Is this running a red light?

Question

Hey Guys,

Just earlier today I was going towards an intersection (in Oregon) when the light turned orange. I proceeded to go through the intersection, and the light turned red when I was in the intersection. I don't know exactly how far I was in, but I know for sure that my front wheels were definitely over the white "stop" line.

I think my whole car was over the white line before it turned red, but I am not positive. At worst, my back wheels may have been on the white line. I think I was probably going 37-40mph in a 35mph zone.

Does this constitute running a red light? If so, when do you usually receive the citation?

Answer 1

Unless you ask a cop, you'll probably find that there is no exact definition of running a red light. I found these statistics at http://www.photocop.com/red-light.htm:

"Definitions of what constituted "running a red light" varied. When asked to define running a red light 67% responded "entering an intersection on red." Twenty-six percent said that running a red light was "entering an intersection on yellow but the light turns red while the car is still in the intersection." Thirty-two percent of respondents said that by this definition they had run a red light "a few times," while 12% reported having run a light only once. Four percent admitted to having run red lights "many times."

In my personal opinion and driving experience, I think that if your front wheels are over the line as the light turns red you did not run the red light. There are no rules saying how long yellow lights have to be, the town (or whoever makes the lights) decides that by considering how busy of an intersection it is, how fast cars usually go, and the area the intersection is in.

Hopefully this answered your question, I've never been cited, but I'm sure if you were going to get a ticket a cop would have followed you. I'm not sure if Oregon has cameras, I know big cities like NYC are testing them out. You can see the test results on the page in the link.

Answer 2

This is a typical judgement call of a motorist and a policeman. Yellow lights are notice to a driver to safely clear the intersection, which means safely stop, or safely get out of the intersection. It is a judgement call but speeding up is probably not the better judgement although it is more typical because people want to continue their travels and not stop unless really necessary. Much would depend on road conditions, pedestrians in the area, time of day or night and so on. I do think you gave any policeman who may have been able to see you probable cause to stop you, so keep that in mind. The main idea is to clear the intersection safely under the conditions present, remembering that pedestrians have the right of way. Remember that the posted speed limit is the Maximum speed under ideal road conditions, and stopping distance is more than the measure of how fast you are travelling. You must factor in surface conditions, wet or dry, sandy or not, new or old pavement, tire conditions, brake conditions, driver attentiveness, age of driver (reaction time), type of braking system, ABS vs non-ABS. Remember that getting a ticket will probably cause your car insurance to increase, put points on your license and then you have to pay the ticket, or contest it.

Answer 3

If you cross the line and enter an intersection after the yellow light, you have run a red light.

the yellow is a "prepare to stop, the light is going to turn red" signal, not an invitation to speed up and enter the intersection. Watch your mail.

Answer 4

Sorry, but yes, you did. To not technically run the red light, you have to be fully across the white stop line before it turns red. So if the intersection had cameras, you might be recieving a ticket. :(.

Answer 5

You technically did not run a red light if it did not turn red by the time you got under it and you were already aware of it being yellow. Its not like you inadvertently went through the red light before you wanted to. You didn't want to wait at the light when you could just go before it even turns red.

Answer 6

No. Your whole car has to be before the white line when the light is red.

Answer 7

The front of your car needs to be under the light before it turns red.

Answer 8

that depends on the state law in the state of orgin

Answer 9

Yes it does!

Answer 10

I don't think you ran a red light........