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Another Red Light Ticket Thread

T

theARNSKI

macrumors regular
Original poster
May 27, 2009
164
0
I'm sorry if this is redundant, but I'm really tripping out here...

Yesterday, I picked up a couple friends from the San Francisco International airport, back from doing some 10-day nursing volunteership in Panama. We dropped on of their classmates home and afterwards we ended up going to the nearest fast food so my other friends can get some food to eat.

Since I wasn't (nor were my friends) very familiar with the area and it was nearly 2am, I was driving in a slow and steady speed so that I won't miss any turns to get onto the freeway that the GPS would mention. When I heard my GPS say "Freeway exit on the right in 0.1 miles," my attention was completely diverted to everything on the right of the street.

Next thing I notice, one of my friends was saying "red light...red light...," and by the time it clicked to me what it meant, I was well into the intersection. I panicked and I just sped through the rest of it. I've never ran a red light before, so I wasn't sure of what to do...

I dunno if there were any cameras and I don't recall seeing any flashes. So this morning, I've been looking up sites that show red light camera locations and some sites say there is a camera there and some sites say there isn't. I don't know which to believe. Is there any way I can check to see if I got a red light ticket? And also, by how much does insurance increase if you get a red light ticket?
 
theARNSKI said:
Is there any way I can check to see if I got a red light ticket? And also, by how much does insurance increase if you get a red light ticket?
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I wouldn't worry too much. If you get one it'll come in the mail. If you didn't... then it won't.

You'd probably have to call your insurance company to find that out. It most likely depends on the company, how old you are, if you're male/female, etc etc... there's really no way somebody here could tell you for sure.

Just be glad you didn't hit anybody and nobody hit you.
 
SilentPanda said:
I wouldn't worry too much. If you get one it'll come in the mail. If you didn't... then it won't.

You'd probably have to call your insurance company to find that out. It most likely depends on the company, how old you are, if you're male/female, etc etc... there's really no way somebody here could tell you for sure.

Just be glad you didn't hit anybody and nobody hit you.
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Right on. Thanks for the quick reply.

It's funny you say the last bit because it really was a blessing that we didn't get hit. As ashamed I am of saying it, when it clicked to me what my friend meant about "red light," I was being honked at by an oncoming ambulance. Just in total confusion and panic, I sped up and there was a car coming on the other side of the ambulance that broke just in time.

I felt really bad as I'm normally a safe and sure driver. For the rest of the trip back to Sacramento from San Francisco, I was pretty shooken up and I kept telling my friends I was sorry. They were alright with it, brushed it off since we were all okay, and I think just forgot about it because they were caught up in telling stories about their 10-day trip.

But I'm pretty nervous for that ticket, should it come. I've been reading that red light tickets in that area cost $446......
 
i was told that if you get a ticket from a camera, they will mail you the ticket. after you get it you throw it away and pretend you never got it. you must be personally served with the notice to hold up in court and to be fined for the violation. just like being sued, someone must serve the paper work. if you read at the bottom of the ticket it says something like "by signing this you are waiving your rights to be served" and basically just pleading guilty. i think they hope youre dumb enough to sign it and mail money without a fight. good chance they will not come to your house and serve you. also, i believe they expire after a certain amount of time, then the court tosses them out.

i just went through this with my boyfriend. he got two, 1 min apart in phx az. that was months ago and nothing has happened.

good luck!
 
Update?

This is for Mariahrg - any update on the ignored ticket? I just got one and am considering ignoring it, but am curious to hear from someone else who adopted this strategy. I'm a little worried about the threat that a warrant for my arrest will be issued.
 
MelissaMudge said:
This is for Mariahrg - any update on the ignored ticket? I just got one and am considering ignoring it, but am curious to hear from someone else who adopted this strategy. I'm a little worried about the threat that a warrant for my arrest will be issued.
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Great idea...let us know how that works out for you :rolleyes:
 
If there was a camera and you got caught running the red light, you will get something in the mail. Fines and penalties vary depending on where you live. In Dallas, it's $75 but you don't get anything on your record.

For those who are guilty and try to ignore or fight the charge, I say take responsibility for your action. If you don't want a ticket, then don't break the law. If you don't like the law, then work on getting it change.
 
Vudoo said:
For those who are guilty and try to ignore or fight the charge, I say take responsibility for your action. If you don't want a ticket, then don't break the law. If you don't like the law, then work on getting it change.
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Except these cameras aren't very reliable. There's one in particular on highway 380 north of Dallas that I've seen no fewer than 20 times snap a picture of someone legally turning left when the light is green - the stupid camera thinks they're going straight from the other direction, where the light is red. Sometimes you need to stand up for yourself if you're wrongly accused of something.
 
If there is no flash, there is no camera. Also, I have seen FIRST HAND a lot of red light car crashes, and they aren't pretty. Be happy that you didn't hurt yourself, anyone else, or the passengers depending on you to drive them to their destination. A good friend died in a red light car accident (though it was because a drunk driver ran a red light) If you get a ticket, just man up and pay it.
 
Tomorrow said:
Except these cameras aren't very reliable. There's one in particular on highway 380 north of Dallas that I've seen no fewer than 20 times snap a picture of someone legally turning left when the light is green - the stupid camera thinks they're going straight from the other direction, where the light is red. Sometimes you need to stand up for yourself if you're wrongly accused of something.
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Just because a flash went off, that doesn't mean you got a ticket. A cop reviews these before they get sent out. In the image, you can see the status of the light, what lane # you're traveling in, and so forth. If it goes off, and you didn't break the law, 99.9% of the time, you won't get the ticket. I have ran over the sensors (during a turn) going the wrong direction before, and it didn't trigger the cameras. You never got wrongfully accused if you never got a ticket in the first place.

