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Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 3:03:47 PM   
anthrosub


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I received the citation in the mail complete with photos of my car.  I called the police and asked why I was ticketed and they reviewed the photos with me over the phone.  They said because my car doesn't look like it's turning they have to consider it a violation.  The fact that my turn signal is obvious in the photo doesn't count.
 
I have heard from another who was ticketed because he was unable to make a left turn due to oncoming traffic and the light turned red before he could clear the intersection.
 
This is a perfect example of what happens when you take a system that works in absolutes and apply it to a very grey world with lots of variables.  Red light cameras are all the rage in metropolitan areas now.  I live in Montgomery County, Maryland which is the pilot county for the state.  It's a shame that they haven't seen the numerous studies that show red light cameras make intersections more dangerous because people will start slamming on their brakes on a yellow light.
 
Over time, people become so aware of them they start avoiding the intersections or driving through them very carefully so the expected revenue starts going south.  That's the real reason they were installed in the first place.  Dallas, Texas has pulled the plug on their system entirely to generate more cash.  It's an article on MSNBC from a couple weeks ago.

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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 3:06:07 PM   
Owner59


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ouch!

That`s points ,a hefty fine and a ser-charge here.

Fight it!

Good luck.

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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 3:17:12 PM   
Smith117


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Just get a lawyer. They can clear it up easy, especially with proof. The signal may not have been sufficient to prevent issuing a ticket, but it will easily get a dismissal in court.

Here they had the cameras for awhile....then shut them down because the cost of running them (supposed to have been paid by ALL the nefarious red light runners' tickets) was exceeding what they were making. (People didn't run the lights enough, I guess.)

The funnier thing here is, if a cop sees you run a light, that's like a $270 fine and likely points on your license (got one like that, got it dismissed ;) ), however, if the cameras see you do it, it's a "civil fine" of only $75. Sheeesh, my lawyers charges that for a ticket......talk about imbalanced.

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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 3:17:27 PM   
anthrosub


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No points will be on my record but I'm out $75.  But it's still unfair.

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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 3:19:15 PM   
Smith117


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quote:

ORIGINAL: anthrosub

No points will be on my record but I'm out $75.  But it's still unfair.


Yeah, the $75 fines are lame. You have to represent yourself or you're still out the $75 for a lawyer. It's retarded.

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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 3:20:18 PM   
CalifChick


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Just go to court and tell it to the judge.  He'll probably dismiss it.  As far as not making it thru a left turn before the light goes red, you actually are not supposed to enter the intersection until it is clear to make your turn, in case the light does turn red.  Just like if you are going straight thru the intersection but traffic in front of you is backed up, even though your light is green you have to stay put until you can make it all the way thru.  So on that one, your friend was wrong.

Cali


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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 3:24:06 PM   
anthrosub


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quote:

ORIGINAL: CalifChick

Just go to court and tell it to the judge.  He'll probably dismiss it.  As far as not making it thru a left turn before the light goes red, you actually are not supposed to enter the intersection until it is clear to make your turn, in case the light does turn red.  Just like if you are going straight thru the intersection but traffic in front of you is backed up, even though your light is green you have to stay put until you can make it all the way thru.  So on that one, your friend was wrong.

Cali



Never heard that one before and I've been driving for over 35 years.  I always pull into the intersection and if I can't make the turn, do so when the light turns yellow and cars start slowing down.  It's the only way to get through in heavily congested traffic.
 
Where I live there are a lot of immigrants who do what you say.  They end up sitting at the light for several cycles until a chance opening presents itself.

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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 3:24:56 PM   
Smith117


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quote:

ORIGINAL: CalifChick

Just go to court and tell it to the judge.  He'll probably dismiss it.  As far as not making it thru a left turn before the light goes red, you actually are not supposed to enter the intersection until it is clear to make your turn, in case the light does turn red.  Just like if you are going straight thru the intersection but traffic in front of you is backed up, even though your light is green you have to stay put until you can make it all the way thru.  So on that one, your friend was wrong.

Cali



Ohhh I missed that part. Yep, I was even told once that moving into an intersection was a "cheater way" to run the light. A cop my not ticket you for the running, but in theory you are causing a disturbance in the traffic flow so he can get you. I always hated seeing people pull out like that because they were always in my way if they didn't get to turn right away. Some nearly cause wrecks.

There's an intersection a block north of here that, I swear, people's IQ's just drop into the basement when they get to it. I've sat and sat and sat through 3 cycles of lights because the morons pull righ up to the car in front of them, even though it's clear they're blocking the intersection. On the third go-round, I rolled my window down to, I think, an eclipse next to me and said "Dude, if they pull that shit again, I'm going, red or not."

He just nodded and on the next cycle, we didn't get "stuck."

