Got a ticket....should i fight it?

[TheFamilyMan]

Then you were going too fast...the light doesn't turn yellow then 3 seconds later turn red. There is more than enough time to stop if you were going the speed limit. Justify all you want, you are in the wrong and accept responsibility...the bottom line is, you're right in your own mind that you didn't do anything wrong and posting here to ask if you should pay the ticket will not sway you in the least to feel compelled or obligated owe up to your responsibilities of accountability.

 

[mrjminer]

Possibility of not stopping soon enough due to rain, thus going through the light when it was yellow was being thoughtful and the most likely method to avoid a potential accident?

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: TheFamilyMan
Then you were going too fast...the light doesn't turn yellow then 3 seconds later turn red. There is more than enough time to stop if you were going the speed limit. Justify all you want, you are in the wrong and accept responsibility...the bottom line is, you're right in your own mind that you didn't do anything wrong and posting here to ask if you should pay the ticket will not sway you in the least to feel compelled or obligated owe up to your responsibilities of accountability.

See? Prime example of what I said in my earlier post.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: Gnrslash4life

Originally posted by: TheFamilyMan

Originally posted by: Gnrslash4life

Originally posted by: deathkoba
Fight it, if you don't value your time and time = $.

Pay it if you do and be done with it. It's only 100 bux.

Im really more concerned with my insurance rate than the fine itself.

Instead of being more concerned with your insurance rates now, why weren't you more concerned with beginning to stop once you saw the yellow light? I don't really believe that in your state or city that the yellow light just "pops up" 1 second before the red one does. You know you had more than enough time to stop once the light went yellow UNLESS you were speeding and would have had to hit the brakes and, potentially cause an accident...in which case you deserved a ticket for speeding. Either way, pay the fine and accept responsibility. What happened to accountability in this country? Oh wait, it was done away with once everyone started putting syndromes, diseases, addictions and "justifications" to everything.

It was raining, the light turned yellow and instead of braking and probably stopping in the intersection i went through it instead.

What is the speed limit at the intersection where this red light is?
Actually, what road is this red light on?

 

[Spineshank]

Speed limit is 35 i believe. And it was Route 422. I honestly have no idea what i was driving but id say 35-40.

 

[Spineshank]

Originally posted by: TheFamilyMan
Then you were going too fast...the light doesn't turn yellow then 3 seconds later turn red. There is more than enough time to stop if you were going the speed limit. Justify all you want, you are in the wrong and accept responsibility...the bottom line is, you're right in your own mind that you didn't do anything wrong and posting here to ask if you should pay the ticket will not sway you in the least to feel compelled or obligated owe up to your responsibilities of accountability.

Never once have i said whether i feel i did something wrong or not. I stated what exactly happened from the get go. I didnt ask was i at fault i asked should i fight it.

 

[VWhed]

If you have the time, Fight It!

I've fought every one I ever had, I even had an officer stop at my home and threaten to change the charge if I fought the ticket, He said he could do that since he cut me a break, haha, that one was "thrown out". Maybe the officer won't show up. I actually enjoy tying up the system for my trivial ticket, hopefully I can cost them more than what the ticket is worth.

 

[ahurtt]

Originally posted by: Gnrslash4life
I understand that but he didnt give me a ticket for reckless driving he gave me one for running a red light.

I know, I'm just telling you how the judge will likely look at it.

 

[ahurtt]

Originally posted by: mrjminer
Possibility of not stopping soon enough due to rain, thus going through the light when it was yellow was being thoughtful and the most likely method to avoid a potential accident?

Even in the rain you'd have to be going pretty fast to not stop in time. Or else just have some bald-ass tires.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: sao123

Originally posted by: manowar821
If you ran a yellow, thats no crime. It's not dangerous, either. I'm curious as to why he even bothered you about it.

another person who has no idea about PA driving laws.

In PA yellow does not mean "proceed with caution"...
Yellow means green condition has terminated and red is forthcoming.
No further vehicles may enter the intersection...

PA state law does not state that no further vehicles may enter. In fact, the law states that "vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is thereby warned that the related green indication is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter."

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: sao123

Originally posted by: manowar821
If you ran a yellow, thats no crime. It's not dangerous, either. I'm curious as to why he even bothered you about it.

another person who has no idea about PA driving laws.

In PA yellow does not mean "proceed with caution"...
Yellow means green condition has terminated and red is forthcoming.
No further vehicles may enter the intersection...

PA state law does not state that no further vehicles may enter. In fact, the law states that "vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is thereby warned that the related green indication is being terminated or that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter."

