Hi all,
Today I was on a road on which two lanes turn right. I was in the left lane(outer lane) which turns right.
The light to turn right was red, however, the light to go straight was green. I decided to go straight but then I think I saw the camera flash.
Just wondering if it is classified as running a red light.
Ta. It was right turn only. BTW, would I get pinged for changing lane at intersection or running a red light?
Should be both, but you will only get done for running the red light
Sigh… First traffic infringement in 19 years.
@ms:
"I have had a clear Australian driving record for at least 10 years prior to the offence." reviewable in NSW not sure in VIC.
@eatwell365:
Thanks. I am not looking to get out of the infringement, if I get one. If a law has been broken, I need to cop it on the chin and learn from my mistake.
@ms: That is commendable but requesting leniency is afforded to people who have a good driving record. We all make dumb mistakes and since its your first offence, I suggest you try to have it waived.
If successful you can always donate any waived fines :)
@ms: I like your attitude of not making excuses. However, reviews based on good driving record are legitimate ways to avoid the fine, not you lying or tricking anybody. You're entitled to apply.
That being said I'm only aware of them for speeding, not running a red light here in VIC. But I could be wrong and you could be in another state.
I would say it's unsafe driving, but the camera photos cannot be used to fine you anything other than red light & speed in some scenarios.
I think that's an assumption. There was no traffic on the lanes going straight. That's why I went. If there was any traffic, yes I would call it unsafe too.
PS: apologies if I misunderstood your post.
@ms: I think apple2016 means that the infringement would technically be for "unsafe driving".
If you do get ticketed for running the red light, you should challenge it, because you didn't run the red light. The speed cameras always take 2 pictures one after the other so they should show the motion of your car going straight on and not turning. Whether they decide to use that evidence to ping you for something else (crossing an unbroken line for instance) is secondary, but you shouldn't accept a fine for an incident that didn't happen.
@the-mal:
OP was in a right turn only lane..
therefore entered the intersection (running the red for the right turn), and changed lanes mid intersection!
If OP is fined solely for running red light, then they got away with the changing lanes which could be brought against them in a challenge!
You could contest that the incident did happen.
The OP was in a right turn only lane, and decided to proceed over the stop line. Regardless of the driver's intentions, the evidence would point to the fact that the driver failed to stop at a signal governing that lane, would it not?
@ms:
Unsafe or not, unbroken lines are not on the roads for decorative purposes. An unbroken line means that you cannot change lanes in ordinary circumstances, which in this case did happen. It's up to each individual to decide if such a lane change is unsafe or not, but definitely against the law.
Got it. Just wondering if someone does make an honest mistake (not applicable to my scenario) what happens then? People change lanes all the time and sometimes enter wrong lane before realizing their mistake.
@ms:
It'd be up to the infringement issuing authority to apply their discretion in each particular case.
@ms:
Then you continue on the lane ie. Turn right and later make a U-turn or whatever.
Or, if there's no cars and cops around, I would reverse
you did commit an offence of failing to turn in accordance with a road marking, but you won't get a ticket for the red light (or the road marking)
If you are in NSW, write in and it will be taken care of.
My partner did this in QLD and he got a fine in the mail. He explained that he went straight (which was green) and not right but they didn't waive it!
I did this in WA, and got flashed by a red light camera for exactly this.
I got a fine in the mail for "Contravening Traffic Lane Arrows". It was 2 demerits which is less than the demerits for a red light fine.
Not sure what state you're in, but if you're in WA that's what I'd expect to happen.
I got flashed by a camera once after doing the same thing, I was expecting a fine but it never came, looks like I was lucky. I did ask someone I know about it and they said my best shot would be to take it to court and say the light was malfunctioning and you never got an arrow after several light changes and your only safe option was to go straight ahead.
" take it to court and say the light was malfunctioning"
1.) The lights are centrally monitored and often controlled.
2.) The photograph would show the amount of traffic on the road and the lanes they were in, making it a trivial matter to assess whether there had been any such disruption.
Attempting to swap a traffic infringement for a parcel of criminal offences in not a bargain.
This isn't addressed at OP at all (I don't think you did anything unsafe or even inconvenienced anyone since you simply went straight and you were looking out for cars- we've all done it. I always thought you had to be caught twice to be fined for running a red light - like first going into the intersection then going out of it - So it really sucks you might get fined… Then again, you might not, so don't worry too much - sometimes those cameras can go off and you never get a fine in the mail)… anyway this discussion reminded me of this bit from Louis C.K.:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_VAsiC5a02U
Again, OP did nothing like the guy Louis talks about. Now whenever I'm driving around with my SO and we see someone doing something a bit bone-headed like cutting across three lanes of traffic etc. we burst out "But it's my FAVOURITE way!" IDK, if anything it makes the drives go faster :D
If the outer lane was a right turn only lane, then yes I'll say you'll get pinged.