sam6666

After 20 years driving with a clean licence I finally got booked yesterday.
Still no speeding ticket - this was for going through a red light.
I admit I was guilty but I genuinely didn't do it on purpose, I didnt run the red light, the situation was as follows....

Near my work in San Rafael there is a big junction with one set of lights after the other.
If you are the first in line to stop at the junction, you are unable to see the traffic lights immediately to your left and right so you have to look ahead to the lights, quite far away, at the other side of the junction to take your cue.

The problem is that just a few feet behind them is another set of different lights which I guess I was zoned in on by mistake. I stopped at the light for a long time and then saw the lights ahead of me turn green and proceeded forward. The problem was that I took my cue from the further lights rather than the nearer ones - duh, stupid me.

This is a common mistake at this junction, I have seen people make the same mistake before, and when I asked around at work, everyone I spoke to said they had seen people do the same thing or had accidentally made the same mistake themselves on occasion.

When I was flagged down by the cop, I genuinely didnt realise the mistake I had made. I was driving fred's 350Z and thought I was about to be booked for him not having a front plate. I wish.

The police officer, who was very friendly and nice to me explained to me he had to book people for making this mistake so as to limit accidents occurring. This got me thinking. If the junction is set up in a way that causes everyday citizens to make this same mistake often, maybe I should go to court and make a case for the junction itself being confusing and unsafe. Not so much as to try and get out of it, but to make a point. If they genuinely are concerned about accidents then shouldn't they be concerned that the junction is causing people to make this error.

What do you think - is it worth the effort? I have no experience of this so I don't have a clue.

When I explained to the cop that people make this mistake at this junction all the time, he denied it and said the only person he had booked for the same thing was drunk. I didn't like the implication that I was driving like a drunk although I didnt say anything to him about that.

Any thoughts comments or experiences greatfully received regarding this matter.

thanks all - Sam

nVz2000

I dunno - you can give it a shot but the general rule is that if you cross the limit line/into the intersection and the light is red, then they are going to get you for it.

What intersection is this ?

-= joe =-

sam6666

It's at Bellam where Francisco crosses
when you are driving west, just before the freeway entrance, by the gas station

RACER

NOT guilty your Honor

DongTran

so you're like 36?

RACER

Maybe she started when she was 9

sam6666

oh you are all SO charming. thank you
we start later in England (17)
and i actually realised its now 21 years I've been driving. argh!

my birthdate is in my user name.
it's sad, I am an old fogey. really.

WhiteS2k

If it is any consolation, some of us are much older than that!

sebrings2k

I would...what do you have to lose?
If the cop doesn't show up you win.
You go to court and ask if you can go to driving school (possible discount in fine and no points towards your record)
If you lose...well you'd be paying the same amount anyway.

BigMeanBull

If you lose i think you waive your right to traffic school.