First ticket in over 10 years...

[puppychow]

To my surprise a Folsom cop cited me today for failure to stop fully before executing a right hand turn at a red light. (EDIT - The bastage actually cited me for running the red light straight through, which I didn't, I made a right turn).

He said the light had turned red when I turned right, but I actually had started the right turn from a right turn only lane when the light was yellow and yes by the time I completed the turn the light had turned red, but I did not initiate the turn when the light was red. I was very nice and polite to the officer and asked him that since my driving record has been free of traffic violations for over 10 years, if he would kindly let me go with a warning to which the reply was a curt - "Nope, I am just doing my job, you need to obey traffic laws, I don't want to hear another word from you!". WTF??

He wrote me up for running a red light about a $400+ ticket with fine plus B.S. fees and traffic school tacked on, at least I am eligible for traffic school. Needless to say I will be fighting it. Ticket Assassin here I come...

PS - Incidentally I looked up the citing officer, this is the same ******-bag who was involved in the fatal shooting of a mentally depressed 23 year old in May of 2009. Maybe I should consider myself lucky he just shot off his mouth at me instead of notching another fatal shooting to his exemplary record...

 

[happyPuppy]

I am sure the Golden State thanks you for the contribution. I got nailed a couple years ago in Pleasant Hill for not stopping long enough, and there were no cars anywhere around me. Cha-Ching!

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

A timely thread. I'm researching radar detectors after more stops in the past year than in the previous 5 combined. State coffers are getting low. And a nice fund in Oregon is paying for red light cameras in my town to be installed. I'm trying to decide whether to get a nice GPS or radar detector.

Of course, that wouldn't have helped you purina. Sorry man.

 

[Bounce]

Right turn on red after stop. Stretching a yellow is taking a risk and this time you lost. Unless there's video it's your word against his and he'll win. (trust me on this)

Respect for the red has gotten so bad over the past decade (or more) that stricter enforcement is usually embraced by motorcyclists.

 

[MojaveFJR]

Wait till the speed cameras come on line like in Arizona.

What I don't like is the bs fees cali tacks on. My 50 dollar ticket became a 190 ticket. I fought the law on that one and won. Guy at work, his 150 dollar ticket became 700. He pleaded and got it reduced. He found a page that states all the extras to be assessed. I will ask him about it and post it up this evening.

 

[Fred W]

Afraid I have to side with Bounce on this one.

If you did not fully clear the intersection under the yellow (before the red) then technically you were in violation of the red light.

The only way that you might be able to get off is you are able to prove (with evidence) that the yellow timing is/was set too too short to allow you to clear clear the intersection if you enter it legally (ie green or just turned yellow). There should be some guidelines on that timing available somewhere.

Otherwise I'd say you are pretty much screwed. :angry2:

 

[Leskid]

He wrote me up for running a red light about a $400 ticket with fine plus B.S. fees and traffic school tacked on, at least I am eligible for traffic school. Needless to say I will be fighting it. Ticket Assassin here I come...

$400 for burning a yellow (barely)?!?!?!

That's at least one good thing about living in Quebec. Coming to a full stop, speed limits and the legal drinking age are all more like sugestions than rules.

Sorry to hear that puppychow - $400+++ is freaking ridiculous.

 

[FJRless]

Afraid I have to side with Bounce on this one.
If you did not fully clear the intersection under the yellow (before the red) then technically you were in violation of the red light.

The only way that you might be able to get off is you are able to prove (with evidence) that the yellow timing is/was set too too short to allow you to clear clear the intersection if you enter it legally (ie green or just turned yellow). There should be some guidelines on that timing available somewhere.

Otherwise I'd say you are pretty much screwed. :angry2:

You should check the vehicle code on this because I'm certain that as long as the light was anything but red when your front wheels crossed the limit line you are in the right. That doesn't mean, though, the officer won't swear on a stack of bibles the light was red when you entered the intersection.

