Red Light Penalty Points

ahall41116

We have received notice that one of our cars (which me, wife and step daughter drive) went through a red light.

We cannot remember which one of us was driving - does it matter which one of us owns up?

should we ask for a copy of the picture?

if we dont, and i take responsibility would the police be able to tell if it wanst me?

anyt comments appreciated

mikey72

Didn't the Hamiltons get off a speeding fine with that excuse? No-one could remember who was driving at the time.

ginnersinner

If you genuinely can't remember, then don't either of you own up. However, be prepared for the registered keeper to be grilled about it. You would have to convince the court that your 'amnesia' is genuine, and show good grounds why - can't imagine how you could forget, given a date time and location you must know who it was - unless someone just popped out to the shops or something.

sarahg1969

What you are suggesting is perverting the course of justice, OP. Not really to be recommended, and no one on here would advise that you do that.

Have a good think, ask for the photos to identify the driver - I'm sure you'll be able to remember if you put your mind to it - it can't have happened that long ago.

rev_henry

Yes ask for the photos to try and help you.
If you still can't then I hear if you have traffic light convictions insurance is cheapest for females such as your wife, if you get my drift...

Lum

3 points / £60 for going through a red light if you accept the conditional offer
up to 6 points / £1000 if you take it to court
up to 6 points / £1000 for failure to identify the driver, which will end up in court.

Looks like they're cracking down on the husband&wife defence too
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7344964/Speeding-couple-fined-after-saying-they-couldnt-remember-who-was-driving.html

Kurtis_Blue

What's more worrying is that you not only went through a red light but cant remember doing it.

This "excuse" has worked n the past where drivers have swapped driving duty's on the same journey, if you pulled to the side of the road on an A road not known to you to swap seats it would be difficult to know whether this was before or after a speed/safety trap.

But going through a red light is diabolical.

LeeSouthEast

Particularly as most red light cameras only "arm" over 1 second after the light actually goes red. So you have the 2-3 second amber phase, light goes red, another second goes by and then you go through and get photographed...

vaio

In my (limited) experience the traffic light camera will clearly show the driver

flyingscotno1

LeeSouthEast wrote: »

Particularly as most red light cameras only "arm" over 1 second after the light actually goes red. So you have the 2-3 second amber phase, light goes red, another second goes by and then you go through and get photographed...

It is 3 seconds on amber all the time in the UK.

As far as I gather the 1 second after is largely a urban myth- or next to not noticeable so people think that. Certainly in my experience as soon as the red light is lit the camera is armed. I've data somewhere from when I was at uni about number of red light camera activations and one of the groups is red light for less than 0.5s!

vaio wrote: »

In my (limited) experience the traffic light camera will clearly show the driver

Hmm, not that sure they will be that clear esp if they are pavement side, but you might get lucky. Some pics for people who've never seen a picture are here. http://www.dcsafetycameras.org/enforcement/redLight.aspx

LeeSouthEast

I'll rephrase that then. In the safety camera partnership covering the area I love in, the red light cameras only arm 1 second after red.