Getting a photo-enforced red-light intersection ticket in Bakersfield can feel overwhelming.
You might wonder what to do next and how this could affect your driving record. We’ve guided hundreds of drivers through similar situations, and we’re here to help you, too.
Where Bakersfield Drivers Commonly Receive Tickets
Several Bakersfield intersections use cameras to catch red-light violations. You may have been cited at one of these:
- White Lane and Wible Road
- Ming Avenue and Real Road
- Truxton Avenue and Coffee Road
- Brundage Lane and Chester Avenue
- California Avenue and Stockdale Highway
- Bernard Street and Oswell Street
- Ming Avenue and Old River Road
- California Avenue and Oak Street
- Ming Avenue and Valley Plaza
- Coffee Road and Stockdale Highway
These cameras track vehicles running red lights, turning without stopping, or failing to yield. If you received a ticket here, you’re not alone—many drivers do.
Why Photo-Enforced Red-Light Tickets Matter
A photo-enforced red-light intersection ticket isn’t just about paying a fine.
These citations can damage your driving record and increase insurance costs for years. Fines often total nearly $500.
If you’re ineligible for Traffic Violator School (TVS), insurance premiums may climb by thousands of dollars over three years.
How Red-Light Camera Evidence Works
Red-light cameras take photos and videos.
An experienced traffic officer must review them before issuing the citation. But sometimes, the image doesn’t clearly show the driver. If that’s the case, an attorney could argue for dismissal.
What’s more, if you're not in court, the judge cannot put you on the spot by asking you who was driving. If your teenager were driving, your auto premiums could skyrocket, beyond the already ridiculous cost.
Intersections with cameras must also have proper warning signs. The yellow-to-red light timing must meet Caltrans standards. If these requirements aren’t met, your ticket could be dismissed.
However, it’s always up to the judge.
Common Red-Light Violations
Here’s what often leads to a ticket:
- Entering the intersection after the yellow light turns red.
- Rolling through a right-on-red turn.
- Driving through a flashing or solid red light.
- Failing to stop when signals malfunction.
- Not yielding to pedestrians during a turn.
Timing is key. For instance, a 50 mph road must display a yellow for five seconds. A 35 mph limit gets 3.5 seconds. If the signal isn’t timed correctly, it could be challenged.
You can test the yellow-red light timing interval at the intersection with a stopwatch if you believe it isn’t timed properly.
Insurance Consequences of Convictions
One NOTS point from a red-light ticket can have a significant impact.
Without TVS, your good driver discount disappears. Add an extra risk rating, and full coverage premiums will likely rise by $872 yearly for three years. That’s on top of fines. For Bakersfield families, which can mean over $3,000 in total costs.
Maintaining a clean record is the best way to keep costs manageable. Even one violation can impact affordability for years.
When TVS Isn’t an Option
Not every driver qualifies for Traffic Violator School. You may be ineligible if:
- You lack a valid California license.
- You used TVS in the last 18 months to mask a traffic ticket.
- You were driving a commercial vehicle.
- You exceeded 100 mph.
- The violation requires a court appearance, such as misdemeanors, felonies, and alcohol or drug-related charges.
Missing the deadline for completion means losing the chance for TVS protection. If you miss the court-ordered completion date, your guilty plea becomes public record, accessible by your insurance company.
Consult Bigger & Harman About a Photo-Enforced Red-Light Intersection Ticket
If you’ve been cited at a photo-enforced red-light intersection, don’t go it alone.
We’ve defended more than 20,000 California drivers, many in Bakersfield’s Kern County Courthouse. With us, you won’t even need to appear in court.
Our team understands how to challenge blurry images, improper signage, or timing issues. We work to reduce charges, protect your record, and save you money.
Call Bigger & Harman at (661) 349-9300—se habla Español at (661) 349-9755. Alternatively, you can use our virtual contact form or email us at attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com to schedule a free consultation.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Section
Q: How much is the fine for a photo-enforced red-light intersection ticket?
A: The fine is nearly $500. However, with the loss of your “good driver’s discount” and insurance increases, the actual cost may exceed $3,000.
Q: What can I do about a photo-enforced red-light ticket in Bakersfield?
A: Often, the best first step is consulting a Bakersfield traffic attorney from Bigger & Harman. You might need an attorney, but you won’t know until you ask a knowledgeable and experienced traffic attorney. If one of your family members were driving, the judge and/or kaw enforcement officer may put pressure on you to say who was driving. However, an attorney will not be asked that question, based on attorney-client privilege.
Q: Can a traffic attorney get my ticket dismissed or reduced?
A: Although there are no guarantees, in many cases, a traffic attorney can negotiate a no-point conviction or request a dismissal. The traffic court judge is always the final authority.
References:
Caltrans’ CA Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (CA MUTCD).
The DMV’s CA Driver Handbook English y Español.
Bankrate's article, Average cost of car insurance in CA for 2025.
The Bakersfield City list of Photo Enforced Intersections.