Contravene Red Traffic Signal - Camera

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Tue 12 Aug 2014 14:38
Contravene Red Traffic Signal - Camera - Pinseeker

Hi - probably had the answer to this before but this one is slightly different. I have been sent notice of intended prosecution for the above 'alledged' offence - but - although the I did cross the white line, I did not go through the junction. The van came to stop about 1.5 metres over the line, the brake lights can clearly be seen on both photo's sent to me by the police thus proving what I said in the original letter of being true, I did stop but over the line.

I commented on this when replying back to them but its a ticket office and they have no say in the matter.

I am torn now between taking the offered 'driver improvement' course (£75 in Cheshire) or actually going to court to defend the action that although, yes, I crosse the line - I ddi not travel through the junction.

Very interested in what anyone has to say about this - espeacially from legal bods and others who must have been in this similar postion??

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Tue 12 Aug 2014 14:42
Contravene Red Traffic Signal - Camera - skidpan

Can you prove you did not go through the junction, do you have independant witnesses (not someone in th van). If not pay the £75 and learn to approach lights at a speed you can stop at)

When I learned to drive I was told that a green light mean't "be prepared to stop" whereas a red light mean't "stop"

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Tue 12 Aug 2014 14:51
Contravene Red Traffic Signal - Camera - Pinseeker

Thanks for that quick repsonse - the two photo's that the police have sent show that the van did not go through the junction, they also show that the brake lights were on - but the photo's were taken within the same second - in my opinion, not long enough to show that the van actually stopped?

So my question is - would the court simply say, 'you tripped the camera by going over the white line therefore guilty' or might they take in consideration the points made?

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Tue 12 Aug 2014 14:55
Contravene Red Traffic Signal - Camera - RT

In legal terms, stopping even 1cm over the line on red is just as absolute an offence as ignoring the red altogether and continuing through the junction.

In the olden days, police officers exercised "judgement" - modern cameras don't.

Personally, I'd accept the "improvement course".

Edited by RT on 12/08/2014 at 14:56

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Tue 12 Aug 2014 14:56
Contravene Red Traffic Signal - Camera - skidpan

not long enough to show that the van actually stopped?

So you have no proof you stopped simply 2 photos that show you going through a red light with your brakes on.

Think you are wasting your time.

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Tue 12 Aug 2014 16:05
Contravene Red Traffic Signal - Camera - Dwight Van Driver

Considering at law the significance of a red light (TSGD) is that:

the red signal shall convey the prohibition that vehicular traffic shall not proceed beyond the stop line;

and that it is admitted:

but - although the I did cross the white line

I am with you Skidpan

dvd

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Tue 12 Aug 2014 16:12
Contravene Red Traffic Signal - Camera - Pinseeker

Ok thanks everyone - I'll sign up!!

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Tue 12 Aug 2014 23:05
Contravene Red Traffic Signal - Camera - galileo

Ok thanks everyone - I'll sign up!!

Look at it this way, if you got the points for the offence, insurance for the next year or two would probably go up quite a bit, so the £75 to take the course and avoid the points is actually quite cheap.

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