 

[feeger]

Fight it!

https://www.helpigotaticket.com/

https://www.ticketassassin.com/

 

[FRJ Jc]

He wrote me up for running a red light about a $400 ticket with fine plus B.S. fees and traffic school tacked on, at least I am eligible for traffic school. Needless to say I will be fighting it. Ticket Assassin here I come...

$400 for burning a yellow (barely)?!?!?!

That's at least one good thing about living in Quebec. Coming to a full stop, speed limits and the legal drinking age are all more like sugestions than rules.

Sorry to hear that puppychow - $400+++ is freaking ridiculous.

Quebec has rules? I thought they where all "Suggestions"

 

[FRJ Jc]

Regardless of how "right" you are for what you've done. It becomes a question of his credibility over yours, which sucks as they are just as human as we are. Last time I checked anyways.

All they want is a conviction, therefore I would recomend fighting it, and having it reduce to a lesser charge by the crown. I'm taking a guess that your system works similarly to ours though.

 

[tcfjr]

The $400 fine is usually for violations of CA VC 21453(a), for running a red light. The fine for VC 21453( B) , failure to come to a complete stop before making a right turn on a red light, is usually much lower, often in the $70 range. It might be worth going to court to ask that the violation be changed to 21453( B) .

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Right turn on red after stop. Stretching a yellow is taking a risk and this time you lost. Unless there's video it's your word against his and he'll win. (trust me on this)
Respect for the red has gotten so bad over the past decade (or more) that stricter enforcement is usually embraced by motorcyclists.

A contrarian view:

Stopping on yellow will increase traffic congestion in metropolitan areas. Going on yellow helps keep traffic moving and benefits all road users. Stopping on red is mandatory.

Years ago I was reprimanded by a city dweller who was with me for not 'moving along' on yellow "You're just contributing to the problem when you slow, or worse - stop, on yellow" I was told. Traffic must "flow".

For the record: I'm with those who recco the OP get his day in court.

 

[puppychow]

So he did charge me with the wrong violation (better for the state coffers though), he should have charged me with CVC 21453 ( b ) - a small fine, but he chose to charge me with CVC 21453 (a) which is a big money maker for the state. These cops are just as ethical as any shady slimy used car salesman.

His claim that he saw me enter the intersection AFTER the light had turned red is just as bogus as his claim on my ticket that I was driving a silver car (I was driving a black one). That bastage couldn't tell even though he was inches away from my car that it was black, but that bastage claims that from wherever he was camping out at he could see me cross into the intersection after the light turned red.

 

[FJRless]

I would file a "trial by declaration" first. If the cop's not a writer he won't complete his report. If he doesn't, you win by default. If he answers, you will likely lose. If you lose, you can request a trial de novo. Here, the cop will have to testify against you. You can ask questions and make closing argument.

Bottom line is, if the cop sees you're a fighter he'll look for easier prey. He can write a dozen tickets in the time it takes to fight yours.

 

[FJRless]

His claim that he saw me enter the intersection AFTER the light had turned red is just as bogus as his claim on my ticket that I was driving a silver car (I was driving a black one).

Tuck that away as one of the questions you ask in court, not in your trial by declaration. And simply ask the question and allow him to state incorrectly in his testimony. Then show your honor by proof of your registration your vehicle is black. All you have to do is raise doubt.

 

[Bungie]

That's at least one good thing about living in Quebec. Coming to a full stop, speed limits and the legal drinking age are all more like sugestions than rules.

Unless you have out of province plates.

The SQ is world famous for welcoming visitors

 

[FJRless]

Oh and the cost of the ticket is only a fraction of what this will all cost you. Red light is considered a "wreckless" by our insurance company. Your insurance will go up about $400 for three years.

 

[painman]

Sorry to hear this PC. It is a known fact, Cali state and local agencies are stepping up efforts to create money flow that is in big trouble because of incompetents running the show. Fight it and give em hell. PM. <><