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144(18) Red Light - Fail To Stop (approaching, Straight)

Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 5:02 pm
by jerkjosh

I got a ticket yesterday night at 11:50PM at McNicoll and McCowan, for failing to stop at the red stop light. The officer behind me (a little careless of me not to check, but my mirror is in bad shape) pulled me over after I had crossed the intersection. I approached it on yellow, and while I was almost past the intersection completely, it turned red. Now, I have no doubt I could have stopped for the yellow (road conditions were fine, and officer knows that), but I still was passed the line and well into the intersection before it turned red. I caught a slight glimpse of the red before I left the intersection. I'm thinking that I shouldn't be charged for 144( 18 ), but 144(15), which the officer did not charge me for. However, can they add a new charge while on trial?


I could've argued on the spot, but being my first offense, I was nervous and did not argue. Now that I think back on it, if I argued, he would've nailed me failing to stop for amber, because he was driving behind me and knew the conditions, so either way I would've been booked.


What would you guys do in my situation? Talk the prosecutor beforehand? Plead with the judge for grace? Fight it (although I don't think it wise to do so given my circumstance)?


Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 8:35 pm
by viper1

Did he activate his red/blue lights?

If he was behind you he must have been real late.

Did he light up everything so that there was no accident?


I don't know how you were unsafe if you both made it through.


I think you will win this one.


Cheers

Viper1


Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:09 pm
by Off_Camber

viper1 wrote:Did he activate his red/blue lights?

If he was behind you he must have been real late.

Did he light up everything so that there was no accident?


I don't know how you were unsafe if you both made it through.


I think you will win this one.


Cheers

Viper1

are you kidding me?


so your saying the cop must have also ran the red light to aprehend the offending red light runner? and thats the defense?


its a goood point. if i broke the law he must have too.


thats like a co worker i work with being charged with fail to drive in a marked lane --and all the while the cop drove through the median to pull him over.


Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:23 am
by viper1

Off_Camber wrote:
viper1 wrote:Did he activate his red/blue lights?

If he was behind you he must have been real late.

Did he light up everything so that there was no accident?


I don't know how you were unsafe if you both made it through.


I think you will win this one.


Cheers

Viper1

are you kidding me?


so your saying the cop must have also ran the red light to aprehend the offending red light runner? and thats the defense?


its a goood point. if i broke the law he must have too.


thats like a co worker i work with being charged with fail to drive in a marked lane --and all the while the cop drove through the median to pull him over.


He said the cop was behind him?(did I read wrong?)


If he was late (for the red) the cop should have put on the lights.


If there was no need for lights he must have been close to the safe point.


More probably happened.(mouthy whatever)



Were you hanging to your seat OFF CAMBER when you read my post?lol


Cheers

Viper1


Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 1:14 am
by Reflections

With the officer so close behind you, you didn't stop because you were unsure if he could or not...............