Maria Shriver - Caught Red Handed!

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's wife -- a known scofflaw -- has dodged ticket after ticket on the west side of Los Angeles ... talking on her cell phone while driving, parking in a red zone, parking at an expired meter while buying a muffin and driving without a seat belt.

But on Friday -- in the thick of Brentwood's shopping district -- time ran out for Maria. The meter was empty, and now, thanks to a vigilant parking officer, California's coffers will be a little more plentiful.

But if you think it's lesson learned ... Maria grabbed the ticket, got behind the wheel of her SUV, and rolled through a stop sign.