Kit13

I would like the help of the board!

I pulled up to a set of traffic lights early the other morning. As the lights changed from red to amber I began to pull away, as I did so the red light camera flashed me. (I was not racing off the lights, it was 6.30am and there was hardly any traffic on the road!).

I would like to know whether I can expect a letter from Plod shortly as I am not clear on how the law views this type of situation? The red stop light was not illuminated when I pulled away (so technically I was not running a red light) and it wasn't as if I was trying to beat the lights.......

If I do receive a letter from the police is it worth contesting? Thanks for your help!

K

Ade

I am no expert, but I belive you are technically in breach if you crossed the line while on red and amber.

I would have thought is was certainly worth arguing about. If you do get the letter the camera will have measured your speed as well. If this is very low it will certainly help your case. If it's high then you may find it harder.

Good luck.

euan

AFAIK you are only supposed to move on green.

But I always thought these cameras were designed to catch people that went through lights too late, ie after they had gone to red. I didn't think they would catch people jumping the gun so to speak.

I'm sure I've started moving as soon as the light goes to amber, although probably not crossed the line.

Maybe it just flashes, but records nothing in those cases. Or the camera may have a fault - worth investigating if you do get charged and think you weren't in the wrong.

JimboM

Does it not flash after you have passed quite some distance over the the line, at least a cuppla yards??? It flashes if it detects movement at any speed beyond the line... there's one just down from my house, and I seen someone crawl over it at 5mph and they got flashed.

I try to avoid it whenever I can, plus the detour is much better

user 7202102820

I ought to point out that Kit13 was driving a turbo charged astra at the time, so probably jumped the green significantly!!

moff

I think you should expect a letter soon

I got flashed as I was waiting in the middle of a crossroads (no yellow box). Lights changed to red as I was exiting and the camera flashed. But since I crossed the line whilst there were on red I was ok.

soulcrew

can a red light camera see your number plate if u havnt crossed the white line anyway.
me and the mrs have been flashed by the same camera in cardiff just as the light has gone from red to amber about 4 times and the second flash went off when the light was green.personally i wouldnt worry about it

BuzzRM

The red light must have been illuminated surely? It doesn't go Red, Amber, Green. It goes Red, Red and Amber, Green. So unless the Green was showing, the Red would have been showing too.

Unless you were in the USA at the time...

fluffyninja

Seem to remember the official line on the lights is

Stopping:
Amber light shows - Stop unless it is unsafe to do so (i.e. you're doing the speed limit and someone is tailgating you so if you stamp on the anchors they'll rear end you)

Starting
Red and amber lights show - Be prepared to move

If you're across the stop line in a que of traffic it's up to the drivers discresion as to which is the safeest thing to do, stop or go.

think that's right