I know here in Phoenix, you can go to a website with your Notice #, and you can view a video of you breaking the law...akin to a CCTV camera catching you stealing. Kind of can't lie your way around video evidence.

In the event that the .1% you got a ticket for something you didn't do, thats what court is for.
 
Tomorrow said:
Except these cameras aren't very reliable. There's one in particular on highway 380 north of Dallas that I've seen no fewer than 20 times snap a picture of someone legally turning left when the light is green - the stupid camera thinks they're going straight from the other direction, where the light is red. Sometimes you need to stand up for yourself if you're wrongly accused of something.
Click to expand...

while that is true every picture is reviewed by someone and from there they decide if a ticket is sent out.

Also I know in Dallas and Houston if you get a ticket you can view a recording of the event. Doing that reduced the number of contested ticket greatly because it generally shows people running a red light.
 
mariahrg said:
i was told that if you get a ticket from a camera, they will mail you the ticket. after you get it you throw it away and pretend you never got it. you must be personally served with the notice to hold up in court and to be fined for the violation. just like being sued, someone must serve the paper work. if you read at the bottom of the ticket it says something like "by signing this you are waiving your rights to be served" and basically just pleading guilty. i think they hope youre dumb enough to sign it and mail money without a fight. good chance they will not come to your house and serve you. also, i believe they expire after a certain amount of time, then the court tosses them out.

i just went through this with my boyfriend. he got two, 1 min apart in phx az. that was months ago and nothing has happened.

good luck!
Click to expand...
You are trying to promote red light running? Whatever has happened to taking responsibility for your own actions? Or is it all now always someone else's fault?

Also, you do realize that they do have process servers handing these out for idiots who think its ok to do what they want on the road.

I am not all for speed cameras, but I am sure all for red light cameras. Red lights mean stop!
 
dontwalkhand said:
If you get a ticket, just man up and pay it.
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Yes, grow a pair, and grow-up.

dontwalkhand said:
You are trying to promote red light running? Whatever has happened to taking responsibility for your own actions? Or is it all now always someone else's fault?
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Always. ;)

Teemu and Eino were driving their pickup truck to Michigammee.

When they got to the traffic light in Negaunee, Teemu drove right through the red light.

Eino cried, "Holywha, Teemu, what are you doing?"

Teemu kept driving and replied, "Don't worry, my brother taught me to drive".

When they got to the light in Ishpeming, Teemu drove through another red light.

Eino asked, "Why do you keep running red lights?".

Teemu said, "Don't worry, my brother taught me to drive".

When they got to the light in West Ishpeming, Teemu slammed on the brakes and screeched to a halt at a green light.

Eino asked, "Teemu, why do you drive through red lights but stop at green lights?".

Teemu replied, "My brother might be coming the other way".
Click to expand...
 
iJohnHenry said:
Yes, grow a pair, and grow-up.



Always. ;)
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The nice man is right. :D

From your post, you sound like a decent person endowed with a conscience. Do the right thing - if you get the ticket, pay it. I don't know if it will bump your insurance, but you'll find a way to manage. In Mass, first ticket is "forgiven" by insurance co.

As for the joke - forgive him for he knows not what he does :p;)
 
I've had the red light camera go off on me before while making a right hand turn on red, which is legal unless there is a sign. I have never received a ticket.

I have had friends who received tickets for stopping beyond the stop line or sign. That reinforces me to remember to stop before the line or sign.
 
Rodimus Prime said:
while that is true every picture is reviewed by someone and from there they decide if a ticket is sent out.

Also I know in Dallas and Houston if you get a ticket you can view a recording of the event. Doing that reduced the number of contested ticket greatly because it generally shows people running a red light.
Click to expand...

They're not necessarily reviewed...

http://www.wbaltv.com/r/26821379/detail.html

And not all cameras in DFW offer video.

Vudoo said:
I've had the red light camera go off on me before while making a right hand turn on red, which is legal unless there is a sign. I have never received a ticket.

I have had friends who received tickets for stopping beyond the stop line or sign. That reinforces me to remember to stop before the line or sign.
Click to expand...

I've been ticketed for this. Stop behind the line, ease up to make a right since you can't see past everyone on your left, stop again, and hello citation. Even if you make the turn legally, you can still get one.
:mad:
 
Last edited:
codymac said:
I've been ticketed for this. Stop behind the line, ease up to make a right since you can't see past everyone on your left, stop again, and hello citation. Even if you make the turn legally, you can still get one.
:mad:
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Was the front of your bumper in front of the line? Did you wait 3 seconds before your eased up?
 
Vudoo said:
Was the front of your bumper in front of the line? Did you wait 3 seconds before your eased up?
Click to expand...

Absolutely not over the line when I stopped and I had to wait for traffic to clear the intersection before pulling up.

Stopped, waited for traffic to clear, eased up to verify it's clear, made the right turn, and here's a ticket in the mail.

None of the attorneys I spoke with would fight it since the cameras were new. The handful I spoke with said to just pay it since it's a civil charge, doesn't go on a driving record, and it would cost at least as much as the citation to fight it.
:rolleyes:

It's a nice way for municipalities to skirt the system and get what they're really after. If it were about safety, it would be criminal, go on the offender's driving record, and be able to be picked up by the state's driver improvement bureau (which suspends/revokes licenses for repeat offenders).
 
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