§ 3112. Traffic-control signals.
(a) General rule.--Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different
colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors
green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word legend, and
the lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:
(1) Green indication.--
(i) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed
straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn
except that vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the rightof-
way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent
crosswalk at the time the signal is exhibited.
(ii) Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in
combination with another indication, may enter the intersection only to make the
movement indicated by the arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other
indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to
pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the
intersection.
(iii) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as
provided in section 3113 (relating to pedestrian-control signals), pedestrians facing any
green signal may proceed across the roadway within a crosswalk.
(2) Steady yellow indication.--
(i) Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is thereby warned
that the related green indication is being terminated or that a red indication will be
exhibited immediately thereafter.
(ii) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as
provided in section 3113, pedestrians facing a steady yellow signal are thereby advised
that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no
pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.
(3) Steady red indication.--
(i) Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall stop at a
clearly marked stop line, or if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the
intersection, or if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing
until an indication to proceed is shown except as provided in subparagraph (ii).
(ii) Unless signing is in place prohibiting a turn, vehicular traffic
facing a steady red signal may enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a
one-way highway onto a one-way highway after stopping as required by subparagraph (i).
Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an
adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
(iii) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as
provided in section 3113, pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone shall not enter the
roadway.

Once the yellow light is on, green session is terminated, and your ability to enter the intersection has ended.

I have worked at PENNDOT and I know what the law says.

 

[TheFamilyMan]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: TheFamilyMan
Then you were going too fast...the light doesn't turn yellow then 3 seconds later turn red. There is more than enough time to stop if you were going the speed limit. Justify all you want, you are in the wrong and accept responsibility...the bottom line is, you're right in your own mind that you didn't do anything wrong and posting here to ask if you should pay the ticket will not sway you in the least to feel compelled or obligated owe up to your responsibilities of accountability.

See? Prime example of what I said in my earlier post.

Yeah, here's your earlier post, "You've been here since 2001 and don't know better than to ask that here? The horde of self righteous never broke a law in my life flamers will all be in here telling you how you should die because you broke a traffic law."

First off, I'm not a self-righteous flamer telling him how he should die because he broke a traffic law. Take the +5 stick of provocation out of your ass and read what I told him. My post wasn't one of self-righteousness and wasn't one of flaming. I basically said if he did it, then grow up and be accountable for his actions. I never once said I've never broke a traffic law and am judging him/her. Yes, I have been in exactly the same position as the OP but you want to know what I did? I paid the fine and accepted responsibility. I didn't blame an overly-aggressive officer, a yellow light that didn't stay yellow long enough, my back axle being in the intersection when the light turned red, or anything else. I was pushing the limits of the traffic law and got caught. Bottom line, I paid my fine and that was the end of it. I now take a little more cautionary action when yellow light situations occur.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: sao123

§ 3112. Traffic-control signals.
(a) General rule.--Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different
colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors
green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word legend, and
the lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:
(1) Green indication.--
(i) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed
straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn
except that vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the rightof-
way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent
crosswalk at the time the signal is exhibited.
(ii) Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in
combination with another indication, may enter the intersection only to make the
movement indicated by the arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other
indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to
pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the
intersection.
(iii) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as
provided in section 3113 (relating to pedestrian-control signals), pedestrians facing any
green signal may proceed across the roadway within a crosswalk.
(2) Steady yellow indication.--
(i) Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is thereby warned
that the related green indication is being terminated or that a red indication will be
exhibited immediately thereafter.
(ii) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as
provided in section 3113, pedestrians facing a steady yellow signal are thereby advised
that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no
pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.
(3) Steady red indication.--
(i) Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall stop at a
clearly marked stop line, or if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the
intersection, or if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing
until an indication to proceed is shown except as provided in subparagraph (ii).
(ii) Unless signing is in place prohibiting a turn, vehicular traffic
facing a steady red signal may enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a
one-way highway onto a one-way highway after stopping as required by subparagraph (i).
Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an
adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
(iii) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as
provided in section 3113, pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone shall not enter the
roadway.

Once the yellow light is on, green session is terminated, and your ability to enter the intersection has ended.

I have worked at PENNDOT and I know what the law says.

I don't see anything in there that indicates that you can't enter the intersection when the light is yellow.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: sao123

§ 3112. Traffic-control signals.
(a) General rule.--Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic-control signals exhibiting different
colored lights, or colored lighted arrows, successively one at a time or in combination, only the colors
green, red and yellow shall be used, except for special pedestrian signals carrying a word legend, and
the lights shall indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:
(1) Green indication.--
(i) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed
straight through or turn right or left unless a sign at such place prohibits either such turn
except that vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the rightof-
way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent
crosswalk at the time the signal is exhibited.
(ii) Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in
combination with another indication, may enter the intersection only to make the
movement indicated by the arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other
indications shown at the same time. Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to
pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the
intersection.
(iii) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as
provided in section 3113 (relating to pedestrian-control signals), pedestrians facing any
green signal may proceed across the roadway within a crosswalk.
(2) Steady yellow indication.--
(i) Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow signal is thereby warned
that the related green indication is being terminated or that a red indication will be
exhibited immediately thereafter.
(ii) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as
provided in section 3113, pedestrians facing a steady yellow signal are thereby advised
that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown and no
pedestrian shall then start to cross the roadway.
(3) Steady red indication.--
(i) Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal alone shall stop at a
clearly marked stop line, or if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the
intersection, or if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing
until an indication to proceed is shown except as provided in subparagraph (ii).
(ii) Unless signing is in place prohibiting a turn, vehicular traffic
facing a steady red signal may enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a
one-way highway onto a one-way highway after stopping as required by subparagraph (i).
Such vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an
adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
(iii) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian-control signal as
provided in section 3113, pedestrians facing a steady red signal alone shall not enter the
roadway.

