Fines for running a red light in Germany

Current Red Light Penalty Catalog, As of Mai 2024

Running a Red Light: High Fines, Always Penalty Points, Often a Driving Ban

Disregarding a red traffic light is strictly enforced because accidents resulting from running a red light are disproportionately associated with personal injury. Road users are expected to feel safe in their direction when the traffic light is green and are therefore often completely unprepared and surprised when another road user runs a red light.

Nevertheless, red light violations are by no means rare. Nearly every road user admits to having driven through a red light at some point – most often due to inattention, sometimes also because haste and time pressure led to a wrong decision. The penalties in the penalty catalog are significant: In addition to fines, penalty points and even driving bans are regularly imposed. You can find out how and when penalty points can become a threat to your driver’s license in the article on the German penalty catalog. If the accusation of endangerment arises in connection with a red light violation, the driver quickly enters the realm of a criminal offense. The latter can, in turn, result in significantly harsher penalties.

Red Light Violation or Stop Line Violation?

Only those who actually enter the intersection or the area protected by the traffic light have committed a red light violation. If someone crosses the stop line at a red light but brings their vehicle to a stop before entering the danger area, they will only be held accountable for a stop line violation. If they haven’t endangered anyone, this is punishable by a fine of 10 euros.

Red Light Violation: The Crucial Second

The severity of the penalty for running a red light largely depends on how long the traffic light has been red. The penalty catalog uses the terms “simple red light violation” and “qualified red light violation” for this purpose.

Less than one second of red → Simple Red Light Violation

More than one second of red → Qualified Red Light Violation

Additionally, a significant increase in penalties is applied if the red light violation is associated with endangering other road users or even causing property damage. This is particularly common when running a red light. If another motorist has to brake sharply due to the red light violation, or if a pedestrian has to jump towards the sidewalk to avoid an accident, endangerment has already occurred. If a rear-end collision occurs due to the emergency braking of another driver, the red light offender is regularly considered partially responsible for the accident and has thus fulfilled the offense of property damage. Both endangerment and property damage are punished with at least a one-month driving ban according to the penalty catalog.

Running a Red Light and Speeding

Most red light violations are detected by stationary speed cameras. These systems not only measure the time since the light turned red – the crucial second – but also the speed of the vehicle. However, generally only the more severe offense that carries the harsher penalty is prosecuted. Nevertheless, there are instances where fines are issued for both offenses. In such cases, filing an appeal is promising since a distinction must be made between offenses in concurrent commission and multiple offenses when determining the penalty. In concurrent commission, only the most severe offense is punished, while in multiple offenses, the violations are aggregated into a total penalty. The evaluation is often a subject of legal disputes. In such a case, the option to appeal should always be considered with the assistance of a lawyer.

Red Light Violation During the Probationary Period

During the first two years after passing the driving test, novice drivers are subject to particularly strict regulations with penalties that go beyond the regular penalty catalogs. Since young drivers are significantly more involved in accidents, intensified penalties aim to promote cautious and restrained driving behavior. Misconduct by drivers during the probationary period is classified into less serious and serious violations. Running a red light constitutes a serious violation. In addition to the penalty according to the penalty catalog, a remedial driving course is ordered, which must be completed within a deadline set by the authorities. If this deadline is missed, the driver’s license is suspended until successful completion of the remedial driving course is demonstrated.

Furthermore, the probationary period is extended by two years, and the violation is recorded. For additional violations, a warning is issued initially, and on the third offense, the driver’s license is revoked.