Red light fine for front wheels just barely crossing line?

Hi everyone,

So I was driving before and I accidentally just barely crossed (front wheels) the big white line and triggered the red light camera.

I need the help of anyone with knowledge of road rules and how the speed cameras work as to weather I will get a fine for this or not?

This was located in Melbourne, Victoria and I have attached a video from my dashcam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZMVVEAmthw

Comments

  • +6

    Doesn't look like the flash is for you to me, but the car turning left in the top left of screen.

    • Didn't seem anyone else was there unless the camera was faulty..

      • +1

        Watch your video again… the car that drives from the left side of the screen.

        • Maybe they had a green left arrow?

          EDIT: Never mind - couldn’t have been a green arrow.

  • +1

    You’ll be fine.
    You’d get a fine had you proceeded to turn on that second flash.

    • I hope so. Thanks

  • -1

    Pretty harsh. Were you in the pedestrian crossing?

    • No

      • +2

        I wouldn't stress until you receive something. I think you'll be OK.

        Congrats on being the most innocent person to post one of these.

        • I hope so.. would be pretty bad getting a $400+ fine just for that.

          • -2

            @TheEnd: Anyhow if ever there was a time to use the clean driving record excuse it would be then.

  • -3

    Relevant legislation for Vic:

    ROAD SAFETY ROAD RULES 2017 - REG 57

    Stopping for a yellow traffic light or arrow
    (1) A driver approaching or at traffic lights showing a yellow traffic light must stop—

        (a)     if there is a stop line at or near the traffic lights and the driver can stop safely before reaching the stop line—as near as practicable to, but before reaching, the stop line; or
    
        (b)     if there is no stop line at or near the traffic lights and the driver can stop safely before reaching the traffic lights—as near as practicable to, but before reaching, the nearest or only traffic lights; or
    
        (c)     if the traffic lights are at an intersection and the driver cannot stop safely in accordance with paragraph (a) or (b), but can stop safely before entering the intersection—before entering the intersection—
    

    and must not proceed past the stop line or nearest or only traffic lights, or into the intersection (as the case may be), until the traffic lights show a green or flashing yellow traffic light or no traffic light.

    • Thanks but I'm not sure what that is trying to say… do front wheels just barely crossing the line count?

      • No they don't.
        First flash is to capture the red light
        Second flash is to capture actual movement of car through red light.
        The flash wasn't for you, it's for the car on your left turning left.

        There's an induction loop sensor underneath the first position of the car where it stops.
        The red light cameras trigger when it detects a vehicle has left that sensor on a red.
        You clearly have not left the sensor, you didn't trigger it.

        For RMS NSW they have to manually verify for red light cameras. I'd imagine the same applies to VIC.

        The lights just turned ALL green for cars incoming from the right side (to go all directions), on a large highway, the people coming in the right, aren't allowed to just turn right when they want (you can see multiple lanes of traffic from the right side turning to their right, including a police car)
        This indicates there's at least two lanes of traffic allowed to turn right, so they would be only be allowed to turn to their right (or your "go straight ahead"), when there's a green arrow.

        Since they aren't allowed to go unless there's a green right arrow, this must have meant the traffic from the left side had just been turned red.

        P.s. I see a VIOFO A119, true OzBer :D

  • The offence code would be 2101: Fail to obey traffic lights (3 demerits, $403). It covers road rules 56(1), 56(2), 57(2), 59(1), 60 and 61(2). Of these, they could book you for 56(1) if they wanted to be shit about it.

    56 Stopping for a red traffic light or arrow

    (1) A driver approaching or at traffic lights showing a
    red traffic light must stop—
    - (a) if there is a stop line at or near the traffic
    lights—as near as practicable to, but before
    reaching, the stop line

    I doubt they would. If you get a ticket, simply request a review (do not admit guilt to anything) and if that fails, take it to court where the magistrate would almost certainly dismiss it.

    I wouldn't worry at this stage.

  • You've done the crime now do the time.

    • +1

      There is no crime here.

  • +2

    I don't think the flashes were for you OP. Probably the car turning left on the other side of the lights.

    But personal suggestion, you need to brake earlier. My dad taught me that the last few metres to the stop line/car in front, you should be idling forward. You were still doing 20-30km/h only metres from the stop line.

    • The flash takes place too long after the car turning left has entered the intersection.
      But, I though the camera is only activated after the rear set of tyres crossed the pressure strip in the road, thereby clearly proving the car has actually entered the intersection

      • +2

        rear set of tyres crossed the pressure strip in the road,

        Induction loops detecteds metal.

        • Why do people keep thinking there's pressure sensors on the road?
          That would require moving parts and constant maintenance.

    • Judging braking distance/time depends on a combination of a person’s spatial awareness, driving ability (read: understanding the car), and their confidence. OP was going too fast in this scenario but, on the flip-side, if someone brakes how you describe it, then I try to get out from behind that driver ASAP. It’s a clear warning sign that they don’t understand their car, have poor spatial skills, and/or lack confidence behind the wheel; all of which are not exactly conducive to avoiding accidents.

      • Actually I understand my car's braking characteristics quite well, I have very good spatial awareness, and I am quite confident in my driving skills. But I also know there are other unpredictable factors on the road, so I give myself time and space to give myself options.

        Time and time again I see drivers driving in such a manner than it is either succeed or completely fail. Good example is cars turning across traffic, all the time I see people take gaps where if ANYTHING went wrong, they get t-boned. By anything I mean like, traction control kicks in and cuts engine power, car fails to accelerate, etc.
        Another example is tail-gating, people leave themselves no time to consider options if something happens.

        People need to learn to drive defensively, not just hope that nothing happens. Of course if people did that, I wouldn't have been in 5 car accidents, of which zero where my fault.

  • +1

    You won’t get a fine
    The cameras are positioned to take a photo of the car from the rear, after you’ve entered the intersection on a red light.

  • +1

    At least wait and get your fine before posting thread. No point in stressing over it. Keep the dashcam vid.

  • Thanks, OP. I’m going to show this to my learner brother so he can understand why I always shout at him to slow down sooner when approaching a red light.

  • All good OP.

  • @The End: Did you get the fine or not? I did the same thing today.. My front tyre may be just over the white line and the camera flashes. I am anxious if I would get the fine?

  • @TheEnd and @Awais so did you get the fine. I was exactly in the same situation today. My front tyres crossed the lines and my rear tyres were still behind the lines when i stopped. The camera flashed twice. Its stressting me out the $480 fine and 3 demerit points. The fines are so big. If you got the fine, did you contest it? Please advise as we all are in same voat. Thank you.

    • @Kkk2023 @TheEnd @Awais did you get the fine ? I made the same mistake.

  • @kkk2023 did you get the fine ? I made the same mistake !

  • +1

    Sorry haven't checked this in a while. No I didn't get the fine if anyone is interested.

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