You can turn right on a red light in Guatemala only at an intersection where a sign authorises it; everywhere else, red means stop.

In short: Reglamento de Tránsito Article 134 allows a right turn on red only where the corresponding signage exists. Where it does, use the lane next to the right edge, signal, give way to all traffic on the road you are entering and to pedestrians crossing it, and finish in the right lane. Not respecting the traffic light’s stop signal is a Q200 fine (Art. 181).

What Article 134 says

The rule is in the Reglamento de Tránsito, Acuerdo Gubernativo 273-98, Article 134, titled Viraje o giro continuo a la derecha (continuous right turn). Its first sentence, in the Departamento de Tránsito’s consolidated text:

“Está permitido virar o girar a la derecha en intersecciones semaforizadas aunque indiquen rojo sólo cuando exista la señalización correspondiente.”

In plain English: at an intersection controlled by traffic lights, you may turn right even though the light shows red, but only when the corresponding signage exists. The permission is tied to a sign, not to how empty the road looks. The absence of a no virar sign is not the same as a sign that allows the turn.

Article 134 does not describe what the authorising sign looks like, and the traffic-light chart printed in the Departamento de Tránsito’s consolidated text describes red as the signal para detenerse de inmediato (to stop immediately). So the default at a red light is to stop; the exception applies where the junction is signed for it.

The Municipalidad de San Benito, Petén, reproduced the text of the same article, writing solo without the accent, in its road-awareness notice of 4 April 2025, during a municipal campaign on road safety. It did not announce any local exception.

How to make an authorised turn

The rest of Article 134 sets out what a driver must do at a junction where the turn on red is allowed.

StepWhat Article 134 requires
Before turningThe corresponding signage must exist at that intersection
LanePosition yourself in the lane next to the right edge of the road (carril junto al borde derecho de la calzada)
SignalGive the corresponding signals
Before moving offYield to every vehicle travelling on the road you are turning into
FinishComplete the turn in the right lane of that road

Source: Reglamento de Tránsito Art. 134, Departamento de Tránsito PNC consolidated text, read 10 November 2026.

Three neighbouring articles apply to every right turn, red light or not:

  • Article 132 requires a driver who is about to turn to warn the drivers behind in advance and to make sure the distance and speed of oncoming vehicles allow the manoeuvre without danger, and not to make it otherwise.
  • Article 133 says to move into the right lane in good time, close to the kerb or shoulder (pegado al bordillo o arcén), signal, follow the priority rules at the intersection and then join the right lane of the new road.
  • Article 138 prohibits changing lanes in or just before an intersection. A driver who ends up in the wrong lane must follow the direction that lane indicates.

So if you are in the middle lane when you reach a signed junction, the Reglamento does not let you cut across to make the turn.

Pedestrians come first

A sign that allows the turn does not give you priority over people on foot. Article 125 lists the situations where pedestrians have priority and vehicles must stop if necessary, including:

“Cuando los vehículos giren a otra vía y haya peatones cruzándola, aunque no esté demarcado el paso de peatones.”

That is: when vehicles turn into another road and there are pedestrians crossing it, even where the crossing is not marked. Article 61 adds that drivers must always yield to pedestrians crossing the perpendicular road when they turn left or right, even when the light shows green or a green arrow. Look at the crosswalk across the mouth of the road you are entering, not only at the cars coming along it.

Fines

The Reglamento does not set a separate fine for an unauthorised right turn on red. The offences closest to it, as listed in Articles 180 and 181 and in the Departamento de Tránsito’s Cartilla de Infracciones y Sanciones:

Offence (Reglamento de Tránsito)Fine
Art. 181 num. 14 b): not respecting the traffic light’s stop signal (Alto, del semáforo)Q200
Art. 181 num. 20: turning without observing the positioning and manoeuvre rulesQ200
Art. 181 num. 17: not observing the rules on right of wayQ200
Art. 180 num. 2 d): not respecting a No virar o girar a la derecha (no right turn) signQ100
Art. 180 num. 5: not signalling when turning, changing lanes, slowing down or reversingQ100

Sources: Reglamento de Tránsito Arts. 180 and 181 (consolidated text) and the Cartilla de Infracciones y Sanciones, Departamento de Tránsito PNC, both read 10 November 2026.

The offence and amount are written on the ticket (boleta) by the officer. Article 189 gives 25% off a fine paid within five business days of being imposed; from the sixth business day you pay the full amount plus late interest at 20% a year. The cartilla’s discount table prints Q75.00 for a Q100 fine and Q150.00 for a Q200 fine. To object, Article 186 (as printed in the cartilla) gives five days from the infraction to file a written disagreement with evidence before the Departamento de Tránsito or the Juzgado de Asuntos Municipales de Tránsito. How to look up and pay a ticket is on the Tránsito fines lookup guide.

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