Hi OzBargainers
Red light camera pics : https://imgur.com/a/0v2BqsK
The gist of the offence is that the car has triggered the red camera sensors due to having its rear wheels on the stopping line when the traffic light changed to red. This happened mainly due to 2 factors:
- The driver was not well experienced at understanding intersection rules. I.E that the car has to be fully in the intersection area prior to the change to red.
- Completing the turn was stymied by jaywalking pedestrians who crossed on red and as the law requires let them finish the crossing.
There are two traffic camera pictures (https://imgur.com/a/0v2BqsK) attached to the fine, showing:
- The car at a full stop with car's braking lights ON exactly at the moment when the traffic light changes to red (the rear wheels are on the stopping line)
- A few milliseconds after the car is in the junction, also with brake lights ON as the driver realised she has to finalise the turn as the light has turned red. However, at this point there were still jaywalkers in finalising their crossing and by law the driver had to wait till they have finished.
By saying jaywalker I mean those people who start their crossing at either flashing red or fully red pedestrian traffic light.
This happened in a junction just a few meters from our home and at a non-rush hour.
This was a bone fide rookie mistake with no intention to break law or anything in that spirit.
Can anyone please advice on whether it makes sense to write a leniency request or to dispute the fine? Any other relevant advice would be highly appreciated.
Cheers
Kind regards.
Was the light amber when the vehicle was driven into the intersection?