How does a 'California stop' work?

Question

It allows drivers to turn right at a red-light? But in what instances, and why? Isn't a red-light to allow pedestrians and other traffic through??

Answer 1

You can turn right on a red light, after you've stopped at the corner, and if there is no one in the crosswalk (and no cars coming from the cross-street).   The term "California stop" is facetious, and means that you slow down at a stop sign, and roll through - if there are no cars coming and no cop around.  There's also a "Chinese fire drill", which is when you stop at a red light or stop sign, and everyone gets out of their doors and runs around the car and gets back in .....

Answer 2

A "California stop" is nothing to be proud of but signifies California drivers' bad habit of failing to come to a COMPLETE stop at a stop sign or even at a red light at which one could turn right.  Not a good thing.  The only ticket I ever got in 39 years in California was for doing just that once upon a time!  Eeeew!

Answer 3

It means you don't come to a complete stop, just slow down.

Answer 4

It means you slow down, look both ways, 'no cop, no stop' and keep going.  but then there was a cop behind that bush and you get ticketed for failure to come to a complete stop.  It's not just for right turns, any stop light or stop sign.  In most jurisdictions, you must come to a complete stop for a minimum of 1 full second before accelerating.

Answer 5

It doesn't work that good. I just paid $125.00 to find that out....

Answer 6

The California stop or Beverly Hills roll are bad habits in driving.  This is a habit of coming to a stop sign or a red light where you want to make a right turn and rather than make a full and complete stop you roll through or just kind tap the brakes to dip a bit and go on.  

the law is you must come to a complete and absolute stop, allow pedestrians have the right of way.

Answer 7

most people refer to it as the "california roll" but its the same thing that you are talking about...you may go AS LONG AS  there are no pedestrians or traffic coming and only after you've come to a complete stop...btw, its not just a california thing, every state and city uses it..its simply referred to as "right on red"