[Clark]

Originally Posted by alarson

You're ignoring a big part of what we're talking about. I dont think anyone has a problem with the cameras catching the blatant red light runners. The problem is, the cameras also tag people who are either coming through the intersection right as it turns red (because yellow lights are never uniform, and you never have any idea how long they last- and theyre often set shorter at these intersections to generate more tickets) , or they tag people turning right on red because they didnt come to a 'complete stop'. Both of these things are things that 90% of the time you arent going to get pulled over for, unless the cop is just looking for any excuse to pull people over (most likely 'drunk-hunting'). You'd rarely get a ticket for either of these.

The cop might not pull you over for not making a complete stop but I bet he pulls you over for just missing the yellow light 95% of the time. Yellow means prepare to stop not hurry up before the light turns red.

And as others have said, I'd rather have police oficers doing more important things than writing red light tickets when the technology is there to do that electronically.

[CyPride]

Originally Posted by bugs4cy

Oh for crap's sake. Got a ticket in the mail from Clive for doing a right turn on a red (pinkish! with no one coming towards me!) light.

Has anyone fought such a thing and won?

It tagged my husband as the driver (registered in his name) but I was driving. He has more tickets than me right now ... anyway to move it to my name rather than his?

Probably what frost me the most is the statement at the top that says 'it *appears* you have run a red light...' What the fudge - 'appears'?????

This is probably already on this thread, but these tickets don't go against your driving record, they just want their $75.

I have donated to Clive too! The camera shot of my license plate was blurry, I asked several people to read it and they all read the incorrect numbers/letters compared to what it really was. I ended up paying as I didn't want to 'hassle' with it.

[3TrueFans]

The camera shot of my license plate was blurry

[CyPride]

Originally Posted by 3TrueFans

what the heck is so funny?

[3TrueFans]

Originally Posted by CyPride

what the heck is so funny?

It was mostly the part where you complained about YOUR license plate being blurry on camera when YOU ran through a red light. Although the part where you said you paid it because you didn't want to "hassle" with it even though you admit to running the light in the first place comes close in terms of funny.

[usedcarguy]

Out of curiosity. What happens when you blow off the ticket and don't pay?

About red light cams - They are no subsititute for good law enforcement. Officers on the street find people with outstanding warrants, etc. No camera can do that.

[alarson]

Originally Posted by usedcarguy

Out of curiosity. What happens when you blow off the ticket and don't pay?

About red light cams - They are no subsititute for good law enforcement. Officers on the street find people with outstanding warrants, etc. No camera can do that.

I'm assuming they turn it over to a collection agency (who will then tag your credit report if you dont pay)

[tamjam]

I fought against a red-light ticket in the great state of Illinois two years ago and won the case. It was great. The judge was a real dimwit. No idea how he got his position. My opening statement was basically me showing a video I had created on my computer showing a grizzly bear dry humping a killer whale. My argument was that if I could create this video on my computer, then there is no telling what the traffic cam people are doing. More evidence was present on both sides, and I remember objecting a LOT. In the end I won my case because it turns out the evidence against me was forged. About three months prior to getting my ticket I had dumped my then girlfriend because she wouldn't get my name tattooed on the front of her neck. She worked for the city and had connections with the traffic enforcement department. She lost her job and I didn't have to pay the ticket. I was this close to convincing the judge that my ex-girlfriend should be forced to get my name tattooed on her neck. After that I pondering going back to school and getting my law degree, however, due to the horse riding accident I wasn't able to, for obvious reasons.

[Kitkat]

Originally Posted by bugs4cy

I haven't had any tickets for 3 years. Husband had a bad run of luck this last year and got two speeding tickets, which is ironic in our world, because he rarely speeds. Between the two us us, we drive 80-100K miles a year. So yes, we have tickets - but if you drive that much on the back roads of Iowa and I wonder if you'd ever be tempted to speed?

I'm so glad you could drop us a note, or should I say, toss a rock through our glass house since no rocks can be tossed at yours.


(I may regret my sarcasm at a later date, but right now it feels good)

Do not worry; your sarcasm is not that strong. I have no tickets, other than parking tickets. And I do not think the amount of your driving gives you a free pass to transgress. Another point to consider: for every ticket you received, there are or were probably many more times you could/should have been ticketed but weren't caught. And as far as speeding is concerned, most of us will do 5 over because we have always been told the police will tolerate that. So, were you going 5 over or 10 or 15 over? If one of the latter two, still 0 sympathy. Bye and drive safely.

[MBulldog]

Originally Posted by DaddyMac

To help those who just have to run the red light and can't control their vehicles well enough to stop when it turns yellow - I believe at the corner of Hickman and 100th, this system is only in place on 100th for the north bound lane. Not 100% about that, so do don't quote me. But me thinks you're free to run red lights at will the other 3 directions.

That's what the city's website says. Here's where the cameras are:

• • • • 100th Street Northbound Approach at Hickman Road
      • Hickman Road Eastbound Approach at 128th Street
      • 128th Northbound Approach at Hickman Road
      • Hickman Road Eastbound Approach at 142nd Street
      • Hickman Road Eastbound Approach at 156th Street
      • 156th Street Northbound Approach at Hickman Road
      • * Future site– 86th Street Northbound Approach at Hickman Road*

City of Clive, Iowa - Red Light Cameras

[BryceC]

I think threads like this are hilarious. The law is the law and if you break it you pay. It's not that hard to comprehend. Of course I roll through stoplights and speed. No doubt about it. But if I got caught I wouldn't be on here whining about it an trying to make excuses. It is what it is.

[CyPride]

Originally Posted by 3TrueFans

It was mostly the part where you complained about YOUR license plate being blurry on camera when YOU ran through a red light. Although the part where you said you paid it because you didn't want to "hassle" with it even though you admit to running the light in the first place comes close in terms of funny.

Yeah, that is pretty funny - not once in my post did I even attempt to say it wasn't me or my vehicle. What I did find obnoxious was that it seemed that the transition from yellow to red was seemingly quicker than a typical intersection.

[Dino]

If these cameras really do just get people who blatantly blow through lights that is fine. Those people are annoying I was curious about whether they would get you if you nearly stop and no one is coming so you turn right or it just barely turns red as you are crossing through. The stuff a police officer won't normally ticket you for. And I am not someone who runs lights anyway. I haven't gotten any traffic tickets for about 5 years.

But please, if you are defending the cameras don't try to spin it as if they are making us safer. The data shows they don't make a difference at best and cause more accidents at worse. They could in fact hurt the people who do worry about stopping in time the most as this will make them even more jumpy to slam on the breaks and not risk when the yellow is gonna change.

[jbhtexas]

Originally Posted by Dino

But please, if you are defending the cameras don't try to spin it as if they are making us safer. The data shows they don't make a difference at best and cause more accidents at worse.

Whose data? The City of Arlington website cites several recent reports indicating that red light cameras do reduce accidents. At least in these studies, accidents went down at intersections where the camera were installed.

The Arlington Texas Police Department On-Line

[Dino]

Originally Posted by jbhtexas

Whose data?

Ok, this is the third time this has been posted. Its from a blog but links to actual studies.

Red-Light Cameras Increase Accidents: 5 Studies That Prove It