in Vancouver is legal at most intersections, as long as you come to a complete stop first and yield to every pedestrian and vehicle with the right-of-way. The permission comes from Section 129 of the British Columbia Motor Vehicle Act, and it applies unless a sign or a red arrow at the intersection says otherwise.1BC Laws. Motor Vehicle Act – Part 5
How to Make the Turn Legally
Two things have to happen, in order, before you go.
Stop completely. Section 129(3) requires you to stop as close as practicable to the marked crosswalk on your side of the intersection. If there is no crosswalk, stop before entering the intersection itself. A rolling stop does not count, and this is where most drivers get ticketed.
Then yield to everyone with the right-of-way. That means all pedestrians crossing the road and all vehicles moving through the intersection on a green signal. You cannot force cross-traffic to slow or swerve for you. If there is any conflict, you wait.1BC Laws. Motor Vehicle Act – Part 5
Make the turn from the rightmost lane and into the closest lane on the cross street. Swinging wide across multiple lanes creates exactly the kind of conflict the rule was designed to avoid.
When You Cannot Turn Right on Red
A posted “No Right Turn on Red” sign overrides the general permission. These signs are common near schools, hospitals, busy cycling routes, and intersections with complex pedestrian crossings.1BC Laws. Motor Vehicle Act – Part 5
A red arrow pointing right also prohibits the turn. The Act’s permission applies only when a red light alone is displayed. A directional red arrow is a more specific signal telling you that movement in that direction is not yet allowed.
Vancouver has been steadily adding right-on-red bans at intersections with leading pedestrian intervals, protected bike lanes, and heavy foot traffic. In late 2025, a city councillor introduced a motion to identify more intersections for restrictions. If you regularly drive through downtown or the Broadway corridor, expect the number of restricted intersections to grow, and read the signs.
Fines and Penalty Points
A botched right turn on red can produce one of two tickets. Failing to yield to pedestrians or cross-traffic during the turn is a $167 fine under Section 129(3). Blowing through the red without stopping at all is a separate offence under Section 129(1), also $167.2BC Laws. Violation Ticket Administration and Fines Regulation – Schedule 3
Both violations add penalty points to your driving record. Points trigger the ICBC Driver Penalty Point premium on top of the fine, and enough points in a short window can lead to a licence review or suspension.
Intersection Safety Cameras
Some Vancouver intersections have safety cameras that photograph vehicles entering after the light has turned red. The ticket goes to the registered owner of the vehicle, not necessarily the driver.3Province of British Columbia. Intersection Safety Cameras – How It Works
Camera-issued tickets do not put penalty points on your licence. You still owe the fine, but your driving record stays clean. Pay within 30 days of the mailing or service date and the fine drops by $25.4Province of British Columbia. Pay an Intersection Safety Camera Ticket
What About Left Turns on Red
The same statute allows a left turn on red in one narrow situation. Under Section 129(4)(b), you can turn left on a red light if the intersection joins no more than two roads and you are turning onto a street where traffic flows only in your turning direction. In practical terms, that means turning left from one one-way street onto another one-way street.1BC Laws. Motor Vehicle Act – Part 5
The same conditions apply: stop completely, yield to pedestrians and vehicles with the right-of-way, and check for a sign prohibiting the turn.
If You Are Visiting on a U.S. Licence
British Columbia and Washington have a reciprocal agreement covering traffic violations. Under Washington’s RCW 46.23.020, if you receive a citation in BC for a moving violation and fail to deal with it, Washington can suspend your licence or refuse to renew it until BC confirms the ticket is resolved.5Washington State Legislature. RCW 46.23.020 Reciprocal Agreements Authorized – Provisions
You will not be detained or asked to post bail at the roadside, but ignoring the ticket after you get home is not an option. Drivers from other U.S. states or Canadian provinces should check whether their home jurisdiction has a similar arrangement with BC. Even without a formal agreement, an unpaid foreign ticket can surface at licence renewal or a border crossing.