Got my first ticket.

[Capt Caveman]

Technically the light would have to be red prior to getting halfway through the intersection.

Likewise if you enter an intersection (to turn) on a green and it finally turns red, you are expected to complete your turn and not back up to the light.

Depends on the state. In MA, legally, you have to be completely thru the intersection.

 

[wirednuts]

Likewise if you enter an intersection (to turn) on a green and it finally turns red, you are expected to complete your turn and not back up to the light.

what? really? i thought you were supposed to sit back behind the line on a left turn, then finally just about before the light changes red you pull up then quickly realize you cant go so you just sit in the middle of the whole fucking intersection like a complete dumbass. at least thats what the people in front of me seem to need to do

 

[Evadman]

Pay the fine and try to get driving class instead of points or the ticket on your record.

Other than that, do as EK recommends. Figure out the timing of the lights and don't drive though red lights. The time you spent in the car waiting for the cop to write a ticket was probably longer than an entire year of waiting for the light to turn green.

 

[alkemyst]

what? really? i thought you were supposed to sit back behind the line on a left turn, then finally just about before the light changes red you pull up then quickly realize you cant go so you just sit in the middle of the whole fucking intersection like a complete dumbass. at least thats what the people in front of me seem to need to do

The line is to tell you where to stop for a red light. If you properly pullout into the intersection to make your turn you will not be in anyone's right-of-way and you can complete your turn much more efficiently as well as allowing those behind you to complete theirs.

This is one simple explanation of it http://www.adirondackdailyenterpris...for-left-turn-confusing-to-many.html?nav=5153

 

[Krazy4Real]

blackmail the judge.

 

[Dedpuhl]

Appeal it to a Clerk/Judge.

Ask for leniency as you haven't received a ticket before.

Agreed. I don't have a problem with someone fighting a ticket if it's an isolated incident. If you are prone to running reds, then own up and pay the penalty.

 

[LookBehindYou]

Pay the fine and try to get driving class instead of points or the ticket on your record.

Other than that, do as EK recommends. Figure out the timing of the lights and don't drive though red lights. The time you spent in the car waiting for the cop to write a ticket was probably longer than an entire year of waiting for the light to turn green.

It definitely was. I was happy I was going to be 10 minutes early, I ended up being 10 minutes late.

 

[EagleKeeper]

The line is to tell you where to stop for a red light. If you properly pullout into the intersection to make your turn you will not be in anyone's right-of-way and you can complete your turn much more efficiently as well as allowing those behind you to complete theirs.

This is one simple explanation of it http://www.adirondackdailyenterpris...for-left-turn-confusing-to-many.html?nav=5153

Yet, you are not supposed to enter an intersection unless you can safely clear it unless it is a protected turn.

Many states will provide you with a ticket for blocking opposing traffic that has the right of way.

 

[EagleKeeper]

It definitely was. I was happy I was going to be 10 minutes early, I ended up being 10 minutes late.

20 minutes vs a 2 minute red light.

Not counting the $$ and aggravation

 

[jlee]

If the light turned red while in the intersection; you chose to ignore the yellow.

That's not always the case. Get on I-17 South from Bethany Home in Phoenix - you can enter while green and it'll still be red before you get across.

 

[waggy]

Plead guilty but ask for leniency since it is your first offense. I'd recommend showing up in court in suit pants and a shirt, or at least khakis.

/this

though i think they changed the law like 5 years ago. but you used to get court supervision for a 1st offense.

but go in and plead guilty and ask for leniency since it was a 1st offense. dress nice and be polite.

 

[RearAdmiral]

Adjust your speed so you will have a green on the light.

Learn the timing of the light, unless it is a re-active to the cross street.
If re-active; you should be stopping anyhow for potential cross traffic.

If timed; spend 3 minutes off to the side to determine the cycle with an accurate watch.
The next day; log the time you clear the previous light and the time you get to the signal.
If green; remember the time and constant speed you used.
If red; figure out the time missed from the green and then re-adjsut your speed.

After a week; you should be able to hit it on green all the time.

Do you not value your time?

 

[JoeyP]

Plead NOT GUILTY. You'll likely get a plea deal which has words to the effect of "if you plead guilty to this lower charge, the initial charge will be dropped and you won't have to appear in court. But if you plead not guilty to this lower charge, you will not be offered another plea and will be given a court date for the higher charge."

Most municipalities have court workers who try to clear the bench from low paying fines from first time offenders. It just doesn't make sense to require every violator to appear for relatively small fines, not to mention all the court time for the officers.

 

[exdeath]

Move to AZ. As long as you get a tire over the line before the red you're good.

 

[alkemyst]

Yet, you are not supposed to enter an intersection unless you can safely clear it unless it is a protected turn.

Many states will provide you with a ticket for blocking opposing traffic that has the right of way.

Not down here and not in the other states I have driven. Most states driving handbooks will explain that you enter the intersection to make your turn, not wait at the light. If you had a green arrow and then a green light, you should not be in anyone's freaking right-of-way.

