Am I going to end up getting a red light ticket from a camera? - Now in Story Format

[TheNinja]

Picture this scenario

So I'm waiting to do a U-turn at a green light listening to my sports talk radio....not a green arrow, just a green light. U-turns are perfectly legal and common in California. However there is a lot of oncoming traffic and this road is always busy. So of course I creep out in the intersection so I can "save my spot" for the U-turn. Note that I see people do this all the time so I'm not unique here. Usually then, the light turns yellow the people driving towards you stop for the yellow/red and you can quick turn left or u-turn on the yellow before the cross traffic gets a green.

However this time....this time was different folks...the douches on the other side of the road continue to run through yellow and 1 dude runs practically through the red in their hurried attempts to get to their destinations. So here I am hung out to dry in the middle of the intersection waiting for my U-turn and the light is now red(dish). What am I supposed to do now sit there...backup...vanish?. So of course I whip the U-turn in an attempt to avoid an accident. No big deal the other people's lights had turned green like .5 seconds so I did not impede anyone's progress or cause a hazard to anyone.

Then I look back and sure enough, a camera on the intersection. Am I screwed?

 

[goog40]

I think as long as you're in the intersection before the light turns red you should be fine. They have to show you entering while it's red.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Check your city's policies about red light cameras.

I know in my area they say if you were already in the intersection before the light turns red, you will not get ticketed.

 

[Beev]

I agree with goog.

 

[gorcorps]

Did you see a flash? All red light cameras I've seen have a very bright flash that triggers day or night, and can be seen in the day too.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Did you see a flash? All red light cameras I've seen have a very bright flash that triggers day or night, and can be seen in the day too.

The ones here where I live, you can't see them flash during the day....I don't even think they flash during the day if there's enough sunlight.

 

[rcpratt]

I think you'll be fine.

 

[jpeyton]

You would have seen the flash if it was triggered.

They are designed NOT to be triggered if you are already in the intersection before it goes red. If you cross the designated threshold (usually a crosswalk line) AFTER the light goes red, it is triggered.

If you receive a ticket in the mail, it is usually accompanied with a picture. If the picture does not resemble the named driver in the ticket, you can get the ticket dismissed easily.

 

[TheNinja]

Thanks everyone. I honestly don't remember there was a flash or not. I guess I just gotta wait and see. I think they have to send it to me within 15 days so I'll know then.

It got me thinking though. If I drive around with sunglasses and a ninja mask on, could they not ever give me a ticket. I mean if I'm wearing something covering my face they cannot conclude beyond a doubt, that it's me

 

[gorcorps]

Thanks everyone. I honestly don't remember there was a flash or not. I guess I just gotta wait and see. I think they have to send it to me within 15 days so I'll know then.

It got me thinking though. If I drive around with sunglasses and a ninja mask on, could they not ever give me a ticket. I mean if I'm wearing something covering my face they cannot conclude beyond a doubt, that it's me

In most states the ticket follows the owner of the registration, and they have to prove that it was somebody else if they weren't driving the car at that time (hopefully the picture is clear enough). If you can't do that then it gets stuck with whoever registered the vehicle by default.

 

[Rudee]

If they send you a picture of you speeding or running a red, just send them a back a picture of you writing a check.

 

[dud]

This thread sounds like a parity of a recent post about a guy getting a ticket for going through a red light on yellow ...

 

[HN]

I don't know about other parts of cali, but in los angeles, everyone's pretty much given the finger to red light cameras:

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-red-light-cameras-no-more-text,0,3433596.story

 

[hanoverphist]

If you receive a ticket in the mail, it is usually accompanied with a picture. If the picture does not resemble the named driver in the ticket, you can get the ticket dismissed easily.

not everywhere. here in AZ they have to ID the driver or the ticket is not valid, but some states dont have that particular prerequisite. they can ticket you regardless of it being you. check out what your state requires for it to be a valid ticket before assuming anything.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Nah you're good. If it flashed at all it would probably be against that guy running the red light. Ive made it in the intersection by a hair before it turned red and I have been fine.

 

[feralkid]

So here I am hung out to dry in the middle of the intersection waiting for my U-turn and the light is now red(dish).

Relax, they can only find you guilty(ish) and sort of fine you for the psuedo-infraction.

This is a (sort-of) well known fact(oid).