[Help] I got a ticket for running a red light.

Reply from closed

closed — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:27:47 +0100

I agree with Verum. The fact you didn’t see the light at an intersection is really immaterial here. You will be asked if you saw the back of the lights facing the other direction, which surely would have been visible. Then you’ll be told if you saw them, you should have taken appropriate caution when approaching the intersection.

Having said that, take a photo like the others have suggested, and go to court.
Having your fine reduced or the points removed is surely worth the trouble.

Good luck.

Reply from M. Wright

M. Wright — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:43:47 +0100

And I bet the court’s response will be that you should be cautious enough approaching an intersection that you should have been able to discover the light quickly enough regardless of whether or not you saw the light easily, unless the branch is right in front of the light. In which case they won’t believe you without a picture. Nor would I.

Reply from theresape

theresape — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:23:32 +0100

Go to court to protest the ticket, and take a picture that shows the situation you describe. Be polite. They will at least reduce the amount, if they are anything like the traffic courts near where I live.

Reply from c-eek

c-eek — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:14:57 +0100

I agree that going to court might be a good idea. After all, if you don’t alert the court to the danger, nothing will be done about that obscured light. The life you save might be your own, or mine.

Reply from Kuvri (yodaluv12)

Kuvri (yodaluv12) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:01:42 +0100

Go for it, but take pictures of the area before you bring it up… in case they quickly send someone out to trim the branches. This is practically how my uncle makes his living lol…