Community Forums

DFR · 09-24-2010, 07:37 PM

The argument that I must be clear of the intersection BEFORE light turns red makes no sense. If I'm sitting in the intersection waiting to turn left when traffic clears, it puts me in a position where the light may be red before I can make my turn due to traffic. Would the camera then get me for violating the red?

RickO · 09-24-2010, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFR

The argument that I must be clear of the intersection BEFORE light turns red makes no sense. If I'm sitting in the intersection waiting to turn left when traffic clears, it puts me in a position where the light may be red before I can make my turn due to traffic. Would the camera then get me for violating the red?

Couldn't agree more. I'm not sure how big a role cameras play in this scenario though... I haven't heard of complaints for this but I suppose it happens but doesn't seem right if it does.

On a related note though, and I can't swear that it's true but we're currently in Minnesota and family members warned us that a law just went into effect here that makes the exact situation you describe a violation. Hard to believe but that's the rumor on the street around here.

Rick

CD · 09-24-2010, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickO

Couldn't agree more. I'm not sure how big a role cameras play in this scenario though... I haven't heard of complaints for this but I suppose it happens but doesn't seem right if it does.

On a related note though, and I can't swear that it's true but we're currently in Minnesota and family members warned us that a law just went into effect here that makes the exact situation you describe a violation. Hard to believe but that's the rumor on the street around here.

Rick

I think the rule is that you don't enter the intersection until you have a place to go through even though many of us don't practice it. It's the same when you enter an intersection and traffic is stopped on the other side and you will be stopped in the intersection and may eventually block cross traffic.

georgetown350 · 09-24-2010, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Hard to believe but that's the rumor on the street around here.

Don't believe rumors especially if they don't make sense.... permanent grid lock would be the result.

The camera is watching the traffic that goes straight not the lanes that turn as its understood that you can legally turn against a red if you are already in the intersection. Just common sense.... We all know it is safest to make sure the upcoming traffic is going to stop before you make your turn so most likely the light will be red. If its still yellow you are taking a chance that some hot shot is going to run the yellow and broad side you.

CD · 09-24-2010, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgetown350

The camera is watching the traffic that goes straight not the lanes that turn as its understood that you can legally turn against a red if you are already in the intersection.

Don't count on it. That is what a lot of people are getting caught on around here. Instead of stopping on red and then turning right, they slow down and coast around. Then they are had.

R1Kirby · 09-27-2010, 02:00 PM

If you are obaying the law, why would the cameras be a problem?

a k · 09-27-2010, 02:08 PM

If you got a ticket, the light was red when your front bumper crossed the white line. They take a picture and a movie, so if you got one,pay the ticket. Your P****D off because you got caught. Just paid mine. Didn't like it but they proved it. $85 lesson learned. Glad I didn't t-bone someone. I figure I got off lucky. I could of creamed someone.

CD · 09-27-2010, 02:41 PM

A few years ago, we spent a few days in and around a college town in Ca. When we entered town we were greeted with a big sign advising that cameras were in use and the fine was about $300 (I don’t remember the exact #). I have never been in a town that had so little abuse of yellow/red lights. We saw no one pushing the lights or jamming on the brakes or nearly rear ending someone. It may have happened but we didn’t see it. It would seem to me that making the yellow a second or so longer would be a good idea if they really want to make it safer. Then there would be no excuse for running the yellow or jamming on the brakes along with the big fine if you think you can beat the light.

wa0elm · 09-27-2010, 05:12 PM

I understand, goergetown, that the thread was intended to be about cameras. I also understand that some of the posters had some unkind words and toughts about how police officers operate. I was simply putting forth the other side of the coin.

RedneckExpress · 09-27-2010, 05:28 PM

I treat camera intersections in thus a fashion:

If the light has been green for more than 5 seconds by the time I begin to reach it or I was not waiting within the first few cars at the light, I will either start slowing down for a stop because I can't trust the light to not to begin to cycle as I get closer to the intersection when I can no longer stop the vehicle, or I will simply creep ahead towards the intersection, rather than try and get up to speed and risk the light changing as I start to enter the intersection.

CD · 09-27-2010, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa0elm

I understand, goergetown, that the thread was intended to be about cameras. I also understand that some of the posters had some unkind words and toughts about how police officers operate. I was simply putting forth the other side of the coin.

I beg to differ. Here is the first line of the first post. (who has received a ticket while operating an RV?).

georgetown350 · 09-27-2010, 06:01 PM

Quote:

I also understand that some of the posters had some unkind words and toughts about how police officers operate.

If you go back and read the posts again you will find that all the negativity was directed at the cameras not cops.

Sportech · 09-28-2010, 08:28 PM

I was headed to a NASCAR race in Darlington SC and was pulled over for speeding in my 39ft Discovery. It didn't help that I had a big "Ford Racing" logo on the back of the coach. After giving me a good chewing out, he just told me to slow down! As he was waking away, I called out to him that he had drop something and handed him a bag with a few Ford Racing shirts and hats. We both went on our way a little happier.

R1Kirby · 09-29-2010, 12:20 PM

Here's a little Camera humor......

I was driving when I saw the flash of a traffic camera. I figured that my picture had been taken for exceeding the limit even though I knew that I was not speeding. Just to be sure, I went around the block and passed the same spot, driving even more slowly, but again the camera flashed. Now I began to think that this was quite funny, so I drove even slower as I passed the area once more, but the traffic camera again flashed.

I tried a fourth and fifth time with the same results and was now laughing as the camera flashed while I rolled past at a snail's pace. Two weeks later, I got five tickets in the mail for driving without a seat belt.

You can't fix stupid