Red Light Fail To Stop - Light Changed To Red Half-way Thru
Hello,
Thanks in advance for any help!
Yesterday (September 24 2011) I was driving on Main Street in Hamilton ON (speed limit 60 km/h) when I approached an intersection as the light had turned yellow. A police cruiser was slowing down to stop in the lane to the left of me, and there was another vehicle 2-3 car lengths behind me in the lane to the right. I entered the intersection as the light was still yellow, then noticed it turned red as I was about half-way through the intersection. Travelling at 60 km/h and knowing the limitations of my vehicle I had deemed it unsafe for me to slam on my brakes and try to stop.
The vehicle in the right lane clearly ran the red light. The police officer then shot through the light and pulled over the other vehicle on an adjacent side street, then pulled up beside me after I had passed the entrance to the side street and yelled for me to back up and enter the side street, which I did. There was no discussion of what happened, simply asked for license, registration and ownership, went back to his car for 20 minutes, then returned with a nice $325 ticket for red light fail to stop, I'm assuming both vehicles got the ticket. My girlfriend (who was in the car at the time) and I are both positive that I did not enter the intersection while the light was red, and we're both pretty sure this officer was just trying to meet a ticket quota (he pulled over another vehicle within a minute of me leaving the scene). The ticket simply says HTA under the red light fail to stop, no section number or anything so I'm wondering if that's a potential mistake.
If anyone could offer me advice on how I should fight this ticket it would be much appreciated as I am positive that I did not run the light, but the vehicle in the lane to my right DEFINITELY did. I am planning to go to the courthouse and request a trial as well as disclosure in the next several days.
Thanks again for your help!