Red light camera question

dragon1952 · May 1

So today I was waiting to turn left at an intersection and the light was red. The light to go straight was green so I decided to go straight instead. I put my right turn signal on and moved into the intersection to go straight and saw a bright flash so I'm pretty sure it was the red light camera. Any idea how this would go down? Is there video also that would show me going straight, or was what I did illegal anyway.

msg · May 1

As long as the "officer" is actually watching and reviewing the content, you should be fine. I put officer in quotes, because I just recently read something about how states or cities are outsourcing this service because they don't have the police force manpower to dedicate to it, and there's some crooked stuff going on with the 3rd party service.

You're likely going to be going to prison, though. Dibs on your stuff? Got any records?

ken brydson · May 1

dragon1952 · May 1

Ha ha...I have a 'record' but no records. I've got a kickass stereo and some kickass guitars though.

treitz3 · May 2

Well, you have the right to face your accuser in a court of law. The 6th Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees the accused a right to confront the witnesses against him/her. Unless America has perverted that Constitutional right, then it is still your right. Not a privilege. A right.

Shouldn't matter if it is the police or a 3rd party contractor. Make them appear in court and answer your questions to prove your guilt or innocence to that of which you are accused.

Tom

F1nut · May 2

I believe technically that is considered a failure to obey a traffic marker. I also believe 99.999% of police wouldn't stop you for it.

msg · May 2

Really? One you're in that turn lane you can't signal and safely move out?

treitz3 · May 2

Could be considered an illegal lane change because you most likely drove over a solid white line. That said, people do it all the time.

Tom

msg · May 2

Right, yes, I agree, most people don't remember that nugget from driver's ed. For that law about not changing lanes in an intersection. I presume that solid line defines the beginning and end of the intersection.

WilliamM2 · May 2

So glad my state does not allow red light cameras, or speed enforcement cameras. They passed legislation banning it.

But then, they did just pass legislation for camera enforcment of construction zones only. So who knows what they will do in the future.

I believe if the camera did not capture your face, they have no case either way. One of the reasons they aren't used here.

PSOVLSK · May 2

WilliamM2 wrote: »

So glad my state does not allow red light cameras, or speed enforcement cameras. They passed legislation banning it.

But then, they did just pass legislation for camera enforcment of construction zones only. So who knows what they will do in the future.

I believe if the camera did not capture your face, they have no case either way. One of the reasons they aren't used here.

But if it captures the license plate of the vehicle registered in your name aren’t you liable?

WilliamM2 · May 2

PSOVLSK wrote: »

But if it captures the license plate of the vehicle registered in your name aren’t you liable?

The DRIVER is liable. Not the car, at least here.

That's why it's banned here, the plates are only on the rear, so you can't see who's driving.

F1nut · May 2

All that camera crap is nothing but a money grab.

WilliamM2 · May 2

F1nut wrote: »

All that camera crap is nothing but a money grab.

So is "most" road patrol enforcement too. My last ticket (long time ago) was a $5 fine, and $125 court costs, even though I didn't go to court, go figure. And a $35 "state filing fee". That $5 fine was $165 total.

dragon1952 · May 2

From doing a little research on Oregon traffic law it appears that what I did is considered and illegal lane change. I could likely fight the running a red light issue though. Also, to change lanes from a left turn lane when you are first in line (I may not have mentioned that) you have to enter the intersection which I believe may be unlawful too.

billbillw · May 3

Here in Georgia, there was a proliferation of red light cameras in the early 2000s. Just about every municipality started installing them. Revenue was pouring into these local governments. Some people started noticing that the yellow light timing was very short on most of these, like 1 or 2 seconds. I think some of the State Legislators got nailed by tickets and next thing you know, there are new State Laws that require a minimum time of yellow light (depending on the speed limit for the road). Once those minimum yellow light times were implemented, all of a sudden, revenue dropped to the point where most of the local governments were spending more for the 3rd party service than they were earning in fines. Within a year, most were removed or simply shut down. There are a few that are still around, but you have to be really blatant to get a ticket since the yellow light is lengthy now.

gudnoyez · May 4

Just paid my 32mph in a 25 school zone $65 speed camera ticket today reluctantly yeah one shouldn't speed in a school zone understand that. I have been driving that route often throughout the past years since they have gone up, never got popped before unfortunately I was the only on the road at the time had there been others I probably wouldn't of got one as keeping up with the flow of other vehicles makes it hard for them to pinpoint a particular Vehicle.

Seriously though do we need a 3/4 mile before the school and a 3/4 mile after the school zone. I will now go out of my way to avoid all these traps scattered about town. I wrote on the memo part of the check pot hole donation. To bad they didnt use there scam money to actually fix the portholes. Unfortunately when the fire Department or Police ask for the annual donations instead of handing them a few bucks here or there this year I will tell them to get a hold if the place in Ohio where all the payments go because your payment dont go to the city or state you live in. Scam is what it is.

Red light camera question

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