I was on my way to work today, going east on huntingwood waiting to turn left onto Birchmount, 2 cars in the intersection and myself being the last car was over the pedestrian walk. Just as the light turns yellow, westbound car runs the yellow causing us to pause. First car makes it the turn, the second car and myself are stuck turning on a red. Cop pulls me over and give me a ticket for failing to stop at a red.

What are your opinions? tix is 180 plus 3 points. Regardless I am going to fight it, just wanted to know what your thought about the ticket are.

 

I'd fight it. Usually if I am already past the light and in the intersection knowingly that I will cause a back up for traffic then I will continue. If the light was red and you turned then thats a different story.

 

^true.. you could also argue for the cop's side that you need to wait to cross the pedestrian walk until you are for sure ready and open to make that left turn even though in reality, you arent gonna get anywhere. I would still fight it for the hell of it because it happens to everybody and I'm sure the judge will understand if you explain him the case. GL

 

Don't know how far you are going to get with fighting the ticket.

When making a left hand turn there should only be one vehicle in the intersection and the rest of the cars making the same left should be waiting behind the stop line. I know that most people don't observe this and take a gamble in getting pulled over, myself included from time to time. If you explain your story to the judge the same way you've put it here, I don't think you would have a good case for getting the ticket dropped.

 

Hey Gordon,

I do agree that technically we should all be waiting behind the line. However if the car going west didnt try to beat the light we would have been fine. According to the "law" I know I was at fault, but I dont understand why she didnt just give me a warning. I have been driving for 13 years with no infractions WTF.

Even when I asked how many points, she replied just go to court and you can probably work something out. Thats what pisses me off. If she were that lax about it, why give me a tix in the first place.

Sorry guys, just ranting.

 

I'm not sure but if you break the plane of the intersection, you are committed to making the turn, and is legal. Your situation this may be different, but something to check out.

 

I can only speak for Alberta, but my dad tried to fight a similar ticket and lost. He was told that you are not to pass the stop line and enter the intersection while waiting to make a left turn, they said he violated the law and received the appropriate fine.

 

I'd take it to court and waste the cops time regardless. :/

 

I've had worse BS tickets.

Try going 80 on a 60 zone with a buddy of yours that's driving the same car (350Z) and getting a street racing ticket.

 

Always fight it, when you get your court date change it to a couple days later and hope he doesn't show up. Worst case is DA makes a deal and you pay less.

 

Absolutly change the court date I was a summer student for a police service the officers always give the court date on a day that is good for them. Talk to the crown procecutor they will often go registered owner(no points but full cost) just so you dont tie up the courts time. Good Luck let us know how it turns out.

 

+1......You can always try to deal it down .....
G/L
C.

 

yeah always fight it. my buddy also had somebody else represent him at court saying he was out of the province and asked if they could reschedule the court date. they threw out the ticket except for a $40 fine. the original ticket was over $200 and carried 3 demerit points i believe.

 

I thought there is a rule that says you can clear the intersection if you've already passed the thick white line when the light was not red???

 

..
I thought there was something like that too.... as long as you entered on green.