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Red Light Ticket
- Thread starter PotRoastMan
- Start date
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Insane Jane
Member
You don't see where the OP posted what?
You replied as I was typing.
Zigner
Senior Member, Non-Attorney
The information I quoted was in the first post of the thread...
You're really not making much sense.
Insane Jane
Member
Thank you for pointing that out. I missed it.
Not to drag this out, but the OP from his view point may have only been able to see the yellow while the view point from behind his vehicle may have had the angle to show the light changing from yellow to Red. This happens often and can be a reasonable defense.
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Zigner
Senior Member, Non-Attorney
That's not a defense, reasonable or otherwise. I don't know why you think it is. Again, you're really not making sense.
PotRoastMan
Junior Member
OP here.
My memory was that it was yellow until I got about half way through the intersection. I would have sworn under oath that it was a hard fact and the cop pulled me over mistakenly. I even told the cop that it was yellow (and while he's under no obligation to give me a warning, i am sure if I had apologized instead of saying 'it was yellow' he may have been more forgiving).
It was not until I viewed the video at the police station that I saw that it turned read less than a second before I entered the intersection. (Like I said, he had to play it frame by frame to show me).
But the fact is, cop wasn't wrong and i ran the red.
So there is no defense. My hope was, a judge or something, the "mood of the court", would be sympathetic to it being such a close call. But it sounds like probably not.
Some fraction of a second is costing me $128.
My memory was that it was yellow until I got about half way through the intersection. I would have sworn under oath that it was a hard fact and the cop pulled me over mistakenly. I even told the cop that it was yellow (and while he's under no obligation to give me a warning, i am sure if I had apologized instead of saying 'it was yellow' he may have been more forgiving).
It was not until I viewed the video at the police station that I saw that it turned read less than a second before I entered the intersection. (Like I said, he had to play it frame by frame to show me).
But the fact is, cop wasn't wrong and i ran the red.
So there is no defense. My hope was, a judge or something, the "mood of the court", would be sympathetic to it being such a close call. But it sounds like probably not.
Some fraction of a second is costing me $128.
PotRoastMan
Junior Member
This is semantics, but a yellow light means only that traffic facing the light is “warned” that a red light will soon follow. Some lights last 2 seconds, some last up to close to 10 seconds around here. Maybe there should be more standardization in these timings so we know what to expect at any given intersection. This intersection is extremely short light, incredibly easy for the cops to catch 100 people here every day if they wanted. Bordering entrapment if you ask me. 
Not a defense, just a discussion.
Not a defense, just a discussion.
Zigner
Senior Member, Non-Attorney
This is semantics, but a yellow light means only that traffic facing the light is “warned” that a red light will soon follow. Some lights last 2 seconds, some last up to close to 10 seconds around here. Maybe there should be more standardization in these timings so we know what to expect at any given intersection. This intersection is extremely short light, incredibly easy for the cops to catch 100 people here every day if they wanted. Bordering entrapment if you ask me.
Not a defense, just a discussion.
As I recall, you basically stated that you COULD have stopped, you just didn't want to topple your (improperly secured) load.
PotRoastMan
Junior Member
Maybe.. But I could have just as easily sped up a bit and been in the clear. It is a 55 mph highway turning onto a 40mph county road. I wasn't going near that fast, maybe 25-30. A fraction of a second in either way would have made the difference for me. One second sooner and I would have stopped, one later and I'd have been fine.
What a bummer.
What a bummer.
PotRoastMan
Junior Member
Thanks.
In my few decades of driving I have realized a few things. 1) Traffic is not going away. 2) Other drivers will do things that are illegal or annoy/bother me. And 3) this will never change.
The only solution; Don't let it bother you. You'll be much happier.
I am done as well! Thanks.
In my few decades of driving I have realized a few things. 1) Traffic is not going away. 2) Other drivers will do things that are illegal or annoy/bother me. And 3) this will never change.
The only solution; Don't let it bother you. You'll be much happier.
I am done as well! Thanks.