Traffic Violation? Honest Response?

David

I particularly HATE this insult to HUMANITY. That is, we humans do not exist in order to have a MACHINE accuse and FINE us through some sort of convoluted, automated, inanimate manner.... for a 'violation' that, if a HUMAN police officer had been there, would have been UNDERSTOOD in a human mind to be NOT an issue.
It's just a MONEY grab by municipalities and I despise this 'slap in the face' to the public.

ESaw

depending on what state you live in they got different rules, but all camera tickets get thrown out real easily if you go to court and play shaggy in my state

Kristi and Matt

It's your city's way of getting more money that isn't the ridiculous amount of tax dollars you already pay. Unfortunately those things are put up now a days because stupid people go through red lights all the time and drive recklessly. It is supposed to be a "statement". You of course can argue the case in traffic court but, they bank on the fact that you can't have time off work, can't financially take time off from work, or can't afford a lawyer while risking taking a day off from work and losing your case. With all that in account they figure it is easier for you as the tax payer to reach in your pocket and fork over the $400. Then again, there is always fighting it souly on principle... good luck I would be annoyed too if I were you...

Julia M

I think that if they have a picture of you running the light, then you're going to have to pay it. Most yellow lights here (California) are 3 seconds, so 4 isn't that short. The catch is that if you can prove that your front two tires were over the line before the light turned red, you're safe, again, that's in California any way.

trickygirlb

Ugh, tickets! I just got one for making an illegal U-turn, don't remember seeing the no U-turn sign. The thing is they have you on camera whether you remember or not. You could try and contact a lawyer who deal with traffic citations or call the court and ask if they having any programs for reducing the fee and keeping it off of your driving record such a deferred disposition, which is basically probation meaning you have to keep from getting any tickets within a certain time period, or ask about taking a defensive driving class, the nice thing about that is you can use it for the ticket and it also lowers our auto insurance rate, but it is a bore! Good Luck!

Phishin1138

That sounds ridiculous. I would try to contest it.. $400 seems a little steep!

rasberry003

The same thing happened to me, only I was completely stopped behind the line. I then preceded to make a right turn while the cars traveling North and South were turning. There was no sign stating not to make turns on red. I tried to look the division that sent this to me up using the URL they gave me, but it didn't exist. I sent in for the ticket to be changed to my name because I was driving a friends car and never received anything back. A few months later I received a notice saying I missed a court date and that I need to pay 400 bail. What kind of crap is that?

laughter_every_day

the normal yellow light is 3.9 seconds. If there is a picture or you entering the intersection .6 seconds after it turned red, you are likely to be convicted unless it wasn't you who was driving. Pay it or try it. Should be the same sentence.

ibu guru

The photographs are evidence which will convict you in court. Maybe an attorney can help you out with this or at least negotiate a reduced fine if you have no prior moving violations. Otherwise, you are cooked and you must pay.

From now on pay much closer attention to your driving. Especially make sure you do not talk on your cell, eat or get involved in any other sort of distraction while driving!

marguerite L

Tough one. If it was $40 I'd say "pay it" and slow down at intersections. However, with $400 at stake I'd probably want to fight it. Of course, without an attorney you may not fare well, but getting a lawyer may cost more than the $400 you want to save.

If you have a little time, you may want to do some research as far as similar cases in the same jurisdiction and see whether you can glean any ideas. When I was a realtor I had several friends who were attorneys (they prepared the deeds, etc.) and I'd sometimes get little hints for free over a drink or breakfast at the Chamber of Commerce.

If you end up paying it, you might be able to write it off as a business expense on your taxes IF you were on business at the time. (Check with your accountant on that, though.)

I tend to stop whenever I get a yellow light as I was hit several years ago by someone trying to run the yellow but actually going thru AFTER the light turned red.

Sorry I can't be more helpful. Good luck.

gogogetm

There is no harm in trying to fight it. Go to the court date and they will probably drop the fine by half just because you showed up.

You can say that it was yellow when you last looked at it. If your car enters the intersection before the light changes to red, they you are safe. You could say that the timing was too close and the yellow light is shorter compared to others in the area (if it is true)

I would at least give it a try. That is worth a little time of missed work to save $200.

!truth!

Get a traffic lawyer and fight it, if you really believe that you are not guilty. You may be able to find a lawyer to do it pro-bono.

Spindrift

A lot of that is fraudulent; they have the lights rigged to catch people and get the money so check it out first and fight it in court. Outrageous.

Steve H

You don't say what state you are in, so here is some very general information. It may or may not apply to you, but it will give you a starting place.

Most of these camera systems are run by private companies contracted by the state or city. These are not criminal offenses, but civil ones. The burden is on THEM to prove that the system was operating properly and was set up in accordance with the contract that they have with the governmental agency that contracted them.

These companies get a percentage of the fines collected. They have financial incentive to make "mistakes" in their favor.

The link below is for California, but it is where I learned a lot when red light cameras came to Texas.

Good luck!

Joy

Go to court and tell them the light was yellow when you went through it and hope that they are lenient. Is the picture from the front showing you going head on into the red light or is it the tail end of your car? That may make a difference but usually they don't care about people and will make you pay.

CuriousG1

damn where do you live $400.00? here in NY is a $60 ticket

Sahara

Fight it. I saw an article about some places changing the light to catch drivers so they can raise money. I saw this in the past couple of weeks.

Maybe check out cnn.com or msnbc.com.

That doesn't sound right. It's worth checking into.

daisy

they gotcha. pay the ticket. four seconds is sufficient time to recognize and stop for a yellow light unless of course you are doing the opposite and speeding up to try to beat it. Yellow doesn't mean hurry up, it means "caution, slow down and stop." The opposing green light would have been activated for the same .6 seconds that your red light was active, so the "other guy" could have been gunning his car to get through his green light and would have t-boned you. Either way you would be at fault. Sorry about the fine, but that's the law.

True1480

Don't respond. They can't prove that you ever received it in the mail, unless they hand deliver it to you.

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