Going through a red light & police car

ACG

I was driving home earlier (so no idea if I will get a fine through the post yet) and there were 3 lanes. One to turn right which had 3-4 cars, one to turn left/go straight on which had maybe 3 cars and a middle lane, which had just me.

I stopped at the lights and about 20 seconds later an unmarked police car with flashing lights in the front grill came up behind me.

I know the road well and I know there is a camera at the lights, there has been for years, so I would not go past the line without good reason.

The only way this police car was getting past was if I moved, so I went forward and pulled infront of the car to the left with enough space for the police car to get through. I REALLLY did not want to move forward as I have read stories where people argue their tickets are not valid as they were allowing an emergency vehicle through. I did not go 100% over the line but about 50% of my car did.

I did not notice a flash but I suppose you do not always notice one.

As a side note, my car is on lease and I have heard lease companies pay the bill and invoice you. Assuming they pay the bill and invoice me, do I have any rights to appeal this?

beamerguy

Would not worry about it, those cameras take pics of those going straight over red lights
If the camera did flash it would show the police car

Just in case, just keep notes on the incident but doubt you will hear anything

waamo

For a red light offence a lease company cannot pay the fine for you. They would be required to give your name and address to the police.

The flashes are pretty bright and noticeable. There is nothing really you can do until either you receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution or 6 months have passed. 6 months is the time limit to initiate a prosecution.

At worst, if you decide not to fight it, you should get a red light course rather than a fine and points.

ACG

Good to know the lease company can not just pay it.
But I would definitely fight it. I would not fancy paying £80 and sitting on a course for someone to tell me going through a red light is wrong.

Im not the sharpest knife in the box but sitting at a red light for 20 seconds and then going through them knowing full well there is a camera is pretty numb even for me.

beamerguy

ACG wrote: »

Good to know the lease company can not just pay it.
But I would definitely fight it. I would not fancy paying £80 and sitting on a course for someone to tell me going through a red light is wrong.

Im not the sharpest knife in the box but sitting at a red light for 20 seconds and then going through them knowing full well there is a camera is pretty numb even for me.

Think logically, if as you say you moved in front of the car in the next lane, your number plate would probably not show.
You actually did not run a red light ... the police car did

ACG

I did not go completely infront of the next car I just moved forward and turned to the left a little to move to one side.

Half my car did go past the line which is on par with the red light. I am not sure if that classes as running a red light or not, but if I did it in a driving test I would fail the test...

It seems its doubtful I would get a ticket, but if I did I would probably "get off" with it if I appealed?

beamerguy

ACG wrote: »

I did not go completely infront of the next car I just moved forward and turned to the left a little to move to one side.

Half my car did go past the line which is on par with the red light. I am not sure if that classes as running a red light or not, but if I did it in a driving test I would fail the test...

It seems its doubtful I would get a ticket, but if I did I would probably "get off" with it if I appealed?

So you did not run the red light. The light will flash as you go over the junction, you did not.

You would not fail a driving test for allowing a police car to get through.

Nothing will happen

ACG

Awesome, thanks.

unforeseen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btRHvQEIkcU

Cheshire police recommend the actions shown in this

Coupon-mad

unforeseen wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btRHvQEIkcU

Cheshire police recommend the actions shown in this

Filmed in Sussex, I see.

fisherjim

It all depends on what type of camera is installed, some are speed cameras that are tuned on when the lights go red and I believe are set to around 15-20mph just to trigger the radar.
Though I think that those are more or less obsolete due to the film being no longer a viable or affordable medium.

Later ones are digital and use sensors in the road just after the junction which trigger the camera, and some use a laser to double up as a speed camera, these do not flash.

But it is illegal and dangerous to cross the white line on a red light unless a police officer actually gets out and directs the traffic by hand signals as I understand it.

So it's a waiting game, though if the camera has been there for years it's probably an old speed type that will be defunct until they update it.