Yes. You can turn right on a red arrow in Washington State, provided you come to a complete stop first, yield to pedestrians and cross-traffic, and no sign at the intersection prohibits the turn. Under state law, a steady red arrow carries the same rules for right turns as a solid circular red light.1Washington State Legislature. Washington Code Title 46 Chapter 46.61 Section 46.61.055
How to Make the Turn Legally
RCW 46.61.055 sets the sequence. Stop completely before the marked stop line. If there is no stop line, stop before the crosswalk. If there is no crosswalk either, stop before entering the intersection itself.1Washington State Legislature. Washington Code Title 46 Chapter 46.61 Section 46.61.055
After stopping, yield to any pedestrian in the crosswalk and to every vehicle that is already in the intersection or approaching it on a green. Only when the crosswalk and the intersection are genuinely clear can you complete the turn.2Washington State Legislature. WAC 468-95-250 Meaning of Signal Indications
Creeping forward past the stop line to look for a gap does not count as yielding. You are supposed to stay behind the line until the path is actually open.
A posted “No Turn on Red” sign overrides everything above. If you see one, you wait for the green no matter how empty the road looks.2Washington State Legislature. WAC 468-95-250 Meaning of Signal Indications
Why the Arrow Shape Doesn’t Change the Rule
Drivers often hesitate at red arrows because they look more restrictive than a round red. In Washington, they are not. The arrow indicates which direction the signal controls; it does not signal a higher level of prohibition. The stop-yield-proceed rule under RCW 46.61.055 applies to both.1Washington State Legislature. Washington Code Title 46 Chapter 46.61 Section 46.61.055
Left Turns Work Differently
The right-on-red rule is not symmetrical. A left turn on a red signal, arrow or circular, is legal in Washington only when you are turning onto a one-way street that carries traffic in the direction of your turn. You can make that left from either a one-way or a two-way street, but the street you are entering must be one-way.1Washington State Legislature. Washington Code Title 46 Chapter 46.61 Section 46.61.055
If traffic on the street you are entering flows in both directions, a left on red is never legal, no matter how clear the intersection looks.
What an Illegal Turn on Red Costs
Turning against a red signal when it isn’t allowed, whether that means ignoring a “No Turn on Red” sign, failing to stop before turning, or making a prohibited left, is a traffic infraction. The base fine for infractions not specifically listed in Washington’s penalty schedule is $48.3Washington Courts. IRLJ 6.2 Monetary Penalty Schedule for Infractions
The $48 figure is misleading on its own. Mandatory state assessments and surcharges for trauma care, legislative assessments, auto theft prevention, and other statutory add-ons roughly triple it, bringing the total to about $145.4Washington Courts eService Center. Traffic Infraction Penalty Calculations
A ticket written by a police officer is a moving violation. It goes on your driving record, and insurance companies pull that record when they set premiums.
Red Light Camera Tickets Are Not the Same
Automated camera tickets are handled differently. Under RCW 46.63.170, camera-detected infractions are processed like parking tickets. The notice goes to the vehicle’s registered owner, and the violation does not appear on anyone’s driving record, so it will not directly raise your insurance rates.5Washington State Legislature. RCW 46.63.170 Automated Traffic Safety Cameras
Ignoring one is still a mistake. Unpaid camera tickets can block your vehicle registration renewal and eventually go to collections, which adds fees on top of the original fine. The fine itself cannot exceed the penalty for a standard signal infraction with assessments, so in practice the ceiling sits around $145.4Washington Courts eService Center. Traffic Infraction Penalty Calculations