Red light cameras - rules for them?

[luvavacation]

So a few of the towns around here have started putting up the red-light cameras to catch people going through those intersections against the light. Ok, it is illegal, I have no problem with that. However, my neighbor and I were discussing this last night, and we could not figure out what the exact circumstances are when you would get a ticket, or does it vary by city? Will the towns let the people know before the cameras go up what you can be ticketed for?

For example, if you are in the left turn lane, and you pull up (as I was taught in drivers ed many, many years ago), then the light turns yellow and you wait for a clearing to go, do you get a ticket?

If it is snowing or icy out, and you are going slowly anyway but the light turns yellow, are you supposed to speed up and slide through, continue as you were slowly going forward, or hit the brakes and pray you don't skid?

What about right turns when it is ok to turn on red, are those ticketable offenses (a town a bit aways had a problem with people getting right turn tickets with the cameras, but I never heard if that was ok or not?)?

I don't have a problem with drivers running red lights getting tickets, I just don't like that the tickets are automatic and you can't talk to a ticketing officer about why you received the ticket. I have never had a ticket in my life, and would hope I don't receive one because I did not know what the rules were for red-light cameras!

 

[JR6ooo4]

So a few of the towns around here have started putting up the red-light cameras to catch people going through those intersections against the light. Ok, it is illegal, I have no problem with that. However, my neighbor and I were discussing this last night, and we could not figure out what the exact circumstances are when you would get a ticket, or does it vary by city? Will the towns let the people know before the cameras go up what you can be ticketed for?

For example, if you are in the left turn lane, and you pull up (as I was taught in drivers ed many, many years ago), then the light turns yellow and you wait for a clearing to go, do you get a ticket?

If it is snowing or icy out, and you are going slowly anyway but the light turns yellow, are you supposed to speed up and slide through, continue as you were slowly going forward, or hit the brakes and pray you don't skid?

What about right turns when it is ok to turn on red, are those ticketable offenses (a town a bit aways had a problem with people getting right turn tickets with the cameras, but I never heard if that was ok or not?)?

I don't have a problem with drivers running red lights getting tickets, I just don't like that the tickets are automatic and you can't talk to a ticketing officer about why you received the ticket. I have never had a ticket in my life, and would hope I don't receive one because I did not know what the rules were for red-light cameras!

who taught you it was ok to pull into an intersection and just sit while waiting to turn left? Sure it is what everybody does, but it is not legal. You should never enter an intersection unless you can clear it. the same as stopping on railroad tracks!

a full stop, before the white line, then proceeding to turn right on read (where legal) should be ok. but roll past that white line before stopping and you will see the bright camera flash!

Mikeeee

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I think that the locations which have red light cameras have to have them set in such a way as they will show you entering the intersection when the light is already red.

 

[shortbun]

I think that the locations which have red light cameras have to have them set in such a way as they will show you entering the intersection when the light is already red.

These cameras are not streaming video, they are quick photo shots, usually 3 or 4 but they all start as the light turns red. If you are already in the intersection and cut off by another driver, the photos should show you were simply clearing the intersection and not entering it. These cameras get the driver's face pretty clearly so they can be sure who gets the ticket in a multi driver family. If weather conditions cause you to slide into the intersection, you'd need to be able to prove that in some way but weather is documented by TV and newspapers. You know when you've been caught as the cameras flash and click rather loudly.

 

[DrCavin]

Im no expert on red-light camera's & I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night - from what I have heard/read about them since they were very heavily discussed a few months ago around here. From what I recall it really depends on how the cameras are setup for any given scenerio.

Here is some more info on these nasty little devices http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_light_camera

If you google them you will get a ton of info.

 

[FireDancer]

I can only speak for the state of Ohio but here any red light or speed cameras mush have signs at the intersection advertising that they are there. The ticket is automatically charged to the car owner regardless of who is driving and they must pay it and collect themselves if it was not them in the car. The ticket is fine only and doesn't result in points even if the infraction would incur points if ticketed by an officer.