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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 3:28:00 PM   
Smith117


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quote:

ORIGINAL: anthrosub

Never heard that one before and I've been driving for over 35 years.  I always pull into the intersection and if I can't make the turn, do so when the light turns yellow and cars start slowing down.  It's the only way to get through in heavily congested traffic.
 
Where I live there are a lot of immigrants who do what you say.  They end up sitting at the light for several cycles until a chance opening presents itself.


The problem with your method, is it is still technically illegal. And if one of those cars you thought was "slowing down" didn't, and ended up hitting you....you're at fault for not yielding right of way. I've had two people I know have wrecks like that. One was listed as at fault in the wreck for not yielding, the other, however, had the lights on his side because the other guy clearly had a red and not a yellow.

You have to be careful thinking you can make a quick turn on yellow. In most places I've lived, yellow was "floor it and make it quick." Which, of course is the reason for the traffic cameras in the first place.....too many people 'flooring it' when they had no chance of making the light.

Yellow means slow down. It doesn't mean "floor it." And it certainly doesn't mean "pull out so that you have no choice but to turn anyway."

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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 3:39:07 PM   
Mercnbeth


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~ Ditto to Owner - Fight it!

quote:

They said because my car doesn't look like it's turning they have to consider it a violation.  The fact that my turn signal is obvious in the photo doesn't count.
"Doesn't look like" is a vague statement. How wide did you turn? Considering that people drive for miles with their turn signal on would de-value the turn signal point.
.
In LA they had to toss out thousands of violations, because it was determined that the camera and light were not synchronized. It was discovered because somebody raised the point in fighting a ticket. In all these cases the prosecution has the burden of proof. The expectation is that you won't spend the time or effort to fight. My experience is that if you show up on the day of trial, the prosecutor will first try to 'settle' the case for a fine, sometimes MORE than the original violation, but excluding points. You'd be surprised how many just jump at that "deal".

As with most government bureaucracy - it serves itself. It doesn't hold up to scrutiny or challenge, but the cost of scrutiny and challenge usually exceeds the fine; especially when you consider the time/effort required.

The "system" works because people are lazy and don't challenge. It is so prevalent out in CA they sell books about fighting these tickets: http://www.redlightcameraticket.com/ 

Good Luck!

< Message edited by Mercnbeth -- 4/7/2008 3:41:55 PM >

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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 3:43:38 PM   
faerytattoodgirl


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and people wonder why ill never own a car or have a license.

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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 4:22:00 PM   
popeye1250


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Take a white sheet and put it in your trunk and leave enough hanging out to obscure your lisense plate.

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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 4:49:14 PM   
pahunkboy


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From: Central Pennsylvania
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If it were me...Ild pay it and be done with it.

$75 is CHEAP...as far as traffic tickets go.  they start at $132.50 in PA. 

they want to do cameras here as well.  to control crime...

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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 4:54:29 PM   
KyttynTheMynx


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quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250

Take a white sheet and put it in your trunk and leave enough hanging out to obscure your lisense plate.


Thats another ticket. 


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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 5:01:40 PM   
seeksfemslave


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Anthro. I dont think you have given us enough to go on.
Did you enter the junction when the exit was blocked, or when oncoming traffic stopped you making an exit from the intersection.
Careful now, think lol

Shit forget this, you lot drive on the wrong side of the road dont you. My mistake. Your right turn translates to our left turn.

< Message edited by seeksfemslave -- 4/7/2008 5:24:49 PM >

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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 5:20:49 PM   
ThinkingKitten


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The burden of proof is on them. Can they prove you DID go straight through the intersection?

And yes, I agree with the other comments - you're not supposed to enter an intersection for any reason, at any time, unless your exit is clear. In reality that might make getting through a busy intersection virtually impossible, and lead to huge amounts of road rage....... but it is the traffic code.

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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 5:22:31 PM   
Termyn8or


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Wait here. Opinions aside, let's get to the facts.

If you make a right on red the camera does not get the back of your car. If it does it should be clearly noted that it is from a camera mounted at 90 degrees. If they only have a photo of the front of your car they have nothing.

I make it a point to know how to drive. The left turn issue is a big one, and is widely misunderstood. There is a line which is behind the crosswalk at an intersection. Once you cross that line you have entered the intersection. When the light changes red you are required to clear the intersection, and the traffic that is about to proceed is bound by law in most states to not enter the intersection until it is clear.

That means at least one person can make a left turn every time the light changes. This FACT also means that if they put a line way before the crosswalk, and they will do that because of a few reasons, perhaps the existence of a driveway or it is a narrow road onto which busses or trucks frequently turn.

When they do that and you are going to make a legal right turn on red, you are required to come to a complete stop before crossing the line, otherwise you are guilty of running a red light. Another law in Ohio at least is about driveways.

Very few people seem to know this, if you set the vehicle in motion even on private property, i.e. your driveway, consider there to be an imaginary stop sign at the sidewalk, unless your vehicle started out from less than seven feet from the sidewalk.

