I got busted by a red light camera in my crossfire. My dad got the picture and ticket in the mail today. He's pretty pissed. I fu*kin hate those cameras. I remember when it happened to. IT was one of those situations where it yellow but you cant brake without really pressing hard, so i just went through. The funny thing is, the entire front of my car isn't even in the picture. The back bumper is only showing. Which means more than half my car was already across the intersection when it turned red. What bullsh*t.

 

Sorry to hear about your bad luck. Now you know why states require front license plates, so they can collect more money from the driving public. They now use traffic tickets as a means of generating income.

I don't know where you're from, but here in LA the city was busted for shortening the length of the YELLOW light at intersections which were equipped with cameras, thus increasing the amount of tickets given. I would go to the intersection, bring a stop watch with 10ths and time the yellow light. Then go to a few different intersections without cameras and time them.

If the length of the yellow light is shorter at the intersection with the camera, you can beat the case by citing the Los Angeles case, in which the city was sued for improper practices, hell, you may even make some money by suing them if you can prove they shorten yellow lights at intersections with traffic cameras. I'm sure you can find documentation at this website: http://www.highwayrobbery.net/

 

i live in delaware, do you know the time intervals for yellow lights in DE. That way i'll go time them.

 

OMG, i am really pissed off now. I just got the pictures from my dad, and the pics show that i STOPPED and then took off at a red light. I know there is no way i did that. The only explanation i can think of is that the light was red and i was stopped. Then the left turn people went on a green light. There light turned red, so i took my foot off the brake and creped forward, knowing the light would turn green. Maybe i creped a little too much. I mean this is a matter of a few inches probably. Im guessing i just stepped into the radar zone of whatever. Anyway the light turns green so i go. I didn't RUN the red light. I'm guessing i just barely moved into the radar zone anticipating the green light. If this is not the case, then i'm being scammed by the state, in which case i would like to know whether you guys think i have a chance in court?

 

Go to court!

I would, it is the principal not the money.

 

Ah, I think UR FD'... Plead it down to failure to make a complete stop, eg. "a rolling stop". If you rolled into the intersection before the light turned green, then timing the yellow is useless... Sorry bubba... The best you can hope for is MERCY !!! But after the national news report last week about the study of teenage drivers and the statistics of their killing more people than the Hiroshima Bomb, I doubt you'll have a compassionate judge...

 

I think all lights should have cameras, I was hit by truck that failed to stop ,totaled the rental car i was in. another 6 inches and I probably would not be typing this now. I also think people should get ticketed for driving in the left lane SLOW, as well as the people who race around them on the right.
As George Carlin says there are only two kinds of drivers, Maniacs and idiots. A maniac is any body passing you and an idiot is anybody in front of you.

 

Viper,

I would ask my solicitor for advice, provided it would cost less than the ticket. Sounds like you should reply/go to court and explain that the picture was taken because you rolled forward - the pictures support that. Like HDDP says though, you will need a lenient judge. Good luck.

 

Irafatsar

I disagree, some people stop short at these camera lights! I once saw a guys truck totally smash in the rear at one! And other really speed up just because they think of the fine! I was hit once buy a woman that ran a red light that was the last time I turned left without waiting for traffic to stop completely!!!
My ticket last week was at the split second from yellow to red! No way to stop unless I didn't care who was behind me! I always see the intersection traffic before entering 2 cars were in the intersection when I decided to continue instead of a quick stop. I plan to fight mine.
Good luck Viper.
Traffic tickets account for over 30 billion $$$'s in business for gov. and insurance co.

 

I couldn't have said it better myself.
I still say fight it. Only tickets I have ever paid without a fight are parking tickets.
Don't doubt yourself and be confident. You will do fine. My experience has taught me that just the fact that you are fighting it show you "BELIEVE" you are not at fault.
WE are all people and make mistakes. Most judges understand that.
I don't know if a red light camera ticket carries points. If I does I am sure you can get the points dropped, all they really want is your $$$.

 

Well If you are worried about points being taken off, you can always mail in a check that is over the amount of your ticket. They will send a check back refunding you the overage amount and just throw that check away and never cash it. They will not consider the case closed until the whole transaction is closed.

 

How about driving school, and stop behind the line. Being your age, I would opt for the school, leaving "things" open like that can come back to haunt you in the long run. The infraction will disappear if you take the right steps. If the ticket is left open like slim suggests, the ticket may not close until you get your next ticket. Then you will have two moving violations active on your record. An employee of mind did that and is currently having his wages garnished for something he thought was handled 3 years ago. $800.00 in fines and the court will not review the case due to age...

Good Luck

 

As soon as the clerk of the court cashes the check i can assure you the case is closed regardless of any overage you may have paid. This is an old urban legend...

 

Hmmm sounds like he was speeding or tailgating or both, perhaps he was on the phone or eating a his lunch. Bottom line is people don't pay attention while driving and ruin it for all of us. Liberals want government interaction until it directly affects them, and they never want to assume responsibility for their actions.
Please tell me what insurance company receives money from traffic infractions?

 

Municipalities use traffic fines for funding. Like property taxes, sales taxes etc. I'm sure you've heard of Police Quotas for traffic tickets...

You really should read the link I provided above. Especially the story about San Diego, CA and their abuse of traffic cameras and how they did an under-the-table deal with the company who installs the cameras and offered them a "commission" on all the traffic fines generated by their cameras.

I'm not coming to the defense of the poster, I drive overly safe on the streets and wish everyone else would as well... But, cities have always abused the issuance of traffic citations to generate income.

 

In general I find that California drivers should have black boxes in their cars that notify when they tailgate make improper lane changes and drive way too fast. Something has to be done to curb this blatant disregard of the traffic laws. If the government wasn't so corrupt with F****** politicians who make deals like the one you mentioned that I am very familiar with, this would not be a problem.

Simple solution STOP when told to do so.

You may not be defending the poster but you are condoning his thought process.

 

Federal, State and local governments are going to extract $$$ anyway they can. This is just another in the increasingly long line of schemes they are/will employ.

 

Yep... LA fines for these traffic camera citations are $285...

 

What I'm talking about are intersection cameras that issue a citation if a vehicle is in an intersection when the light turns red... That's all I'm talking about...

When they shorten the length of the yellow light and you are passing through the intersection at normal speeds, you'll get cited and charged $285.

These things now FORCE a driver to speed-up going through an intersection when the light turns yellow instead of proceeding with caution at the posted speed.

 

Exactly... there have been several news reports, both local and national that have addressed the issue of the short yellow at stop lights. It's strictly a money maker and nothing more than the old fashioned speed traps that used to all over the country.