I'm getting screwed by a traffic light camera! | FerrariChat

I'm getting screwed by a traffic light camera!

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by Nibblesworth, Feb 28, 2005.

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  1. Nibblesworth

    Nibblesworth Formula 3
    BANNED

    Nov 29, 2002
    1,756
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    BillyBoy
    Got the notice in the mail today with the photos of the incident. I remember exactly when it happened. Light turned red, I slowed down, made a legal right turn on the red light, and the camera took a picture of me.

    The two "action" photos show me at the limit line (photo one) and then about two car length beyond that, finishing my right hand turn.

    As far as I can tell, I broke no laws. The was no "No Turn on Red" sign. As per Ca. Vehicle Code 21453(a), I yielded to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, (there was none, as evidenced in the photo), and made my turn.

    So what the hell do I do? Right hand turns on red don't need to make a full stop - they only need to yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians, right? At least, that what I was taught, and that's what the vehicle code seems to state. In addition, the photo states my speed in photo 1 as 18mph in a 40mph zone, and photo 2 as 18mhp as well. However, in photo 2, I am only two car lengths ahead of my position in photo 1, which after careful calculations, puts me at a speed of 8mph (which, I suppose, shows that the indicated speed in wrong). So essentially I slowed from 18 to 8 mph while making the turn.

    What should I do? I ain't paying it, that's for sure. I'll take this f*cker to the Supreme Court if I have to.
     
  2. EspritSE

    EspritSE Formula Junior

    Dec 1, 2003
    509
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Craig
    Red means stop dude...whether you are turning or not. sorry.
     
  3. CMY

    CMY F1 World Champ

    Oct 15, 2004
    10,142
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Chris
    I'm pretty much 100% sure that the above statement is false, unless the right hand turn is in a specific & marked lane that says "Yield" on it.

    Good luck.. I'm pretty sure you're paying this one. ;)

    -Chris
     
  4. PeterS

    PeterS Four Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 24, 2003
    47,933
    Goodyear, AZ
    Full Name:
    PeterS
    This one just killed me! A couple of years ago, a buddy of mine showed me the picture that speed camera took of him....56 in a 35 with his finger in his nose!!!
     
  5. richard_wallace

    richard_wallace Formula 3

    Feb 6, 2004
    1,956
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Richard Wallace
    Nib,

    Not looking good for you on this one... Here is a couple of California Driver Laws as stated:

    {SOLID RED. A red signal light means “STOP.” You can make a right turn against a red light after you stop and yield to pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles that are lose enough to be a hazard. Make the right turn only when it is safe. Do not turn if a “NO TURN ON RED” sign is posted.}

    It looks as if you need (actually in all states not just California) as well as 18 countries that I found - to come to a complete stop on Red before turing right.

    Here is the Cali State Law on Traffic Rules and Regs:

    http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs16thru17.htm#intersections

    Rich
     
  6. redhead

    redhead F1 Rookie

    Dec 26, 2001
    4,869
    Full Name:
    ~Red~
    Treat it as a stop sign while turning, as others have stated. You just preformed a California Stop.....
     
  7. maranelloman

    maranelloman Guest

    #7 maranelloman, Feb 28, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  8. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 14, 2003
    60,788
    In front of you
    Full Name:
    BCHC
    P Nibby,

    Look at the bright side. At least there isn't any bile or flying fecal matter in that photo!

    DL
     
  9. RacerX_GTO

    RacerX_GTO F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 2, 2003
    13,965
    Oregon
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    Gabe V.
    This photo's are hearsay evidence. Any officer who testifies on behalf of the photos does not have personal direct knowledge.

    There is no possible way for officer-to-be(if you challenge it) witness the inspection on YOUR camera. Did he know what the inspector had done? Had hewitnessed the log sheets being filled out? Chances are the inspector will not show in court to answer questions or even authenticate his maintenance log.

    The red light cams are bullschit and the entire system is a racket to get into your wallet. If southern California courts are anything like the Carol Miller Justice center up in Sacramento, where they herd people into a guilty plea never hearing your argument, they are as crooked as the criminals they have sitting in their jail cells.
     
  10. sduke

    sduke Formula Junior

    Mar 10, 2003
    825
    The Hub City, Texas
    Full Name:
    Steven D
    Nibbles

    For what it's worth, I work with a guy that got one of these tickets dismissed a few months ago because the photo was not clear enough to identify the driver. He established in court that three different people drive his car, and a moving violation can not be issued to a vehicle, only a driver. Of course, Texas may be different than California.

    On a side note, there is currently a bill in the Texas Senate to ban all intersection cameras.
     
  11. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    Where was the camera? I was driving through Garden Grove last week and stopped at a couple of camera lights. There was a flash about every 30 seconds for the 5 or so total minutes I was sitting there. As soon as the word gets out that these things are raking in the bucks they will probably be everywhere. It looks as if it will be tuff for to get out of your rolling stop ticket.
     
  12. Kds

    Kds F1 World Champ

    These cameras are crap....a total criminal racket IMHO. We've got these bastar*s here in Calgary now.

    The participating municipality is counseled my the camera equipment manufacturer on how to adjust the yellow light intervals to shorter time frames and to set up the cameras for maximum revenue enhancement.
     
  13. RacerX_GTO

    RacerX_GTO F1 World Champ
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    Nov 2, 2003
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    Gabe V.
  14. Artherd

    Artherd F1 Veteran

    Jun 19, 2002
    6,588
    Bay Area, CA
    Full Name:
    Ben Cannon
    Bill, you should be able to SLAY this thing in open court on about 6 fronts it's illegal! Have fun!

    Remenber: You can show that THE CAR IN QUESTION came to a stop, and accelerated again, during the time between the 2 photos. Use graphs and diagrams and the fact that the camera captures INSTANTANEOUS speed only, not acceleration/decel!

