My wife got a red light ticked here in Alberta, Canada a few weeks ago. She was not speeding nor intending to run the red light. Due to the slick road conditions her vehicle started to slide. She realized that she would end up stopping in the middle of the busy intersection, and decided to continue to accelerate through. She got the ticket for $287.00 and we are wondering if there is any way to have it reversed or at least lessened do to the circumstances?
2007-12-24 09:56:24 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
There are several things that you can do. The first thing is that she has what is known as a lessor of two evils defense. If she would have complied with the law she may have caused a crash. The thing is that she was driving too fast to stop. That means that no matter how fast you were driving, if you can not control the car, it was too fast. You could request that it be plea bargained to something like this: "too fast for conditions." So you can try to work a deal with the prosecution. You can plea to the original charge or you can go to trial. IF there is an offer made to reduce it, you should take the offer. If the thing goes to trial then the mitigating thing is the ice.
2007-12-24 10:09:29 · answer #1 · answered by eyecue_two 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In response to one answerer, the photos taken by red light cameras show the vehicle in the intersection while the light is red, and it also shows how long the light has been red. That is how they tell if the vehicle ran the light while it was yellow. Anyway, the only chance you have to get a lesser fine would be sympathy from the court, often just going to court and admitting to your mistake and being truthfully sorry will go a long way. From a legal standpoint, there is no recourse to take. The fact is that she ran a red light, and poor weather conditions is no excuse. The court will say that it is the driver's responsibilty to drive in a manner safe and prudent according to the given conditions. In other words, slick roads are no more of an excuse for running a red light than it is for rear ending someone. Just take a lesson from it and the next time the roads are slick, slow it down.
2007-12-24 11:57:04 · answer #2 · answered by Josh 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does the police/crown has a series of photos or just one? It is my understanding that they must prove that you entered the intersection while the light was red. If you entered the intersection while the light was amber but failed to clear the intersection before it turned red, you might be guilty of not stopping at an amber light, but that is not what you are charged with. You should therefore be found not guilty.
With one photo only, how can they prove the vehicle entered the intersection while the light was red?
I suggest you get a good traffic court paralegal to defend you.
2007-12-24 11:04:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stick with the running a red light ticket. Your defense of sliding through the intersection indicates speed unsafe for conditions and failure to control a vehicle.
It would not be wise to admit to either of the above. Pay the court and move on!
2007-12-26 12:41:35 · answer #4 · answered by ornery and mean 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bring as muc evidence as you can to support your position and ask the judge to consider a lesser fine.
Perhaps you can plea no contest on the condition she isn't cited in the next 30 days and pay the court costs. Best of luck.
2007-12-24 10:18:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may get some sympathy from the court, but that is not a valid defense. Poor roads require reduced speed. If it was too slippery to stop, you were driving too fast for conditions.
2007-12-24 10:07:11 · answer #6 · answered by trooper3316 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I use the totally honest system
Admit you have no good reason why you ran the light, (noting it was safe to do so in the conditions)
Never plead guilty to a reduced charge
2007-12-24 10:11:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
bring a weather report of the conditions that day, then go to court and explain the situation. You have about a 2% chance
2007-12-24 10:01:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sir with due respect, to you and your wife, I would be gratefully happy she was not killed. That would be an awful position to be in. Either way she could have been killed. I would just give her a big old kiss and say thank you to God for her safety.
this should be the best money you spent this Christmas. You still have that beautiful wife. Merry Christmas
2007-12-24 10:21:53 · answer #9 · answered by Bee Bee 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't wish to sound negative, but the driver is supposed to be in control of the vehicle at all times. That's what you will hear in court.
2007-12-24 10:15:13 · answer #10 · answered by CGIV76 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