Ticketed for allegedly running red light.?

Question

Cop falsely accused driver of running red light.Definitely light was not red at the moment driver's vehicle entered intersection.IHow can driver prove that he/she did not commit infraction?No other witnesses present.

Answer 1

Sorry, but if the light turns red before you EXIT the intersection, the ticket is good. When the cop tells the judge that you were still in the intersection when the light turned red, you'll correctly be found guilty. That's the law, friend.

Only chance to get out of the red light charge is get an attorney and see if he can plead it down to a no-points offense. That won't be cheaper after you pay the attorney, but it will keep it off your insurance rates. That will normally save you $$$ in the long run.

Answer 2

You'll never beat that ticket. In the first place, the way you describe it, sounds like you were trying to beat a yellow. Yellow means stop if possible, not floor it. N.B. check your mirror first!

That said, I think everyone should contest every traffic ticket all the way. Go to court and plead not guilty. You will lose, and get chraged court costs. File an appeal. You will lose and get charged more court costs. Gosh, it's cheaper to just pay the ticket! That's how the system is set up. But if enough people fought enough tickets, the system overloads and breaks down.

Best bet is to go to the first court date, plead not guilty, and hope you are in a jurisdiction where the officer has to be there or they dismiss. Or talk to the prosecutor before court and try to bargain a reduced charge, a non-moving violation. That will stop your insurance going up.

Answer 3

Your best bet would be to plead not guilty at your hearing. Don't bother explaining anything to the judge because they don't want to hear it. Ask for all the extensions that you can to prolong your court date. When you go to trial, if the cop no shows (which happens quite a bit) you win. If the cop shows, it will be your word against his and you will lose. The judge always rules in favor of the cop when it's your word against his. If you lose, ask for traffic school so it won't go on your record and your insurance won't go up.
Have to disagree with Bostonian.....If you are in the intersection before the light turns red (while it is still yellow) you are legal. It's not against the law to run a "yellow light". The yellow is a caution to warn you that the signal is going to change, it does not mean stop.
Good luck.

Answer 4

You show up at court, plead not guilty and ask for a trial. Give you explanation and maybe you will get lucky. Unfortunately this will be difficult to win but maybe the copy will be busy and not show up, If you lose you nit only pay the ticket but pay court cost as well. Good luck

Answer 5

You can't if there is no video tape of the intersection If there is you can request it at the time and day it happened withen in 72 hrs.

Answer 6

It all depends on who the "court" will believe. You can go to court, but they'll usually side with the cop.

Answer 7

you really cant. i ran a stop sign, which i didnt even see, the next thing i see lights in my rear view mirror cop pulls me over since im a teen gives me a hard as.s time then says i ran a stop sign 5 streets down and almost hit him!!!!!! im like w.t.f????? since it was 3 am on friday night he thought he was goin get me for d.w.i but i was on my way to the party muthaafaakaa so to answer yr question I HAD TO PAY THE TICKET i mean what am i going to say i didnt see it????? nahhh i payed it and leanred a lesson o and also 3 days later seatbelt ticket.

Answer 8

you can't...its the cops word over yours...you're screwed pay the fine

Answer 9

You're screwed.

Answer 10

you can't, it's the pigs word against yours & you know who the judge always believes ?