Red-Light Cameras Catch Illegal Turns

[Sonny]

All through September police only issued warnings for those caught on the new cameras, but soon that will change.

"Oct. 1 we will start sending out notice of violations at all the locations, including those illegal left and right turns," said Sgt. Edward Robinson.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/kprc/2007093...t2__Fem5QE1vAI

[JamesB]

speeding tickets will be next. then its monitoring your voice agression.

James

[Steelsun]

I thought there was something specifically written into the red light camera laws saying it could not be used when turns were involved (legal or not), thus why tickets were getting dismissed when people turned during the running of red lights.

[carrbowl]

if it keeps people from driving like idiots and killing those that are OBEYING SAFETY for the SAFETY of EVERYONE....I guess you will have to pay the price. People are so selfish..they can't get over the fact safety is for others too...not just themselves. Do we like it that this has to be done...no...no one likes it..who likes the fact that there has to be people in jails??? But I don't want killers or theives walking around either

[kenw]

Brian, it was a technical limitation of the equipment. It couldn't see that the car turning had stopped, it was based on simple movement thru the intersection only.

folks, it's right on red AFTER A STOP....why is it so hard to understand this?

[ngoduyviet]

Originally Posted by JamesB

speeding tickets will be next. then its monitoring your voice agression.

James

I don't know if it'll go that far, but one thing is for sure. What if I'm not the one behind the wheel? I thought that we were supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. Now with the camera system, we have to fight to prove that we are innocent. Kinda went backward on the constitution I think.

[JamesB]

Originally Posted by Steelsun

I thought there was something specifically written into the red light camera laws saying it could not be used when turns were involved (legal or not), thus why tickets were getting dismissed when people turned during the running of red lights.

a change in a state law now makes this type of ticket ok to get more money from you

James

[carrbowl]

Originally Posted by JamesB

a change in a state law now makes this type of ticket ok to get more money from you

James

Only for those people that choose to disobey....or think they won't get caught!!! (Watch me get one!!!)

[JamesB]

Originally Posted by ngoduyviet

I don't know if it'll go that far, but one thing is for sure. What if I'm not the one behind the wheel? I thought that we were supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. Now with the camera system, we have to fight to prove that we are innocent. Kinda went backward on the constitution I think.

it does not matter, its your car you are responsible for it. You need to turn over the driver who made the offense or you have to pay.

Man I love our legal system

also if you dont pay the civil fines they will tack it on to your credit report.

James

[Toad]

I wonder how this will affect "clearing the intersection". You know, when you pull forward during a green light to turn left, but are unable to turn left due to traffic, so the light ends up turning red. After it turns red, there you are blocking the intersection, so then you must "clear the intersection" by completing your turn. I can see a lot of people going to court over that one, because it's in the books that clearing the intersection is legal.
Toad

[kenw]

Technically, Todd, it isn't legal.

You cannot enter an intersection AT ALL if you cannot get thru it at that point in time. They ticket for that here in The Big City.

[brad]

Um, that's not what I was taught in driver's ed.... if you are in the intersection when the light turns red, you have the right of way to clear the intersection.

A friend of mine got a ticket once for something like this... they had a green light and was hit by someone who was turning through the intersection... the other car had entered the intersection on their green, but had not cleared by the time the light turned red. The OTHER CAR hit my friend.. but my friend got the ticket for not yielding the right of way.

Now granted, both of these incidents were 20 years ago...

[RandySmith]

There was a recent news item on one of the local t.v. stations in Dallas that reported of the X amount of red light camera violations, and surprisingly the largest percentage came from city vehicles in Plano. Although ambulances, police, fire trucks have sirens and lights flashing ... according to the news broadcast, they still are supposed to obey the law and "stop" at a red lights, stop signs, etc., as well .... now I wonder ... who's going to write the tickets for those ? Certainly if "my" house is on fire, I'll gladly pay the ticket for the firetruck, if it will expedite their arrival on-scene...

[Howard Barlow]

Originally Posted by RandySmith

Although ambulances, police, fire trucks have sirens and lights flashing ... according to the news broadcast, they still are supposed to obey the law and "stop" at a red lights, stop signs, etc., as well .... now I wonder ... who's going to write the tickets for those ? Certainly if "my" house is on fire, I'll gladly pay the ticket for the firetruck, if it will expedite their arrival on-scene...

No, they are not ...supposed to obey the law and "stop"... The news media is not the most reliable place for matters of law.



TRANSPORTATION CODE

CHAPTER 546. OPERATION OF AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND CERTAIN
OTHER VEHICLES

SUBCHAPTER A. AUTHORIZED EMERGENCY VEHICLES


§ 546.001. PERMISSIBLE CONDUCT. In operating an
authorized emergency vehicle the operator may:
(1) park or stand, irrespective of another provision
of this subtitle;
(2) proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign,
after slowing as necessary for safe operation;
(3) exceed a maximum speed limit, except as provided
by an ordinance adopted under Section 545.365, as long as the
operator does not endanger life or property; and
(4) disregard a regulation governing the direction of
movement or turning in specified directions.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

[kenw]

"Um, that's not what I was taught in driver's ed.... if you are in the intersection when the light turns red, you have the right of way to clear the intersection."


the point is you weren't supposed to even ENTER the intersection if you couldn't get all the way thru.

That law is newer than most of us.....