kaptan
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Post by kaptan on May 8, 2014 7:53:55 GMT -5
This is a question for the lawyers in the group (or anyone who has experience with this sort of thing).
So i was driving home yesterday when part of the hydraulic system that operates my clutch broke. Pretty hard to change gears when the clutch isn't working. It broke as i was approaching a traffic light and the light turned yellow. I started to slow down but realized that i couldn't get the car out of gear and was concerned about having my car stuck in the center lane of a busy intersection. So i kept moving and i'm pretty sure i ran a red light in the process. Took my foot off the gas and coasted into a parking lot and just hit the brakes and let the car stall out and called for a tow truck. There is a camera for this intersection and i'm wondering if/how i should fight the ticket. All the advice i see online is to just wait till i get the ticket in the mail and then respond to it with some 'this is unconstitutional' and 'good luck proving that it me driving at that time'. Or do i explain my case and admit that i did run the light, but it was caused by mechanical failure of my car?
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on May 8, 2014 7:56:23 GMT -5
I wouldn't actually admit you ran the light. I'd wait for the ticket and contest stating "I had mechanical issues. Here are copies of the bills." and work with whomever. Here, if you can prove there's a mechanical issue, which you've since corrected, you usually get some kind of break.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on May 8, 2014 7:58:59 GMT -5
Those are rapidly being dismantled as they are legally unconstitutional and an obvious money grab. I'd fight them on that basis. My aunt went down and timed the lights and they yellows were faster to garner those fees. She was successful in getting them removed.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2014 8:19:32 GMT -5
I would just pay it and move on with life. It doesn't come with points and doesn't go on your record. Time is money.
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Peace77
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Post by Peace77 on May 8, 2014 8:23:44 GMT -5
If the light was yellow, you may not get a ticket. Wait and see. If you do, there are no points against your license and the fees are usually small.
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Regis
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Post by Regis on May 8, 2014 8:43:44 GMT -5
Had a similar situation a couple of winters ago. About the time I came to the intersection, the light turned yellow. I hit my brakes to stop but it was sleeting out and the roadway was ice-covered. I started to slide into the intersection and, instead of coming to a stop in the intersection, hit the gas and went on through. Got a ticket in the mail shortly afterwards. Called the police department and explained the situation. They forgave the ticket as they had remembered the treacherous road conditions on that day.
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JustLurkin
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Post by JustLurkin on May 8, 2014 9:57:08 GMT -5
I wouldn't actually admit you ran the light. I'd wait for the ticket and contest stating "I had mechanical issues. Here are copies of the bills." and work with whomever. Here, if you can prove there's a mechanical issue, which you've since corrected, you usually get some kind of break.
I ran a light once moving out the way of an ambulance, guess they figured it out because I never got the ticket. As has been mentioned, the day off work is more than the ticket--which is probably what they are banking on.
I wouldn't discuss the Constitution unless you really know what you are talking about...some judges enjoy the banter, be prepared to banter back.
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on May 8, 2014 10:05:55 GMT -5
I would just pay it and move on with life. It doesn't come with points and doesn't go on your record. Time is money. Or just don't pay it. It isn't any different than a parking ticket & they won't do anything unless you have several. My boss is a traffic engineer & refused to pay his, just ignored it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2014 10:16:03 GMT -5
I would just pay it and move on with life. It doesn't come with points and doesn't go on your record. Time is money. Or just don't pay it. It isn't any different than a parking ticket & they won't do anything unless you have several. My boss is a traffic engineer & refused to pay his, just ignored it. I'd check on that. I got a speed camera ticket that I never received in the mail. When I got the notice that it wasn't paid, the fine had doubled and if it wasn't paid in so much time, my registration would be suspended.
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Angel!
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Post by Angel! on May 8, 2014 10:22:09 GMT -5
Or just don't pay it. It isn't any different than a parking ticket & they won't do anything unless you have several. My boss is a traffic engineer & refused to pay his, just ignored it. I'd check on that. I got a speed camera ticket that I never received in the mail. When I got the notice that it wasn't paid, the fine had doubled and if it wasn't paid in so much time, my registration would be suspended. Yeah, I suppose that probably varies a lot by location.
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on May 8, 2014 11:14:15 GMT -5
Those are rapidly being dismantled as they are legally unconstitutional and an obvious money grab. I'd fight them on that basis. My aunt went down and timed the lights and they yellows were faster to garner those fees. She was successful in getting them removed. I am glad to hear this. I'm not worried about running red lights, but having cameras everywhere these days kind of creeps me out.
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justme
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Post by justme on May 8, 2014 11:40:36 GMT -5
My problem with those light is they can cause, especially if they've shortened the yellow light, accidents. I was driving once and the light turned yellow, wasn't sure if I'd make it across in time, so I opted to stop. Didn't have to slam on the breaks, but it wasn't a gradual stop either. The guy behind me must have thought I would run it and had sped up to follow. The road was still a little wet from rain a couple hours earlier. Next thing I know I see the guy sliding out into the turn lane to avoid me - and the guy behind him too! - as I'm praying they don't keep sliding and hit me.
