Got a ticket today (Ran a red light)

[ICRS]

I was on the freeway off ramp. I am on the second to the right lane, in a right turn only lane. The lane next to me is also a right turn only lane. There lane however doesn't have a light, since there lane is a yield only lane. My lane has a red arrow pointing to the right. I see the cars in the lane to the right of me keep turning right while I am just sitting there waiting, and some reason I get confused and think I can go to forgetting I am not suppose to turn against the arrow. I make my right turn and BAM I get pulled over for running a red light. Here is a diagram. How can I fight this.


Diagram of Running Red Light

I am prepared to throw my self at the mercy of the court and beg for reduction in fees. This is a $396 ticket, I hope I can have the judge drop it to less than $100.

 

[gorcorps]

If it's your first offense than you can more than likely get a plea bargain which can severely reduce fees. If not, then be more careful and make sure you know what you're doing.

 

[destrekor]

You screwed up.
There was likely a sign saying "No turn on red... except curb lane".

+

 

[ICRS]

Originally posted by: destrekor
You screwed up.
There was likely a sign saying "No turn on red... except curb lane".

+

There was no sign, but in California it is illegal turn against a red arrow. Some reason I was confused and suffered a lapse in judgement and turned.

I freely admit I screwed up. Hoping the judge sees it as a simple mistake and lets me go without any punishment.

 

[nageov3t]

get a traffic court lawyer, I'm sure they'll be able to at least get the points dropped.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: ICRS

Originally posted by: destrekor
You screwed up.
There was likely a sign saying "No turn on red... except curb lane".

+

There was no sign, but in California it is illegal turn against a red arrow. Some reason I was confused and suffered a lapse in judgement and turned.

okay, so why do you want to fight it? Sure, you probably can get it reduced, but the reason for the ticket is because you had a lapse in judgment. That lapse of judgment could have resulted in someone dying at the most extreme. Nothing happened, sure... but the point remains, you screwed up, and their happened to be an officer that witnessed it.
Nothing against you, but sometimes people have to accept the fact that they screwed up, and nobody else should take blame but themselves.
I've had one ticket and been given warnings for speeding on two other occasions. Well, given a warning for apparently running a red, turned red right before I got into the intersection (was attempting to run the yellow). These were all my fault. Sure, I continue to speed too on occasion, and accept any fault that would result from doing so.

+

 

[rezinn]

Learn how to drive. You should be more concerned about hitting someone than getting a ticket.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

You earned the ticket. Man up and pay the thing instead of sniveling about it.

 

[CorCentral]

Originally posted by: ICRS
I was on the freeway off ramp. I am on the second to the right lane, in a right turn only lane. The lane next to me is also a right turn only lane. There lane however doesn't have a light, since there lane is a yield only lane. My lane has a red arrow pointing to the right. I see the cars in the lane to the right of me keep turning right while I am just sitting there waiting, and some reason I get confused and think I can go to forgetting I am not suppose to turn against the arrow. I make my right turn and BAM I get pulled over for running a red light. Here is a diagram. How can I fight this.

Diagram of Running Red Light
I am prepared to throw my self at the mercy of the court and beg for reduction in fees. This is a $396 ticket, I hope I can have the judge drop it to less than $100.

Just blame Noone that There wasn't here, and you'll Loose!

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: gorcorps
If it's your first offense than you can more than likely get a plea bargain which can severely reduce fees. If not, then be more careful and make sure you know what you're doing.

A lot of the time it works even if it's not your first offense. Talk to the prosecutor and ask if you can plead guilty to a smaller charge, and they might say yes. Just remember to be polite.

 

[CorCentral]

All the trouble worrying about this after the fact.

Just don't speed/run red lights and you'll keep worrying to a minimum and live longer :laugh:

 

[rh71]

It didn't take very long for the dogs to get on this one did it? Well at least it wasnt' the 1st reply.

May they have mercy on your soul even if you did deserve it.

 

[Slew Foot]

Just show up in court and admit guilt, in CA they usually reduce your fine to $50.

99.99999% of tickets are bullshit anyway, just another way for the government to take $$$ from the people. Yours actually looks legit though.

 

[CorCentral]

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
Just show up in court and admit guilt, in CA they usually reduce your fine to $50.

99.99999% of tickets are bullshit anyway, just another way for the government to take $$$ from the people. Yours actually looks legit though.

Tickets are Bullshit?
No cops needed, MOVE ALONG!

