A police ticketed me tonight for not trying to stop first in front of a yellow light. But when I saw the green light turned yellow, I wasn't too far away so I decided to speed up to cross it. If I tried to stop it would have been a really awkward and sudden stop. I wasn't speeding. If I hesitated the outcome wouldn't be good as well. I told the police it wasn't reasonable to ticket because I was trying to select the best option. I will dispute the ticket and he said he is ready to go to the court. Do you guys think if I can win? Is it reasonable to ticket me in that situation?
2007-11-20 17:17:41 · 12 answers · asked by kev_dxd 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
The yellow light is just telling you that the light is changing from green to red. The only time you are allowed to drive through a yellow light is when it is flashing. If you were driving the speed limit, and had enough of time to observe the light start to change, then you should of had enough time to stop safely.
2007-11-20 19:04:46 · answer #1 · answered by CGIV76 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You won't win. Traffic lights are timed such that IF you are driving at or below the speed limit, and IF you are paying attention so that you see the light turn from green to yellow, you will have absolutely NO PROBLEM coming to a stop -- no need to slam on the brakes, in other words. You were either speeding OR not paying attention to the light, and when you sped up you made things worse. The policeman was right to ticket you and you'll lose in court...D
2007-11-21 01:26:42 · answer #2 · answered by HeavyD 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lights are timed so that as long as you are under the speed limit, you can either get through without speeding up or apply the brake and stop, no matter when it turns yellow. Either you were speeding or you weren't watching the light and didn't notice that it had turned yellow. Either way, you're not going to win, so don't bother. Traffic engineers time each intersection individually, and they know what they're doing.
2007-11-21 03:25:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you had to speed up, you should have been able to stop.
Also take into account the officer's word will always carry more credibility in court. You will have a tough time beating this one.
A yellow light is not much different than a red, you are required to stop. The only difference between the two... you are allowed to proceed through a yellow if you can not stop safely.
2007-11-21 01:27:14 · answer #4 · answered by trooper3316 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you had time to speed up, you had time to slow down.
You are not going to beat the ticket.
The yellow light is a warning for you to slow because you are going to be required to stop on the coming red light. The yellow light is not giving you an "option" to speed up or slow down.
I suspect the officer is eager to show up because he will collect two hours of overtime pay for being there for 15 minutes. He is also looking forward to the entertaining spectacle of you telling the Traffic Court Judge about your "option" in running the yellow light.
2007-11-21 01:32:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know people fail there driving tests when they speed up to go through yellow lights. So that probably means it's reasonable.
2007-11-21 01:25:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cops pick and choose when they will give a ticket, warning or nothing at all, it just depends on their mood at the time. Even cops have been in this similar situation and I have seen them speed up slightly to get through a yellow light. It is a very winnable case because all you have to prove is distance from the light, current weather conditions, that you were not speeding etc. I have personally witnessed three people win such cases.
2007-11-21 01:30:50 · answer #7 · answered by jamazing41 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋
you have a 50/50 chance. The cop may not show up in court. State to the judge you used your best judgement in going through the light. Make note of weather condition and the veiw of the intersection. Plead guilty with justification and state your case.
2007-11-21 01:29:10 · answer #8 · answered by john a 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Yes, it was reasonable to ticket you.
No, you will not win.
If you had to speed up in order to make the light, you had plenty of time to stop.
2007-11-21 01:21:25 · answer #9 · answered by Citicop 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you had to speed up to try and cross it, there's no reason why you couldn't have slowed down instead.
2007-11-21 01:35:18 · answer #10 · answered by "That One" 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