Fixed Penalty Red Lights

fivetide

Just to clarify for the OP since the thread seems to now be about willy waving and who can post the most unhelpful information....

Amber means stop. It doesn't mean "its only Amber" it means stop. As already posted you can't really get away with driving like that. Never heard of the phrase 'Amber gambler'?

Chances are, if you could see it was Amber, by the time you actually crossed the line it was red. that's why you should stop.

Most people claim "the lights suddenly changed to red". No they didn't. If they are greeen there is only one way they are going to go next so a good driver keeps driving but is ready to stop if needed. Top tippery there!

As for the court trip - I'd be tempted to go and plead your case that you will lose your job. I'm sure one of the many Nick Freeman's posting here will be able to say whether a judge can simply give you a bigger fine and no points so you keep your job.

5t.

Stigy

Woody. wrote: »

In what capacity have you reported them? Did you actually report them for summones yourself or let the police do all the work for you?

I have reported people for consideration of prosecuting them, in my capacity as a railway employee and Accredited to the British Transport Police (although the latter really doesn't matter as it's the former that permits the reporting of alleged offenders). The Police take NO part in the reporting of these people and all cases are private prosecutions (non-CPS) and are heard at Magistrates' Courts. I'm really not interested in getting in to a debate whereby all the uneducated folk say "you cant do that!" and, "how can railway cases go to Magistrates' Court you numpty!" and "You cant question people under caution!" (Re the latter, I most certainly can caution people and so can many other non-Police folk...). We've been there before with MSE's resident Barrack Room Lawyers. Just so you know.

fivetide wrote:

Amber means stop.

I agree, but only if safe to do so. In this context amber's sole pupose is to warn drivers that the red light will be coming next, and as such be prepared to stop. If the lights suddenly turn to amber and there's a massive great lorry behind you, I'd say stopping as though there's nothing behind you could be rather dangerous. If however they're amber and you're 250-yrds from the lights, it's a safe bet that they'll be red by the time you cross the line, or very close to it, making stopping in time much more realistic.

cyclonebri1

That's the 2nd time thats been asked. The answer is "they weren't"

Yorkie1

Woody. wrote: »

Another bar room lawyer.:rotfl:

No. Just another lawyer. Trying to be helpful but willing to concede when an inadvertent non-fundamental oversight occurred at night on a forum after a long day at work.

N3WLIFE

OP just go to the court and plead your case and see what happens. Hope you dont lose your job over this.

But to be honest you did say that you were sure it was amber while you were going through, was it amber as you approached?

Amber does actually mean you should stop at the stop line. You are only really advised to go through with caution IF there is a vehicle tailgating you.

So even if you say you knew it was amber, you are kinda admitting you went through, even though you were supposed to stop.

I do it all the time, im an amber gambler

sigh

cyclonebri1

N3WLIFE wrote: »

OP just go to the court and plead your case and see what happens. Hope you dont lose your job over this.

But to be honest you did say that you were sure it was amber while you were going through, was it amber as you approached?

Amber does actually mean you should stop at the stop line. You are only really advised to go through with caution IF there is a vehicle tailgating you.

So even if you say you knew it was amber, you are kinda admitting you went through, even though you were supposed to stop.

I do it all the time, im an amber gambler

sigh

And that's a total impractical situation. I can't recall the exact words of the highway code but I thhought it said that to stop "would cause danger to other road users", that could include braking so hard that the driver lost control at the intersection.

The fact is of course you can drive through a set of lights on amber, jeeeuuuuss if you approached at a speed that you could stop at the change the trasffic would freeze.
Problem is every other driver want's to be the last car through the lights. :A

elektra-2007

Sorry to bring up this old thread again, but things have dragged on. I disputed the ticket and waited for my court date, in the meantime I moved house. I emailed the police about my new address and expressed concern I hadn't yet heard from them. They said it can take 6 months and they would pass on my new address, fast forward to march several emails later as I still hadn't heard from them, I sent my license off for a change and it came back with points and a fine. I was fumming and emailed the police as I wanted to goto court and they had ignored me.
I recived an email saying someone would look into the matter.
Last week bailiffs called at my house for £530! When I rang them it was regarding this fine. I rang the police and wanted to know why I had never heard from them, the police lady was lovely, checked it a out for me found my emails. It turns out I had been taken to court and convicted, BUT the officer in charge hadn't changed my address even tho he knew my new address so everything from the police and courts all went to my old address. The police lady advised me to attend my local court and get a STAT DEC, which I've done.
My question is, what happens next?
Has this happened to anyone? What was your experience. Everyone I ask has no idea!
Any help would be much appreciated.

hallowitch

if your stat dec is accepted (and i can see no reason why it should not be as all legal notices have would have gone to your previous address) your fine reverts back to the start you can accept the fixed penalty or go to court

Stigy

It goes back to court to have the trial reheard. You'll receive a summons and will more than likely want to attend and put your case across. You'll be asked how you wish to plead etc. It shouldn't go as far back as the initial FPN, because you chose to appeal that, and this will be evident, and also Statutory Declarations are usually in respect of court cases.

The Statutory Declaration is basically telling the court that you had no knowledge of the case being heard and wish for it to be heard again, so you can have a fair hearing. It should be okay in your case, as there's a papertrail of emails that told the relevant bodies of your pending move etc.

elektra-2007

Thank you, this has been a year long nightmare, I just want it over now!