Another thing people seem to miss is that if you are turning left a car to your right has the right of way. I can understand people not getting this one, because it is a bit hard to describe. If you are on the road, and you are going to make a left. There is no traffic light, just a stop sign for traffic coming out of the street onto which you are going to turn left.

Now for example if there is a car sitting there waiting to make a left turn onto the street off of which you are about to turn, you have the right of way. You go first and it does not matter if there are any stop signs or the poor guy has been sitting there for a long time. The rules of the road do not change.

If they taught all this to new drivers, how many would take it to heart and adibe by it ?

The new way of law enforcement is if you been caught once you have done it many times before. So if they really do nail you and you are really innocent, think of that time you ran a stop sign and then said "Oh, shit, I could be dead right now". It happens all the time.

They have it all screwed up, expecting the system to work right is unrealistic.

You can beat some speeding tickets in Ohio, wanna know how ? IN WRITING present a request to see the traffic study done before they set the speed limit. Over 90% of the time the case will simply be dismissed. Because of Lynndale, one of our most popular speed traps, they passed this legislation. Their motives ? you figure it out. They have been trying to wipe that town out of existence for decades.

Thing is too, when you are in the wrong there are ways to fight, but you never use them when you are in the right. When you are in the right there are ways to beat them, and contrary to popular belief, they don't like the challenge. They will move on to easier prey. That is what bullies and cowards do.

I mean once you beat them once they have a tendency to leave you alone. Of course a camera can't do that.

And, if they won't capitulate, subpeona the camera itself into court, you do have the right to face your accuser correct ? That's about like someone calling for the breathalyzer in a DUI case. You get the person who administered the test on the stand to testify that they have not been drinking, and this is an officer of the court. Tell them to plug in the machine and blow into it. If it reads anything other than 000 you get off, and if you don't you will get of on appeals and be able to sue for a tort.

Likewise if you get a speeding ticket, subpeona the cop's radar gun. Have him explain how he went to classes to learn how to use the thing, assert that he an officer of the court, and that this is actually the device which provded the evidence against you. Then get him to point it across the room and pull the trigger. If it reads anything other than 0 MPH you are off the hook.

This works on damnear everything, because in the program these machines there is actually a subroutine that is designed to lie. This applies to breathalyzers and radar guns, and more frightening, voting machines.

You can beat the machine, but so few people are adept at it. They count on this. But the thing is to know when you are really guilty and they got you dead to rights. Do not fool yourself, they might show you pictures that prove you ran that redlight. If they have footage of a highspeed chase, you are not going to win. Whether you take the breathalyzer or not, if they have a video of you falling all over the place, forget it.

If you are guilty you fight in different ways. The idea becomes minimization of the consequences, but it is very important that you do not fool yourself.

I rode with people and said "Pick a lane" and they were very adamant that they were in their lane, but the line was lined up with the hood ornament of the car. Same person,"You shouldn't put the car from reverse to drive without coming to a stop", response "I don't do that" and I just witnessed them doing it !

Realize that what they have on you is not based on your perception, it is based on theirs.

When you can beat them people, have at it, don't take those points, but if you can't handle the action, just pay the damn fine.

T

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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 5:23:17 PM   
faerytattoodgirl


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they have something called ex coppers here...who are now lawyers that help people in this type of situation.

my friend went 50 clicks over the speed limit (before new laws came in) and was going to be charged 700 bucks plus a few points off and loss of license for a week.

ex copper got him down to $200 and no points and no loss of license.

now if your 50 clicks over..due to the drag racers its a 10K fine (yes 10k) immediate loss of license and car impounded and possible jail time.
especially if your in an accident doing it.


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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 5:39:11 PM   
Tantriqu


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Red light cameras cut down pedestrian hospitalisation and accidents by 20-40%, which was the whole point; it ain't just a tax grab.  SUV's mow down people like your mom and your kids, so they found it took money penalties to get the fucking yuppies to slow down.
If you're having trouble with the yellow light timing, consider taking a Level II or III driving course:  high speed spinouts and helmets:  kewl!
Another great new law:  $150 here if you don't pull into the far left lane if there's a traffic stop on the shoulder.  Too many good people were getting injured and killed by idiots who 'didn't see them'. 

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RE: Got Red Light Citation for Legal Right Turn on Red - 4/7/2008 5:43:13 PM   
Lordandmaster


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Actually, that depends on the jurisdiction--which is FUCKING confusing.  In New York City, you can't enter the intersection until you're sure you can make your turn, as you say.  In Philadelphia, on the other hand, you're supposed to pull into the intersection and wait there until the oncoming traffic passes.  (I doubt you'd get a ticket for doing otherwise, but you sure would get a long of angry honks from the cars behind you.)

quote:

ORIGINAL: CalifChick

As far as not making it thru a left turn before the light goes red, you actually are not supposed to enter the intersection until it is clear to make your turn, in case the light does turn red.

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