Running a red light is illegal in all states and a ticket or citation for the infraction or offense may lead to a significant fine, demerit points on a driver’s license or driving record, and increased insurance premiums (upon conviction, guilty plea, or plea of no contest).

Due to limited resources many states use automated red-light cameras—also known as photo enforcement—to take a digital photograph of a vehicle (and its license plate) that violates the red light or traffic signal by entering the intersection and failing to stop after the light has turned red. The use of red-light cameras to issue traffic tickets or citations (mailed to the driver) has been controversial, with claims that it violates Constitutional rights.

Laws vary from state to state and in some states red-light cameras are a permitted enforcement tool; in some states they are prohibited; and in some states they are prohibited unless permitted by a local ordinance (city or town).

In Minnesota, running a red light is considered a traffic violation and is illegal under state law. Violators can receive a citation that may result in fines, the accumulation of demerit points on their driving record, and potentially higher insurance rates. Minnesota Statutes section 169.06 addresses obedience to traffic-control signals, outlining the requirements for drivers when approaching a red light. Regarding automated red-light cameras, Minnesota does not currently use them for traffic enforcement. The state had experimented with red-light cameras in the past, but the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in 2007 (in the case of State v. Kuhlman) that the way the city of Minneapolis was enforcing red-light violations using cameras was not permissible under state law. As a result, red-light cameras are not used in Minnesota to issue citations. Drivers are expected to adhere to traffic signals, and failure to do so can result in manual enforcement by police officers and subsequent penalties.