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greeniis10
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Post by greeniis10 on May 8, 2014 11:53:00 GMT -5
For those that dislike the red light cameras, we found out by accident a way around that: put one of those plastic license plate covers over your plate. The camera flash creates a glare and you cannot read the license plate in the picture, so no way to track you down.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on May 8, 2014 12:53:02 GMT -5
I'd make sure I saved any documentation about the tow or repair bills someplace where I could find them (I have the attention span of gnat and while I do have a filing system for important papers sometimes I slip up and this particular thing would be something I would make an effort to not slip up <-- this is just me though and other people don't seem to have this problem) Just in case I wanted to contest the ticket IF (and that's a huge IF) a ticket comes in the mail. I'd then wait for the ticket - that most likely will never arrive. The thing with stop light/speed zone cameras is that someone (a human) needs to review the video (alot of human error). And don't forget that if you were already in the intersection or just hitting the intersection as the light went yellow - you shouldn't get a ticket - because that's NOT running a red light. Of course, if you have a warrent out for your arrest OR you have shady relatives/friends OR you already are engaged in illegal dealings... maybe you should worry. <-- this is what I tell my paranoid straight laced friend when she starts pointing out police cars while we're driving (they are just waiting for her to go 1 mile over the speed limit) OR when she stops on a green light because the light is going to go yellow and she doesn't want to get a ticket for 'running a red light'. I often ask her if there's something I should know about (warrent? drugs in the trunk? dead body recently carried in trunk??) or maybe what my story should be when the cops come to get her...
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on May 8, 2014 12:58:46 GMT -5
I would just pay it and move on with life. It doesn't come with points and doesn't go on your record. Time is money. Or just don't pay it. It isn't any different than a parking ticket & they won't do anything unless you have several. My boss is a traffic engineer & refused to pay his, just ignored it. I'd be careful about not paying a ticket - even a parking one. They often start accumulating fees. And eventually, you will need to sell the car or get a city sticker or switch insurance agencies (when the new insurance company will pull your info and may see the outstanding $$$) and some official type person/company is going to REJECT your sale, not give you a sticker or give you insurance when they see the outstanding $$ you owe. My brother couldn't close on his HOUSE!!- the City wouldn't sign off on some paperwork (the tags?stickers? final inspection) until he cleared the outstanding 4K in parking tickets/fees he and his family had accumulated over the years. But, of course, it depends on your area...
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mollyanna58
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Post by mollyanna58 on May 8, 2014 13:02:29 GMT -5
If the light was yellow, you may not get a ticket. Wait and see. If you do, there are no points against your license and the fees are usually small. Depends on where you live. In NJ, "disregard of a traffic control device" is a 2 point ticket, and raises insurance rates.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2014 13:04:52 GMT -5
If the light was yellow, you may not get a ticket. Wait and see. If you do, there are no points against your license and the fees are usually small. Depends on where you live. In NJ, "disregard of a traffic control device" is a 2 point ticket, and raises insurance rates. how can you get points with a camera ticket? they have no proof of who was driving at the time.
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mollyanna58
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Post by mollyanna58 on May 8, 2014 13:09:32 GMT -5
Sorry - I was thinking about running a red light in general, not specifically for the camera ticket.
However, when a parking ticket goes unpaid, the vehicle owner's license can be suspended, so maybe the camera ticket is the same.
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kaptan
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Post by kaptan on May 8, 2014 13:14:16 GMT -5
Thanks for replies everyone. Hopefully i won't even get anything in the mail. If i do, i'll at least make a call to explain the circumstances and hopefully get it reviewed. If my only option is to go to court to fight it....i'll just pay the fine and move on with my life. Didn't know that there are no points or insurance repurcussions, so i guess that's a positive. If i wasn't already over the line, i was within a few feet. And i had already started to slow down so i was 5 under the speed limit when i crossed the intersection. Not like i sped up to 70 just to make the light.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on May 8, 2014 13:34:50 GMT -5
Thanks for replies everyone. Hopefully i won't even get anything in the mail. If i do, i'll at least make a call to explain the circumstances and hopefully get it reviewed. If my only option is to go to court to fight it....i'll just pay the fine and move on with my life. Didn't know that there are no points or insurance repurcussions, so i guess that's a positive. If i wasn't already over the line, i was within a few feet. And i had already started to slow down so i was 5 under the speed limit when i crossed the intersection. Not like i sped up to 70 just to make the light. Are you sure about the 'points/insurance repercussions' for YOUR area? I wouldn't assume anything. Kinda like how my brother's parking tickets came back to haunt him when selling his HOUSE. That's probably not something that happens in every town/village/county/city across the US. I had a ticket for running a Stop Sign and it effected my insurance. I didn't really blow thru the Stop Sign. I slowed down, came ALMOST to a stop and when I didn't see any other cars (missed the Cop behind me!) I went on my merry way - as I (and most drivers in my neighborhood) usually do. There are stop signs on EVERY residential street corner. If it's 4 blocks to a 'main residential' street - you got 4 stop signs. The only one that the locals consider coming to a FULL stop at would be the one at the main residential street. The others are 'stop tional'. If you don't see any coming cars or cross traffic cars at the stop you brake, come almost to a stop as you 'roll' past the cross walk and then go on your merry way. I know. I know. It's not right but that's the way it is when EVERY corner has a stop sign.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2014 13:39:07 GMT -5
