Originally Posted by
bigbenaugust
In California, it's 3 cycles of the light or three minutes.
No.
CVC 21800
(d) (1) The driver of any vehicle approaching an intersection which has official traffic control signals that are inoperative shall stop at the intersection, and may proceed with caution when it is safe to do so.
http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21800.htm
And, of interest but not really helpful:
http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21450_5.htm
KeS