 

[SandEagle]

nex time...

*sunglasses*

LookInFrontOfYou

 

[jayzds]

Move to AZ. As long as you get a tire over the line before the red you're good.

this^^

If your in the intersection when the light turns red you are clear and have the right of way.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

I'm proud of you.

You took your first pinch like a man and learned the two greatest lessons in life.

Never rat on your friends, and always keep your mouth shut.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

I always ask (and have never been denied) to pay an increased fine and skip traffic safety snooze and point modifications to my license record. If you are unsure just what the American petty criminal justice system is about, just think about what I said. ...never been denied.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Just pay it, it's less trouble and actually cheaper to just pay it and forget about it. By the time you hire a lawyer, go to the various hearings and court sessions etc... it will have cost you more than the $110 or whatever the ticket is. I never understood why anyone would want to bother fighting a ticket. Your only chance is if the cop does not show up then it's written off but if the cop shows up then it's your word against his. You lose.

 

[Aikouka]

what? really? i thought you were supposed to sit back behind the line on a left turn, then finally just about before the light changes red you pull up then quickly realize you cant go so you just sit in the middle of the whole fucking intersection like a complete dumbass. at least thats what the people in front of me seem to need to do

Ugh, I hate it when people pull forward into the intersection while waiting for opposing traffic to clear. If the road is busy enough, the turning vehicle will not be able to proceed until the other direction has stopped. The problem is... the other direction is stopping because the light is now red! It happened to me again this weekend... I couldn't go when the light turned green because some idiot was still in the intersection. :| I hate slowing down people behind me, so when the light changes, I get moving.

If you had a green arrow and then a green light, you should not be in anyone's freaking right-of-way.

The problems that I run into are when people pull into the intersection when they only have a green light (not an arrow). They sit there waiting for a break in traffic that never comes.

That's not always the case. Get on I-17 South from Bethany Home in Phoenix - you can enter while green and it'll still be red before you get across.

Sounds like a poorly timed light. The time between turning yellow to turning red is supposed to take into account stopping distance and such.

 

[alkemyst]

Just pay it, it's less trouble and actually cheaper to just pay it and forget about it. By the time you hire a lawyer, go to the various hearings and court sessions etc... it will have cost you more than the $110 or whatever the ticket is. I never understood why anyone would want to bother fighting a ticket. Your only chance is if the cop does not show up then it's written off but if the cop shows up then it's your word against his. You lose.

I am not sure why you bother posting when so much of your information is utterly absurd.

In the US we have a point system. Paying your ticket still leaves you with the points on your license. Those points don't take much to result in an insurance premium increase over years.

A red light ticket here is $180, a 'ticket clinic' type place is usually $50-100 bucks. Usually you still have to pay the fine as court costs, but they almost always get the points removed.

 

[alkemyst]

Ugh, I hate it when people pull forward into the intersection while waiting for opposing traffic to clear. If the road is busy enough, the turning vehicle will not be able to proceed until the other direction has stopped. The problem is... the other direction is stopping because the light is now red! It happened to me again this weekend... I couldn't go when the light turned green because some idiot was still in the intersection. :| I hate slowing down people behind me, so when the light changes, I get moving.

That idiot was supposed to then complete his turn when that light turned red, clearing the intersection.

The problems that I run into are when people pull into the intersection when they only have a green light (not an arrow). They sit there waiting for a break in traffic that never comes.

There should be a break definitely when that light turns red. Again allowing them to complete their turn and free the intersection.

Sounds like a poorly timed light. The time between turning yellow to turning red is supposed to take into account stopping distance and such.

Not necessarily. Most states actually state the law is you only should start stopping on a yellow light provided you can safely stop in time.

 

[JoeyP]

I am not sure why you bother posting when so much of your information is utterly absurd.

In the US we have a point system. Paying your ticket still leaves you with the points on your license. Those points don't take much to result in an insurance premium increase over years.

A red light ticket here is $180, a 'ticket clinic' type place is usually $50-100 bucks. Usually you still have to pay the fine as court costs, but they almost always get the points removed.

In New York, we have an "1110a violation":

In many ways, this section of law is a catch-all. There are specific violations for red lights, green arrows, stop signs, speed signs, etc, yet in theory any one of these violations could be written under the general traffic control device section.
A traffic control device violation in New York carries 2 points. It is often preferable to the more specific violations mentioned above because those generally carry 3 or more NY traffic ticket points.

source

At least here, it is almost always worth pleading Not Guilty for moving violations in hopes of a plea to an 1110a.

Also, take your defensive driving course every 3 years. It is good for point removal, insurance discounts, and improved education.

 

[alkemyst]

In New York, we have an "1110a violation": source

At least here, it is almost always worth pleading Not Guilty for moving violations in hopes of a plea to an 1110a.

Also, take your defensive driving course every 3 years. It is good for point removal, insurance discounts, and improved education.

You'd plea "no contest" if you didn't want to insult the court/judge.