Thanks for replies everyone. Hopefully i won't even get anything in the mail. If i do, i'll at least make a call to explain the circumstances and hopefully get it reviewed. If my only option is to go to court to fight it....i'll just pay the fine and move on with my life. Didn't know that there are no points or insurance repurcussions, so i guess that's a positive. If i wasn't already over the line, i was within a few feet. And i had already started to slow down so i was 5 under the speed limit when i crossed the intersection. Not like i sped up to 70 just to make the light. Are you sure about the 'points/insurance repercussions' for YOUR area? I wouldn't assume anything. Kinda like how my brother's parking tickets came back to haunt him when selling his HOUSE. That's probably not something that happens in every town/village/county/city across the US. I had a ticket for running a Stop Sign and it effected my insurance. I didn't really blow thru the Stop Sign. I slowed down, came ALMOST to a stop and when I didn't see any other cars (missed the Cop behind me!) I went on my merry way - as I (and most drivers in my neighborhood) usually do. There are stop signs on EVERY residential street corner. If it's 4 blocks to a 'main residential' street - you got 4 stop signs. The only one that the locals consider coming to a FULL stop at would be the one at the main residential street. The others are 'stop tional'. If you don't see any coming cars or cross traffic cars at the stop you brake, come almost to a stop as you 'roll' past the cross walk and then go on your merry way. I know. I know. It's not right but that's the way it is when EVERY corner has a stop sign. yes because you personally were given a ticket by a cop. they knew exactly who the driver was. with a red light or speed camera they only know who the vehicle is registered to , they have no way of proving a specific person was the driver.
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tloonya
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Post by tloonya on May 8, 2014 13:40:14 GMT -5
Those are rapidly being dismantled as they are legally unconstitutional and an obvious money grab. I'd fight them on that basis. My aunt went down and timed the lights and they yellows were faster to garner those fees. She was successful in getting them removed. We have one of those. We paid ticket but next time were watching that light like hawks. It lets 1.5 car pass. And if you had never watched that - you would think it will let a few cars to pass. No freaking way! We paid $100 and forgot about it. Now when you said it I want to know - where do I write complaint?
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tloonya
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Post by tloonya on May 8, 2014 13:41:58 GMT -5
I would just pay it and move on with life. It doesn't come with points and doesn't go on your record. Time is money. Yep! Like if person is retired for an example.
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reader79
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Post by reader79 on May 8, 2014 14:10:19 GMT -5
Those plastic license plate covers are illegal in my state. I guess too many people figured out that trick.
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whoami
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Post by whoami on May 8, 2014 14:25:18 GMT -5
Red light camera tix are $75 here.
Dont pay them and you cant register your car.
I got pulled over at 2 am for running a red light one night. I driving home from the airport after having flown all over the country trying to get home. The car was on cruise because its easy to speed on the road I was driving. I thought I would make the light but I didn't. It was only me and the cop on the road. It cost me $210. If I paid within 10 days in full, and behaved for 90 days, it wouldn't go on my driving record. I plead no contest, paid the fine and behaved. My only concern was keeping it off my insurance. Camera tix don't count against anyone's license, you just cant register your car if there are any fines pending on your license plate. That might also include toll tag.
Personally, Id pay the fine and leave it at that. Not worth the hassle. There will likely be 10000 people in court all with sob stories...the judge doesn't care about any of them.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on May 8, 2014 15:09:08 GMT -5
Next time you drive through take out your trusty Glock and eliminate the camera. Its a Smith.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on May 8, 2014 15:10:24 GMT -5
They make sure it's no points so people will quietly just pay it.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on May 8, 2014 15:12:17 GMT -5
My problem with those light is they can cause, especially if they've shortened the yellow light, accidents. I was driving once and the light turned yellow, wasn't sure if I'd make it across in time, so I opted to stop. Didn't have to slam on the breaks, but it wasn't a gradual stop either. The guy behind me must have thought I would run it and had sped up to follow. The road was still a little wet from rain a couple hours earlier. Next thing I know I see the guy sliding out into the turn lane to avoid me - and the guy behind him too! - as I'm praying they don't keep sliding and hit me. Yes, and then they can ticket those who hit you. Another money maker.
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JustLurkin
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Post by JustLurkin on May 8, 2014 19:11:32 GMT -5
They've taken them out of major intersections in my area, too many people stopping short and being hit by tractor trailers.
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8 Bit WWBG
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Post by 8 Bit WWBG on May 8, 2014 20:36:54 GMT -5
I second making a case based on the mechanical records. Those judges have heard every excuse in the book. If you can at least prove yours, you might have a shot.
Though it also depends on the cost to fight vs. pay. For a $40 ticket, the sheer value of your time probably makes fighting the ticket not worthwhile. For a $150 ticket, its another matter.
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