Caught out by red light camera - around 10 seconds after it went red

user1977

justpassingthrough24 said:

I am obliged to declare anything to my defence union and employer. It generally looks bad on our record but as you say, wouldn't necessarily become public. I am probably being dramatic

I suspect so, yes - why would they be concerned about a relatively minor driving offence? I could understand the worry if it was something involving violence or dishonesty.

Car_54

TadleyBaggie said:

Regardless of whether a fixed penalty is issued or it goes to court, the maximum number of points for a RLC offence is 3 points (unless they decide to prosecute a careless/dangerous offence). Only the fine will be larger (based on nett weekly income) plus court costs and victim charge.

3 points, or disqualification. Nothing in between!

Car_54

Tigsteroonie said:

This happened to Marleyboy about six years ago at a very similar junction layout. He got a notification of it going to court, had no mitigating circumstances so pled guilty by post, didn't have to appear, He was given a court fine plus victim surcharge and 3 points on his licence (now spent). It's a traffic offence, not a criminal conviction. 

It is a criminal conviction, but not a recordable one.

Norman_Castle

Grey_Critic said:

Should you get a summons then I see no reason why you should not put forward the confusion that sometimes occurs at this particular junction with two sets of lights so close. You are of course allowed to put forward such things in mitigation. never know they might show you a little mercy - transport you to the colonies instead of hanging you.

As above I'd explain that you were confused by the position of the lights. The Highways agency will be able to evaluate if the positioning is poor and causing confusion. You may be able to report the problem on the local councils website. It may or may not help you but if no one highlights the problem nothing will change. Red light cameras exist to penalise drivers who ignore red lights, not those who are confused by them.

DB1904

Norman_Castle said:

Grey_Critic said:

Should you get a summons then I see no reason why you should not put forward the confusion that sometimes occurs at this particular junction with two sets of lights so close. You are of course allowed to put forward such things in mitigation. never know they might show you a little mercy - transport you to the colonies instead of hanging you.

As above I'd explain that you were confused by the position of the lights. The Highways agency will be able to evaluate if the positioning is poor and causing confusion. You may be able to report the problem on the local councils website. It may or may not help you but if no one highlights the problem nothing will change. Red light cameras exist to penalise drivers who ignore red lights, not those who are confused by them.

No, the exist to enforce contravention of red lights. The OP contravened one and may have been caught. 

justpassingthrough24

Norman_Castle said:

Grey_Critic said:

Should you get a summons then I see no reason why you should not put forward the confusion that sometimes occurs at this particular junction with two sets of lights so close. You are of course allowed to put forward such things in mitigation. never know they might show you a little mercy - transport you to the colonies instead of hanging you.

As above I'd explain that you were confused by the position of the lights. The Highways agency will be able to evaluate if the positioning is poor and causing confusion. You may be able to report the problem on the local councils website. It may or may not help you but if no one highlights the problem nothing will change. Red light cameras exist to penalise drivers who ignore red lights, not those who are confused by them.

This is helpful thank you, I will definitely raise it with the local council. I'm new to the area, but two of my work colleagues this morning alone had at some point been caught out by the same red light camera.

Do the court tend to show any leniency when there have been circumstances like this?

Steve182

If you've no existing points there is no need to worry unduly. For 3 points (for speeding) my insurance premium increased by about £30 

theoretica

justpassingthrough24 said:

... two of my work colleagues this morning alone had at some point been caught out by the same red light camera.

Which seems reassuring for your future employment - they have not been cast into utter darkness and sacked!

MalMonroe

Hi, if you DO hear anything, I think it would be worth mentioning the fact that two sets of lights so close together can and does cause confusion. On one particular road in my city there are two lots of two sets of lights, if you see what I mean - it's a long road. You have to be extremely careful not to take notice of the slightly more distant set of lights. I once, just before the pandemic put a stop to many of my journeys, thought that I had slightly rolled over the line when the red light for the first set of one of these showed. And like you I worried for a few days and then waited for a nasty official letter to arrive. But I never heard anything about it. I hope the same will happen for you.

I tried to comfort myself by thinking 'well at least I have learned a valuable lesson there and I won't let that happen again'. 

The problem is that if you are caught committing a traffic violation it's very difficult to wriggle out of it. There are some circumstances, of course where they can be dismissed but in the normal scheme of things excuses aren't accepted. I once went on one of those driving skills courses to avoid points on my licence and I thought it would be a waste of time but I learned a lot. For example, some people on the course said, 'I didn't know because I'm new to the area' but that doesn't wash because every motorist should know the rules of any road for the whole of the country, not just where they live. One woman said she didn't know the speed limit on a particular road because there were no indications on it. Sorry to say we all laughed.

Hopefully, like me, you won't hear anything about it but now you are aware - so you did learn something. Good luck 

MalMonroe

Brie said:

justpassingthrough24 said:

Do I have any leg to stand on by claiming the lights turning green in front of me can be misinterpreted by motorists and this should be made clearer?

I doubt a court would care that you were confused by the lights. You passed all the stuff to get your license and therefore are assumed to know how to drive with care and within the rules.

I must admit it has happened to me and the OH at least a couple of times - not helped by the fact that we both learned to drive originally in a foreign land where things are slightly different.  (which of course is also not an acceptable excuse)   What gets me are the array of turn signals, some red some green, some viewable from a distance but not actually visible when stopped at the intersection. 

As you say - at least there wasn't much traffic and no tragedy as a result.

My ex and I also learned to drive in a foreign land where things were quite different. But when we returned to the UK we were required to take a UK driving test before we could have a UK driving licence.