As per California Vehicle Code 21453(a): “A driver facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a marked limit line--before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain stopped until an indication to proceed is shown.” Therefore, if a police officer observes a motorist running a red light, they will be issued a traffic ticket for a moving violation. It’s worth noting that California has some of the highest fines in the country--costing hundreds of dollars. If a person is issued a ticket for running a red light, they may have a viable defense, e.g., they might not have been able to see the red light because it was improperly placed, or perhaps the light itself was defective.