You sure your name's not Lead Foot? From your post, it sounds like you've run into many tickets.

Hurray for Leadfoot, and money going to the City/State!
Lay off the pedal!

 

[compman25]

You suck at driving!




j/k

 

[zoiks]

go to ticketassassin.

 

[adairusmc]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
You earned the ticket. Man up and pay the thing instead of sniveling about it.

:thumbsup:

 

[GenHoth]

Wow, people here are mean. It happens to all of us from time to time. From what I've heard judges can be nice to first time offenders.

 

[Slew Foot]

Originally posted by: CorCentral

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
Just show up in court and admit guilt, in CA they usually reduce your fine to $50.

99.99999% of tickets are bullshit anyway, just another way for the government to take $$$ from the people. Yours actually looks legit though.

Tickets are Bullshit?
No cops needed, MOVE ALONG!

You sure your name's not Lead Foot? From your post, it sounds like you've run into many tickets.

Hurray for Leadfoot, and money going to the City/State!
Lay off the pedal!

1 ticket in 16 years of driving, way to jump to conclusions dumbshit.

 

[ICRS]

I plan to show up and ask for a reduction in the penalty.

 

[jpeyton]

I use the same method recommended by TicketAssassin.

Unless traffic school (or a similar program) is offered, plead not guilty and submit your case via trial by affidavit.

If traffic school is offered with a guilty plea, take it. Traffic school is cheap, easy to complete, and the citation is dropped from your record upon completion or a short probationary period. Otherwise, there is no reason to plead guilty.

In-court trials are not preferred; I always suggest a trial by affidavit because it's easy to do from the comfort of your own home, costs a couple stamps, and you have the advantage of not having an officer in court testifying against you. Additionally, you can take pleasure in knowing that you didn't contribute to a police officer's overtime pay (cops love getting overtime for easy traffic court appearances).

First step: call the traffic court (BEFORE your appearance date), ask the clerk about pleading not guilty and submitting a trial by affidavit. You might have to mail in your actual citation with your not guilty plea, and they will mail back the paperwork necessary for submitting your trial by affidavit.

Also forgot to mention another added bonus: pleading not guilty and submitting your case by affidavit draws out the process for several months. If you just got the ticket today, and you maximize the time allotted to you by the court (submit everything a day or two before it's due), even if you're found guilty you won't have to pay your fine for another 4-6 months.

 

[CorCentral]

Originally posted by: Slew Foot

Originally posted by: CorCentral

Originally posted by: Slew Foot
Just show up in court and admit guilt, in CA they usually reduce your fine to $50.

99.99999% of tickets are bullshit anyway, just another way for the government to take $$$ from the people. Yours actually looks legit though.

Tickets are Bullshit?
No cops needed, MOVE ALONG!

You sure your name's not Lead Foot? From your post, it sounds like you've run into many tickets.

Hurray for Leadfoot, and money going to the City/State!
Lay off the pedal!

1 ticket in 16 years of driving, way to jump to conclusions dumbshit.

0 Tickets in 20 years. I call your dumbshit and raise you a NUMBNUT!

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
You earned the ticket. Man up and pay the thing instead of sniveling about it.

Yep. By your own admission, you ran the red light. (Yes, turning against a red arrow is the same as running a red light, although probably not as dangerous)
Man up and pay it. Not sure if the fine for that will be the same as a "regular" red light. If so, get ready to dig deep. The fine for that starts at $270, and can be quite a bit more, depending on your jurisdiction. Here they're $370, although that MAY only be at the intersections with the red-light cameras.

 

[acegazda]

I'm all for being honorable and noble and all that crap, but paying a ticket when you could have the opportunity not to is ludicrous. I posted a similar thread a while back about a speeding ticket. A lot of help you guys were; ended up that because of my argument and the first time offense I was let off the hook. For me, a student with no cash and under 18 I had much more to lose than just cash, so it made my argument easier, but just show some form of undeniable logic and sincerity and it will do you good.

Also: how is running a red $396?!

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: acegazda
I'm all for being honorable and noble and all that crap, but paying a ticket when you could have the opportunity not to is ludicrous. I posted a similar thread a while back about a speeding ticket. A lot of help you guys were; ended up that because of my argument and the first time offense I was let off the hook. For me, a student with no cash and under 18 I had much more to lose than just cash, so it made my argument easier, but just show some form of undeniable logic and sincerity and it will do you good.

Also: how is running a red $396?!

a lot cheaper than hospital bills or funeral costs or a life.