    Can they show you in the car? Conclusively? Beyond the standard for Reasonable Doubt required in a criminal case?!

    Your position is: you obeye all laws at all times, and the cameras even being there are illegal, uncalibrated, and their evidence is inadmissable.
     
  15. mpolans

    mpolans Formula Junior

    Oct 31, 2004
    427
    Talk to a lawyer. He might want to know the chain of custody of the film and subpoena everyone in the chain of custody. If everybody in the chain of custody can't appear, he might be able to get the film excluded. I know this has worked for one attorney I worked with in VA or DC (can't remember which).
     
  16. ArtS

    ArtS F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 11, 2003
    8,887
    Central NJ
    I'm with Ben. If your calculated average speed was 8 mph but the two photos have instantainious readings of 18 mph, you can demonstrate that it is possible to come to a stop between the images.

    I would get discovery on this case, see what they really have on you, when was the equipment calibrated, do they have any other evidence, etc.

    Good Luck,

    Art S.
     
  17. jh355

    jh355 Formula Junior

    Feb 12, 2004
    424
    Halluci-Nation
    Full Name:
    Craven Morehead
    I believe Cameras need an unobstructed lens to take pictures. If a Black Paint Ball was shot center of the clear lens covers, wouldn’t it make the camera inoperable? If enough people participated in this delinquent behavior, it would certainly frustrate the Revenue machine. In California, the cameras are paid for by private companies with the Revenue being split with the participating Municipality.
     
  18. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Sep 11, 2004
    20,845
    Southern Md
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    Robbie
    That's how it is in MD>
     
  19. SrfCity

    SrfCity F1 World Champ

    That's interesting. With many cities/municipalities broke they are aggressively looking for any kinds of new revenue generating machines. I'd like to see people taking a whack at the legality of them. Speeding cameras all over the place will be the next kick if it hasn't already started.
     
  20. Miltonian

    Miltonian F1 Veteran

    Dec 11, 2002
    5,966
    Milton, Wash.
    Full Name:
    Jeff B.
    I don't know how this "you can make a right turn on red without stopping" deal gets into people's heads. You were taught that? By who? It couldn't be legal anywhere, it's ridiculous. You made an illegal turn, you got caught on camera, end of story.

    When I was out driving with my stepson on his learners permit, he pulled the same thing. He was driving just fine until we came up to a red light on the highway, and he blew through the intersection turning right, hardly slowing down. "AAAAAAAAACCCKKKKKK, WHAT ARE YOU DOING??!!" "Uh, you don't have to stop to turn right on a red light." He must have heard it somewhere.
     
  21. imperial83

    imperial83 F1 Rookie
    BANNED

    May 14, 2004
    2,893
    Ok let me try and get this clear for anyone who has a driver's license in any country...

    STOP WHEN RED!!!
    Stoppen Sie wenn Rot!!!
    arrêtez quand rouge!!!
    остановите когда красный цвет!!!
    arrestisi quando colore rosso!!!
    pare cuando rojo!!!

    If you do not understand that basic rule of driving, please submit you driver's license back to a local DMV or the necessary authorities.
     
  22. Nibblesworth

    Nibblesworth Formula 3
    BANNED

    Nov 29, 2002
    1,756
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    BillyBoy
    If a cop drives by you on the freeway while you are cruising with the flow of traffic, say 75mph, and does not stop you or anyone else speeding beyond the posted limit, that cop, as a representative of the CHP, is stating that it is OK to speed.

    In the same vein, if I come to a rolling stop, which I did, (I slowed to a mere tiny roll and continued on my way), and cop allows me to do so (which has been the case any time I have ever made a right turn on red or the same as when ANYONE I've ever seen make a right turn on red), then he is stating, as a representative of the police department, that it is acceptable behavior.

    Now, let me ask you a question, pally. Do YOU think that a rolling stop at a clear intersection, while making a right turn into no traffic, warrants the same punishment as running though a red light at an intersection?

    Do YOU think it's an infraction worth $371?

    Everybody is guilty of breaking laws. Nearly all of us do it every single day. Have you ever driven above 65mph on the freeway? WHERE DO YOU GET OFF THINKING THAT IS OK???

    Do you think that speeding at 66mph warrants the same punishment as speeding at 120mph? Lemme know, squeeky. Thanks.
     
  23. Nibblesworth

    Nibblesworth Formula 3
    BANNED

    Nov 29, 2002
    1,756
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    BillyBoy

    Thanks. Now go back to your masturbating and leave the scolding to my parents, you dimwitted d!ld0.
     
  24. redhead

    redhead F1 Rookie

    Dec 26, 2001
    4,869
    Full Name:
    ~Red~
    LE is exempt from traffic Law when in the performance of their duties. Lights and/or siren are not needed unless specified by policy. Lights and Siren are needed to have traffic yield, but not required if yielding traffic is not needed.

    EDIT- Something else, Life's not fair. Get used to it. Pay the ticket or spend more then one days wages fighting it and then see who really won. I do agree it is bogus that it is $371, but what if someone was in the crosswalk and you hit them(such as a cyclist)Then $371, is nothing compared to a lawsuit one of your law school buddies would be dying for.
     
  25. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

    Apr 29, 2004
    33,736
    Austin TX
    Full Name:
    Brian Crall
    I guess that you have never seen me make a right on a red because I stop every time. It's the law. I know it's the law and I don't want to get a ticket for not stopping. I happen to think it is a good law but that is not the reason I stop, I just dont want a ticket.

    On traffic laws we really have 3 choices or a combination of same.
    1 Obey them
    2 Break them and risk fines
    3 Work to change the ones we don't like

    Which combination of those do you prefer? You didn't know the law and got caught, get over it.
     

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