Red light ticket in Pennsylvania
A red light ticket in Pennsylvania costs at least $152 with court costs and fees, and carries 3 points.
FineAt least $152estimate with court costs
Points3
Driver Improvement SchoolYes
Add up my ticket All Pennsylvania rules
What does the Pennsylvania state schedule charge for a red light ticket?
The fine is only part of what you pay. Court costs and fees are added on top, and they are often more than the fine itself.
| Ticket | State fine | With court costs |
|---|---|---|
| Failure to stop for a red lightNo penalty is set in §3112, so the $25 general summary-offense fine applies. | $25[7] | At least $152 |
With court costs is an estimate. At least $126.50 in state costs on a guilty plea. More for faster speeding, a hearing, or a ticket in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. The surcharge list skips speeding 5 mph or less over, so that ticket can cost $45 less.[22][23][24][25] Your notice shows the exact total.
How many points is it?
- Running a red light3 pts[2]
Will a red light ticket raise your insurance in Pennsylvania?
Probably, once it is on your record. Insurers rate a red light ticket as a moving violation. In Pennsylvania one speeding ticket raised a full-coverage premium about 21% on average[1], or about $1,497 over three years. A red light ticket usually lands in the same range.
Estimate based on the state's speeding average, not a quote.
How long do you have to respond to a red light ticket in Pennsylvania?
You have 10 days to pay or respond to a red light ticket in Pennsylvania. These are the dates that matter:
- 10daysPay or respondfrom the ticket date[14][16][13]
Details
Plead guilty or not guilty after getting a citation. If you miss it: If you don't respond, the court can issue a bench warrant and ask PennDOT to suspend your license until you respond and pay.
- 30daysLast day to appealfrom conviction[17][15]
Details
Appeal a summary conviction to the Court of Common Pleas. If you miss it: After 30 days the conviction is final unless the court allows a late appeal.
- 30daysPass the point exam or finish Driver Improvement School after a 6-point noticefrom the notice date[2]
Details
Pass the point exam or finish Driver Improvement School after a 6-point notice. If you miss it: License suspended until you pass the exam or finish the school.
- 30daysAppeal a PennDOT suspension to the county Court of Common Pleasfrom the notice date[2]
Can you keep a red light ticket off your Pennsylvania record?
What if a camera caught you in Pennsylvania?
A red light camera ticket in Philadelphia goes to the vehicle owner and the fine is $100. It adds no points to your license. The program is set to expire in July 2027 unless the legislature extends it.[1][18]
How camera tickets work in other states →
Every way to handle a Pennsylvania ticket, from paying to contesting →
Red light tickets in other states →
Got a different ticket in Pennsylvania?
- Speeding
- School zone
- Work zone
- Stop sign
- Texting
- No insurance
- Expired registration
- Seat belt
- School bus
- Failure to yield
- Parking
What else do people ask?
How many points is a red light ticket in Pennsylvania?
Running a red light: 3 points.
Will a red light ticket raise my insurance in Pennsylvania?
Probably, if it goes on your record. Insurers rate it as a moving violation. In Pennsylvania a speeding ticket raised full-coverage premiums about 21% on average (ValuePenguin State of Auto Insurance in 2026), and a red light ticket tends to land in the same range.
How long do I have to respond to a red light ticket in Pennsylvania?
10 days from the date on the ticket. If you don't respond to a citation, the court can issue a bench warrant.
Is a red light camera ticket different in Pennsylvania?
A red light camera ticket in Philadelphia goes to the vehicle owner and the fine is $100. It adds no points to your license. The program is set to expire in July 2027 unless the legislature extends it.
Sources
Pennsylvania law and DMV sources (8)
- The Pennsylvania Point System (fact sheet, March 2024), PennDOT.
- 75 Pa.C.S. §6502 Summary offenses (general penalty), Pennsylvania General Assembly.
- 75 Pa.C.S. §1533 Suspension of operating privilege for failure to respond to citation, Pennsylvania General Assembly.
- Pa.R.Crim.P. 407 Pleas in response to citation, Pennsylvania Code (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania).
- Pa.R.Crim.P. 408 Not guilty pleas, notice of trial, Pennsylvania Code (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania).
- Pa.R.Crim.P. 430 Issuance of warrant, Pennsylvania Code (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania).
- Pa.R.Crim.P. 460 Notice of appeal (summary cases), Pennsylvania Code (Supreme Court of Pennsylvania).
- Driving Privilege Sanctions and Restoration Requirements Letter (fact sheet, April 2023), PennDOT.
Red light camera sources (2)
- Safety camera laws, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
- 75 Pa.C.S. 3116, FindLaw (Pennsylvania statutes).
Insurance sources (4)
- State of Auto Insurance in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
- Car Insurance Rate Increases with a Speeding Ticket in 2026, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
- How Does a DUI Affect Your Auto Insurance Rates in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).
- How Much Will My Car Insurance Rates Go Up After a Crash in 2026?, ValuePenguin (LendingTree).