Ticket for running a red light - Should I fight? Your thoughts!

[Nightfall]

Originally posted by: Hossenfeffer
Also, how far away -was- the cop and could that have any bearing on the judgment on how "red" the light was?

I have no idea. I didn't see any traffic so he could have been in a parking lot with his lights off. I will address that when the hearing comes around.

 

[nitsuj3580]

Originally posted by: Nightfall
Trying to get as many thoughts on this as possible.

Situation:
I was driving the speed limit, and as I get over into the left turn lane, the light turned yellow. There was no traffic around, so I just went through the light while it was yellow. Just down the road, a police officer pulls me over. I had all the right identification and he asked me why I ran that red light. I explained it was yellow when I passed under it, and he said that it was red. There was no point in arguing so I left it at that. He cited me for "disreguarding a red light".

I have thought about fighting this ticket, but here are the problems as I see them. I have no way to defend myself really. There was no other traffic and I have no witnesses. I know it was yellow, and he can say it was red and the judge will go against me. I don't know where the police officer was so I can't really say he didn't have a clear view of the situation.

The letter of the law in MI is if my car is past the white line before the light turns red (and it was), then I am allowed to pass through. I know this because I looked up at the light as I passed into the intersection. Since I wasn't speeding, I didn't try to "beat out" the light. I had time to go under it.

On the plus side, I have had no warnings, tickets, or violations of any kind for the past 6 years.

I obviously don't want these points to go on my license, and I am not afraid to take the time to fight it. Even if I can get it pleaded down to a lesser charge, that would be nice. However, I just don't see how I can fight it and win since it will undoubtedly turn into a "he said/she said" fight and I have no witnesses.

Your thoughts?

same exact situation for me. ran a yellow light, cop said it was red and gave me a ticket. I went to the court date on the ticket, DA reduced it to failure to obey a traffic control signal which is only 2 points as opposed to 3 if you run a red light (in NY at least) and no insurance hike. Got the points off a week later when I took a Defensive Driving course. Ticket was $50 plus a NY $35 surcharge or something so $85.

That was my first and only ticket in 7 years of driving.

It's his word against yours if you do fight it. It's not worth it IMO.

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Pay the fine, sign up for traffic safety school, do your 90 days court supervision (since you claim to have a clean record) and viola it will never show on your record provided you keep your nose clean for the period of court supervision.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Go to court.. maybe you'll get lucky and the officer won't show up for his scheduled day. If he does show up, the best you can hope for is getting it reduced.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
I would fight it, if for no other reason than to protect your clean record. Get a lawyer.

Next time stop for the yellow.

Viper GTS

isn't it standard accross to US to make a left when the light is yellow?

 

[Brutuskend]

I beat a running a red light ticket once.

Heres what I did.
Get a copy of your states driving manual, in it it will list stopping distances for cars going X speed (X being the speed you were driving, IE the POSTED speed limit). Ask the officer how far you were from the light when it turned yellow.
Elsewere in the manual it will give the rules reguarding yellow lights. In Oregon's it stated. You must stop at yellow lights unless it's unsafe to do otherwise. (or something close to that).

In my situation I was traveling X speed and was Y distance from the light when it turned yellow. According to the driving manual it would have taken me Z distance to stop, this would have put me somewhere in the middle of the intersection when my car came to a compleat stop. There was a LARGE golden retriever in the back of my stationwagon, and if I had tried to "Panic Stop", the dog would have ended up in the front seat, or WORSE. This would have filled the bill nicely for the "Unsafe to do otherwise" clause!

The judge threw the ticket out!


Since you were turning, and slowing down before the light, YMMV.

 

Originally posted by: josphII

Originally posted by: jumpr
Sure, go to court, but you'll lose. When it's your word against the officer's, unfortunately the burden of proof is on the defense. That's what sucks about traffic court.

always fight traffic tickets, you ppl have no idea how often these things are dismissed

Trust me, I've been to traffic court before. But this driver said he's from Michigan, as am I. There is no option for traffic school/reduced points in Michigan. Also, at least in Ann Arbor, police officers face disciplinary action if they don't show up in court (most likely, a warning for non-repeat no-shows). In fact, in one of the cases ahead of mine, the officer didn't show, and the other cops in the hearing room were talking about how he'd be in trouble at the next briefing. Next time you roll your eyes, make sure you know what you're talking about.