Out state may be more strict because at one time our state supreme court found traffic cameras to violate due process. These steps might all have been added to get that overturned on appeal.

Intersections that allow turns on either right or left on red do not ticket if you do it. And yes, it is lawful to turn left on red after a complete stop if you are turning from a one way non-divided street onto another one way non-divided street.

 

[Melrosgirl]

who taught you it was ok to pull into an intersection and just sit while waiting to turn left? Sure it is what everybody does, but it is not legal. You should never enter an intersection unless you can clear it. the same as stopping on railroad tracks!

Two different driver's handbook from two different states. It was also recently confirmed on our local news that this is legal.

 

[daughtersrus]

A few years ago, our town was one of the first to install these cameras in the Chicago area. After many complaints, they discontinued the use. Funny thing is that many of the surrounding towns are not installing them as well.

The main issue that people here had was that they were getting tickets for illegal right turns on a red light. The law is that you have to stop behind the white line first before turning. In many intersections, the white line is pretty far behind the corner. Even if you made a complete stop before turning they were issuing tickets if that stop was not behind the line.

The offenses were reviewed before tickets were mailed. Along with the ticket, you were given pictures that were taken as well as a link where you could log on and see the video of the infraction. They provided a link to the video because the still pictures didn't prove whether or not a stop was made but the video did.

The company that is used around here most often is Red Speed. I believe that they have a web site that explains how their system works but doesn't get into specifics of the law.

 

[Hercules10]

The Feds decided that any profit from these goes to hospitals. So they're not as popular now as they once were. So the town itself isn't making money off it other then the maintenance and pay earned by the personnel reviewing the film. Now whether they pad those expenses is anyone's guess.

Emergency vehicles can trigger the camera so tickets are not automatic. And someone does review the film. Usually if you're beyond the stop bar before the light turns red you're OK. Several people have challenged red-light camera tickets and won because there is photographic evidence. Of course many lose when they see they really did run a red-light.

Basically follow the rules you've always followed and you'll be fine.

 

[luvavacation]

From the Rules of the Road in IL - http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/rules_of_the_road/rr_chap04.html

to oncoming traffic when making a left-hand turn. If you enter an intersection while the light is green, you may finish your turn even though the light turns red.

Yup, I was taught that you can legally pull forward when making a left turn as long as you are on your green. Now I do live out in the country part of IL, so maybe our driver's ed was set up differently than the driver's ed in the more populated parts of IL?

From daughtersrus - The main issue that people here had was that they were getting tickets for illegal right turns on a red light. The law is that you have to stop behind the white line first before turning. In many intersections, the white line is pretty far behind the corner. Even if you made a complete stop before turning they were issuing tickets if that stop was not behind the line.
Stopping behind the white line before turning right would be tough at many intersections around here, since you can't see the oncoming traffic, so you have to pull up. Thanks for the tip on the website of the company that installed the lights in your area. I think that is the same one installing lights in the towns around me. I will go and check it out.

Personally, I don't care where the money they collect goes, after all casino money was supposed to go to education and still the state of IL has no money for education, so I don't think it matters where it goes, at least for IL, as it will be redirected into some politician's pet project. I just think it would be nice to know ahead of time what to expect at the red-light camera intersections so I don't help contribute to their projects!

 

[allison443]

The Feds decided that any profit from these goes to hospitals. So they're not as popular now as they once were.

Do you have a link? I read that in Texas, a portion of the proceeds goes to hospitals, but I didn't think this was a federal law. Thanks!

 

[Hercules10]

Personally, I don't care where the money they collect goes, after all casino money was supposed to go to education and still the state of IL has no money for education

Same thing happening here. All the red-light revenue is collecting dust in state funds because no one stipulated HOW to distribute the funds to hospitals. Politicians never think that far ahead.

 

[Hercules10]

Do you have a link? I read that in Texas, a portion of the proceeds goes to hospitals, but I didn't think this was a federal law. Thanks!

Wasn't so much federal law as it was the Feds saying this is how they want it and if we don't comply then the Feds will cut various funding. Lot of cities lost some major $'s over it.