Once the yellow light is on, green session is terminated, and your ability to enter the intersection has ended.

I have worked at PENNDOT and I know what the law says.

I'm glad you know what the law says. Please, show me where it says that a vehicle may not enter the intersection upon a yellow light. All I read is that a yellow light is a warning of termination of green or of immediate red.

 

[xgsound]

Originally posted by: TheFamilyMan
Then you were going too fast...the light doesn't turn yellow then 3 seconds later turn red. There is more than enough time to stop if you were going the speed limit. Justify all you want, you are in the wrong and accept responsibility...the bottom line is, you're right in your own mind that you didn't do anything wrong and posting here to ask if you should pay the ticket will not sway you in the least to feel compelled or obligated owe up to your responsibilities of accountability.

In PA you're lucky if the yellow is on for all of 3 seconds. Some (not many) change very fast. That said, parts of 422 have terrible accidents at the intersections, so it's good we are only talking about a ticket here.

To the OP; If you can say the light turned yellow just as you came upon the intersection, fight the ticket.


Jim

 

[2Xtreme21]

In PA it is not illegal to enter an intersection when the light is yellow, but it is illegal to be in the intersection when the light turns red.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
In PA it is not illegal to enter an intersection when the light is yellow, but it is illegal to be in the intersection when the light turns red.

According to the law that sao123 posted, you just can't enter the intersection when the light is red.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
In PA it is not illegal to enter an intersection when the light is yellow, but it is illegal to be in the intersection when the light turns red.

According to the law that sao123 posted, you just can't enter the intersection when the light is red.

That's what I gathered. I don't know where he is seeing this "law" that says you can't enter an intersection when the light is yellow.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: J0hnny
ALWAYS fight, even if you are guilty. The traffic violation system is set up to make money off of you. When you plead not guilty and show up for the scheduled date, they give you a reduced fine and lower points if you plead guity.

/thread

Dunno how it is where you are, but in NC a red light ticket is fine only, no points. Altho here I think it is only $50.

For $100, I don't think it would be worth my time to stand in court and waste time. If it has points though, definitely fight it.

EDIT Sorry, I assumed this was a red light camera ticket. If you got ticketed by an officer, that's another story. DOn't ask us - ask yourself. Insurance points are generally worth fighting, but is your time worth that money? $100 alone, not for me. Points as well, then it is probably worth the time to fight it.

 

[Spineshank]

I dont know if it has points or not. Didnt say anything on the ticket but i know its supposed to be a 3 point violation. I dont have any points currently as ive never had a ticket before.

 

[BoomerD]

From the Pennsylvania driver's handbook:
"A STEADY YELLOW LIGHT tells you a red light will soon appear. If you are driving toward an
intersection and a yellow light appears, slow down and prepare to stop. If you are within the
intersection or cannot stop safely before entering the intersection, continue through carefully.

"You MAY be able to be beat this because it was raining, and wouldn't be able to stop safely withought ending up in the intersection...but don't count on it...

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
In PA it is not illegal to enter an intersection when the light is yellow, but it is illegal to be in the intersection when the light turns red.

According to the law that sao123 posted, you just can't enter the intersection when the light is red.

According to the judge which interpreted this law, what I have said is correct. It will and has held up in court.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: sao123

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
In PA it is not illegal to enter an intersection when the light is yellow, but it is illegal to be in the intersection when the light turns red.

According to the law that sao123 posted, you just can't enter the intersection when the light is red.

According to the judge which interpreted this law, what I have said is correct. It will and has held up in court.

So, now it has gone from the law stating that it is illegal to one judge's interpretation of that law.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

Originally posted by: sao123

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
In PA it is not illegal to enter an intersection when the light is yellow, but it is illegal to be in the intersection when the light turns red.

According to the law that sao123 posted, you just can't enter the intersection when the light is red.

According to the judge which interpreted this law, what I have said is correct. It will and has held up in court.

So, now it has gone from the law stating that it is illegal to one judge's interpretation of that law.

Lets go back to 2nd grade social studies...
Thats what judges do... they interpret what the legislators write. And once a decision is made on a particular law, this case ruling can be used as evidence in other courts for other cases.

 

[Rumpltzer]

My friend in California was doing 58 in a 45 (three lanes in each direction with a median, business district). She showed up to court last week to fight it with some lame excuse and the cop didn't show.

She got off. *shrug*