Is it illegal to stop past the crosswalk in an intersection?

In certain instances, a driver will receive a running a red light citation, otherwise known as a traffic light camera ticket, for stopping past the crosswalk at an intersection. In essence, the sensors from the traffic light camera will note that a vehicle has passed the crosswalk (or designated stopping point at the red light) while the traffic light remained red. The driver, who may stop suddenly or simply be inching forward in rare cases, will be cited for violating traffic signal laws.

While it is technically illegal to stop past crosswalks at an intersection, the reality is that a red light camera ticket citation will be for running the red light itself, not necessarily only crossing the crosswalk. Obviously, the red light citation is the more serious offense in any case, and if possible, a driver should attempt to contest the citation, and at the very least, attempt to plea bargain down to the actual offense committed, stopping past the crosswalk. In reality, the entire case may provide grounds for dismissal of all charges, depending on the photographic evidence available from the red light camera and from the intersection where the alleged infraction occurred.

In reality, the modern red light camera systems are able to account for drivers passing into the crosswalk, without actually running red lights. Furthermore, these devices and the case law behind them often require photographic evidence of a driver crossing the plane (crosswalk or stop line) and in the actual intersection while the light is red (usually providing photos of front and back of vehicle for license plate purposes). While blocking the crosswalk at any intersection is a moving violation, it is not necessarily a red light violation. Furthermore, numerous mitigating circumstances may cause a driver to stop in the crosswalk, which can be used as a defense against a traffic citation for blocking the crosswalk as well.