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Red light camera advice please
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So, I won't bore you with all the details but got a letter from police saying i failed to stop at a red light on my motorbike, technically they are right, I didn't stop behind the white line, but i did stop over it (by about 15 feet)
Is it worth challenging this if the pics (when i get them) arrive and it shows me with my feet on the ground (hopefully) or just take it on the chin?? |
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15 feet is quite a long way. I'm no expert so I can't tell you your legal status, but I'd guess they have already taken a view on it and decided to have you. I'd be surprised if you could get away with it. Personally, I'd take the hit while the cost is fairly low. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Surely thats a typo saying 15 feet. Thats about 5 meters, your questioning going 5 meters past the white line , ????
That puts you in the middle of most standard town roads. ???"
Exactly what I was typing lol |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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So you were keeping speed limit, behind other road users, traffic was travelling, not cueing towards traffic lights. As lights changed to amber I prepared to stop, I was momentarily distracted as I viewed my mirrors for vehicles behind, so as to be aware of a possible rear end shunt, highly dangerous for a motorcycle, as I looked forward the lights were I believe red,too late to stop in emergency I braked as safely as possible to come to a stop. It does take time to focus on images in mirrors, I believe that I correctly carried out safety checks for myself in the time from amber to red on lights, it was unfortunate but do also think that other road users occasionally suffer a similar minor mistake. |
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A pretty good reply above citing safety
Red light cameras used to take 2 pictures to show someone merely overshooting the line
Use the safety excuse, if you are still in shot on the second picture and stationary, you might have a slim chance
If you’re feet up or past the second image; nope |
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"Is it worth challenging this if the pics (when i get them) arrive and it shows me with my feet on the ground (hopefully) or just take it on the chin??"
In general, it’s a driver’s obligation to stop at traffic lights unless they are on green, and it is a ‘strict liability’ offence for any part of the vehicle to pass the white stop line if a traffic light has turned either amber or red. If amber, you must stop unless you have already crossed the white line or if you are too close to stop the vehicle safely and without accident; red is stop regardless.
There are two basic defence points:
Show that you did not fail to comply with the traffic signal i.e. did not go through a red light or show that there was a defect with the traffic light or signage associated with the light
You might be able to use ‘special reasons’ to avoid licence points (but not the fine £85 - £110) such as not stopping to allow an emergency vehicle past, or to avoid a serious accident or loss of life.
My opinion; it’s not worth contesting a fixed penalty (fine plus 3 points). If the case goes to Court then the penalty can ramp up to disqualification and a fine up to £1000.
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By *ty31Man
over a year ago
NW London |
Before you do anything check the date of the Notice of Intended Prosecution against the date of the (alleged) offence. They can't legally be more that 2 weeks apart. If they are then it invalidates the Notice. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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You've got no genuine excuse for going through. You've already acknowledged that in your OP. Take your medicine and pay more attention in future. I can't see how someone riding to speed limits and the conditions, can overshoot so badly unless you've not paid attention to the lights, or they've turned amber and you thought you'd challenge them. Only to find too late that they've got a camera on. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Why didn't you stop before the line ?
Asking for legal advice on a sex forum isn't the smartest move - try legalbeagles or swarblaw.
"So, I won't bore you with all the details but got a letter from police saying i failed to stop at a red light on my motorbike, technically they are right, I didn't stop behind the white line, but i did stop over it (by about 15 feet)
Is it worth challenging this if the pics (when i get them) arrive and it shows me with my feet on the ground (hopefully) or just take it on the chin??"
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"If you stopped short of the actual junction the lights were covering, I`d argue it, if you landed in the actual junction & then potentially caused an obstruction, I think I`d take it on the chin."
In his opening post. He overshot the line by 15 feet. That's not creeping just short of the junction. |
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See what the picture shows if your feet are on the ground you could challenge it and say that slamming on would of been more dangerous but you did stop.... be it 15 feet away !..... if your feet arnt on the ground then theres no proof you stopped at all and it would just look like you kept going therefore no point and take it on the chin and stop next time |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Absolutely I’d challenge it as long as it doesn’t end up costing more if it’s rejected. You’ve nothing to lose then.
Mistakes happens.
Plus it’s amazing what you can get away with, with a well worded email  |
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"If you stopped short of the actual junction the lights were covering, I`d argue it, if you landed in the actual junction & then potentially caused an obstruction, I think I`d take it on the chin.
In his opening post. He overshot the line by 15 feet. That's not creeping just short of the junction."
Theres plenty of lights where the junctions are well past the actual lights, for busses/trucks turning, cycle boxes etc. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"If you stopped short of the actual junction the lights were covering, I`d argue it, if you landed in the actual junction & then potentially caused an obstruction, I think I`d take it on the chin.
In his opening post. He overshot the line by 15 feet. That's not creeping just short of the junction.
Theres plenty of lights where the junctions are well past the actual lights, for busses/trucks turning, cycle boxes etc."
It's irrelevant. The stop line is the absolute in this story. |
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Your best bet OP, is to acknowledge that you done wrong, take your minimal punishment and be more careful in future. If you try and get away with it by challenging it then you’re going to come off out of pocket.
Another way to think of it OP is, how would you have felt if a driver had done it and ended up hitting you? Stay safe OP x |
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"If you stopped short of the actual junction the lights were covering, I`d argue it, if you landed in the actual junction & then potentially caused an obstruction, I think I`d take it on the chin.
In his opening post. He overshot the line by 15 feet. That's not creeping just short of the junction.
Theres plenty of lights where the junctions are well past the actual lights, for busses/trucks turning, cycle boxes etc.
It's irrelevant. The stop line is the absolute in this story. "
Its not irrelevant, its factors like that that decide whether the OP put himself or others in direct danger or not, & therefore whether the case could be argued or not. |
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