Stop light cameras
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 179
Likes: 2
From: Hazleton, PA
Stop light cameras
I was recently nailed stretching a yellow light a little bit, by a stop light camera. Does anyone know of a defense for these? They seem to be more and more prevelant in urban areas. Thanks!!
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25
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There really is none. I work with Traffic Officers a lot, and I have had a chance to see these at work.
Essentially, unless you can show that there isn't at least 1 second of yellow light for every 10 MPH on the street speed limit, you are done.
They are more accurate than a lot of people give them credit for, and they film much more than most people think.
Sorry for the bad news.
Essentially, unless you can show that there isn't at least 1 second of yellow light for every 10 MPH on the street speed limit, you are done.
They are more accurate than a lot of people give them credit for, and they film much more than most people think.
Sorry for the bad news.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 5
From: Allen, Tx
I employ a cunning strategy when it comes to these things:
When I see a light changing from green to yellow, or yellow to red, I stop.
No tickets so far and I reduce the risk of killing people with my 6100 lbs truck and 11,000 lbs trailer. Everyone walks (drives) away a winner. I suggest a new strategy R2, let the Wookie win. 
When I see a light changing from green to yellow, or yellow to red, I stop.
No tickets so far and I reduce the risk of killing people with my 6100 lbs truck and 11,000 lbs trailer. Everyone walks (drives) away a winner. I suggest a new strategy R2, let the Wookie win.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
I employ a cunning strategy when it comes to these things:
When I see a light changing from green to yellow, or yellow to red, I stop. No tickets so far and I reduce the risk of killing people with my 6100 lbs truck and 11,000 lbs trailer. Everyone walks (drives) away a winner. I suggest a new strategy R2, let the Wookie win.
When I see a light changing from green to yellow, or yellow to red, I stop. No tickets so far and I reduce the risk of killing people with my 6100 lbs truck and 11,000 lbs trailer. Everyone walks (drives) away a winner. I suggest a new strategy R2, let the Wookie win.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore, MD
there are sprays you can put on your plates that reflect the bright light from the flash to make a bright spot of your plate so it cant be read... but you can still see the plate normally under daylight... Only thing is if you get caught with it on your plate you could face a fine.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,043
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Originally Posted by BigDASH
there are sprays you can put on your plates that reflect the bright light from the flash to make a bright spot of your plate so it cant be read... but you can still see the plate normally under daylight... Only thing is if you get caught with it on your plate you could face a fine.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 235
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From: Baltimore, MD
Nah they actually DO work!
I would have sprayed my truck but I don't want to get caught with it on my plates
I would have sprayed my truck but I don't want to get caught with it on my plates
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Government Teat-sucker
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,748
Likes: 1
From: Virginia Beach
Originally Posted by BigDASH
Nah they actually DO work!
I would have sprayed my truck but I don't want to get caught with it on my plates
I would have sprayed my truck but I don't want to get caught with it on my plates
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 5
From: Running Springs CA
They are a cash generating machine that has little to do with saftey, but that is the excuse given for political cover. Usually a private contractor owns and operates them and splits the fine money on a commission basis. That system is ripe for abuse. In San Diego, home of the highest traffic fines in the nation, the yellow lights were rigged too short. Once this got out, judges dismissed all the tickets.
Jim
Jim
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 577
Likes: 15
From: Georgia
Years ago when I got stopped for running a traffic light, I pointed out to the officer that the light was yellow not red when I entered and left the zone. He said the yellow light meant the same as red. I said if that was the case why even have a yellow light, just green and red. He couldn't explain that so he ended up writing me a warning. Nowadays I hear they are getting more stringent and if it is yellow you get a ticket. No ifs, ands or buts. If you are very close to the zone and the light turns yellow, are you supposed to slam on the brakes and let someone rear end you?
Gone but not forgotten.
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 2
My question is for what (running a red light)? I hardly ever go anywhere that I don't see some one speeding up instead of stopping at a yellow. Why the urgency to save 30 seconds? Many times I have stopped and had some one blow past me and I catch him at the next light.
Dono
Dono
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
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From: So Cal
Originally Posted by kabcpapc
Years ago when I got stopped for running a traffic light, I pointed out to the officer that the light was yellow not red when I entered and left the zone. He said the yellow light meant the same as red. I said if that was the case why even have a yellow light, just green and red. He couldn't explain that so he ended up writing me a warning. Nowadays I hear they are getting more stringent and if it is yellow you get a ticket. No ifs, ands or buts. If you are very close to the zone and the light turns yellow, are you supposed to slam on the brakes and let someone rear end you?
A little known NHTSA statistic, according to an article I read a few years back in Car and Driver Mag, is that in many of the intersections around the country where they installed red light cams, the number of violations and cross traffic accidents has dropped, BUT, the number of rear end accidents has dramatically increased. So I guess this does away with the claimed safety aspect of the cameras and deals more with the local guv requirements for increased revenue.
So slam on your brakes and save yourself a ticket. Let the guy behind you worry about slamming into you, it's his problem.
I always try to look in the rear view mirror whenever I slow down. Sometimes in my foolish desire to avoid being rear ended(been hit twice this year, why me?) I will run a light rather than have the guy behind me make a personal introduction.
Whatever happened to using good judgement and doing what is safe? Guess revenue drives the law now.
Just my cynical opinion,
Jim henderson
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 471
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From: Goldsboro, NC
Originally Posted by jim henderson
Apparently yes, you are supposed to slam on your brakes and have someone rear end you.
.......
Just my cynical opinion,
Jim henderson
.......
Just my cynical opinion,
Jim henderson
Just my cynical reponse,
Steve Cole
Last edited by Beast12; Sep 14, 2005 at 09:01 PM. Reason: removed masked profanity
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,940
Likes: 2
From: Eastern WA
I like the idea of using a license plate holder like they had in an old James Bond movie. By pushing a button in a car, the license plate frame that held three plates would rotate. Set it up so that when you floor it and for the next 15 seconds afterwards the thing just keeps rotating round and round and round and...................... 
. You get the idea, hard to take a picture. Honestly, I just use my brakes and stop at the light, even though we don't have camera cops where I live.
. You get the idea, hard to take a picture. Honestly, I just use my brakes and stop at the light, even though we don't have camera cops where I live.