Ask Doug: Red light rules

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With all the red light cameras going up, nobody wants to get a ticket for running a red. So some drivers slam on the brakes the moment the light turns yellow, but that's not a safe move and sometimes drivers wind up getting rear-ended. We've been getting a lot of e-mail messages from people who want to know the law.

Under Florida Statute 316.075, drivers can be in the intersection when the light is yellow. The yellow, after all, is a warning light. So if your car’s front bumper is over the stop bar when the light turns yellow, you can legally and safely drive though the intersection. But once the light turns red, you cannot enter the intersection. So if your front bumper is over the stop bar when the light turns red, that's a violation.

The new state law which makes the rule uniform for red light cameras takes effect July 1, 2010. It calls for a $158 fine if you're caught on camera. If you don't obey the law, you could be forced to pay the price.