Really? This doesn’t sound right.
Sorry to say but it’s completely correct. Red lights are sacrosanct. No one has the right to go through a red light. And if you are pushing a wheeled carriage (e.g. bicycle, baby buggy, wheelchair) on the pavement then you are also required to stop at a red light.
In fact, if the lights are changing from green to red, you aren’t allowed to go through with them on amber.
The only defence that you can possibly use in either case is that either a) you thought the lights were at green, or b) you did not feel that you could stop safely and/or under control.
However, the counter to the former is that you weren’t paying attention; and the latter that you were travelling too fast for the prevailing road and traffic conditions.
If you are had up in court for going through a red light, it is VERY unlikely that you’ll get away with it, no matter who you are or what the circumstances were.
Of course, like everything else though – it ain’t a crime if you don’t get caught.