Pulled over for Running a Yellow Light

Jamesrulez1 on 30/12/2023 - 00:25
Last edited 01/01/2024 - 03:17

The interaction lasted 5 seconds and I don't know why or if it will impact me in the future.

I was driving with cruise control on at 70 while approaching a red light camera in a 70 zone. It turned yellow but I was about 3-5 metres before the line with cars behind me so I had the option of hard braking or leaving it on 70. I chose not to hard brake and coasted through the lights with plenty of time to spare.

Sirens turned on behind me and I got pulled over. The officer told me his name and that I was being recorded and asked to see my ID. He scanned it and told me I was free to go. The reason for the stop was I had plenty of time to stop before the line. I didn't even say a word but I was ready to argue my case if it came down to it.

Do police leave notes on file for future police officers?

What was he scanning my ID for? I'm assuming to check if I have any past offences or warrants etc?

Is what I did illegal?

I have a clean record and the car is a performance car (200k+).

EDIT: I've done reviewing and replying back to the comments. Will be on vacation for the next few weeks.

After sifting through all the trolls from what I understand the cop wanted to check if I had a dubious record or if the car was stolen and the lights were just an excuse to pull me over.

For anyone wanting to read through the drama below, keep in mind the trolls cherry picked a post on whirlpool to assist in their agenda.
The car is a E63S (I also have a C63S as a daily temporarily) which I drive on weekends as a "high yield investment" (non ironically).
As the trolls love stalking my whirlpool account feel free to check out my reddit account as well (remove the 1 from my username) to check out my other cars.

Special shoutout to Muzeeb for spending his Christmas and new year riling up the community with his troll posts.

Automotive

Comments

  • Hybroid on 30/12/2023 - 00:28
    +14

    A yellow (amber) light means you must stop. You can only go through a yellow light if you cannot stop safely before the ‘Stop’ line.

    You should not stop suddenly, and you should not speed up to get through a yellow light.

    https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/roads-s…

      • Hybroid on 30/12/2023 - 00:35
        +20

        Only you can judge whether or not you could stop safely before the line and hence answer whether or not what you did was illegal. How can we tell you that without being there. Maybe review your dashcam footage.

        Also we can't tell you whether or not the police officer left notes. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't…

          • Hybroid on 30/12/2023 - 00:42
            +11

            @Jamesrulez1: I would expect something like: "Stopped vehicle for crossing yellow light. Warned driver. Checked docs. OK." in their terminology.

          • pegaxs on 30/12/2023 - 10:23
            +19

            @Jamesrulez1:

            I reviewed my dashcams.

            Then post it here and let us see it. You are the one claiming "aN Ai ReSpOnSe wOuLd GiVe BeTTeR ReSuLtZ!!1!" but you are still holding the most vital piece of the puzzle.

            It's hard for us to help you determine if the copper was legit in pulling you over if you have all the proof and are only stating you "version" even when you are holding the proof… Chances are when people have proof and refuse to share said proof… They are trying to colour their version of the event…

          • Protractor on 30/12/2023 - 10:46
            +8

            @Jamesrulez1: "I reviewed my dashcams"

            Now it's our turn. Pay up

          • Loopholio on 01/01/2024 - 14:15

            @Jamesrulez1: Could you share your dashcam footage? It would help.

        • ihfree on 30/12/2023 - 00:44
          +3

          It turned yellow but I was about 3-5 metres before the line with cars behind me so I had the option of hard braking or leaving it on 70

          Braking distance is more than that, especially considering reaction time. You'd probably be looking at about 50m.

          Probably nothing to worry about.

          • Papa Huggies on 31/12/2023 - 22:01
            +1

            @ihfree: Assuming OP was truthful. Very likely they're embellishing. No one would think to stop 5m before the line. In fact if you're travelling 70km/h they can't expect you to stop even 50m away. (Austroads minimum approach sight distance is 83m for 70km/h)

    • BoltThrower on 30/12/2023 - 00:46
      +3

      Do you think 3 metres between cars at 70km/h is a safe stopping distance?

      • Hybroid on 30/12/2023 - 00:47
        +2

        I'm not here to judge. I wasn't there. I didn't verify the 3m stated distance to be accurate.

    • AustriaBargain on 30/12/2023 - 11:56
      +3

      Damn really, I always speed up.

      • redfox1200 on 31/12/2023 - 14:49
        +1

        Always send it, stuff waiting for another 5 minutes to go.

    • bobwokeup on 30/12/2023 - 12:49
      +1

      Exactly “should not stop suddenly” so OP was in the right.

    • Ryk on 30/12/2023 - 17:36
      -2

      A yellow (amber) light means you must stop.

      wot? what is red for then?

  • MS Paint on 30/12/2023 - 00:30
    +32

    (200k+).

    Probably just wanted a closer look at your high yield investment.

    Nice upgrade from your scratched Honda.

    Do police leave notes on file for future police officers?

    My little nephew wants to be a police officer when he grows up. I'll ask him to keep an eye out for the note.

    • Gunnar on 30/12/2023 - 09:50

      Adjusted for inflation, the new price of an e32 740/750 would be over $200 and they had performance car acceleration in its day

    • ass3ts on 30/12/2023 - 23:56

      A scratched NSX?

  • fwhite on 30/12/2023 - 00:35
    +6

    As long as you are not in reasonable braking distance, and dont have to accelerate hard to make it over the yellow light, youre all good.
    You did nothing wrong, except for driving "a performance car (200k+)". Pretty sure he wouldnt have pulled you over in a camry.

    • Jamesrulez1 on 30/12/2023 - 00:39
      -2

      No acceleration literally cruise control recorded on dashcam as well.

      Rear dashcam also shows car in close proximity behind me where if I were to stop suddenly could cause an accident.

    • Jamesrulez1 on 30/12/2023 - 01:16
      +3

      I didn't get a ticket or a fine.

      I honestly would've rather have gotten one to contest it as I have evidence rather than have a random note on my file leading to future stops.

      • geekcohen on 30/12/2023 - 07:13
        +1

        I honestly would've rather have gotten one to contest it as I have evidence rather than have a random note on my file leading to future stops.

        Where is it so we can review and have a better understanding?

        • cookie2 on 30/12/2023 - 07:35

          They meant evidence, RATHER than a random note on file. Not evidence OF a note on file.

        • Protractor on 30/12/2023 - 10:26
          +1

          Yes OP needs to show us the dashcam footage(front and rear)

      • Webber000 on 30/12/2023 - 12:57
        +2

        You didn't get a fine or ticket YET.
        Save the dashcam footage in case he sends you one in the post (or claims you went through a red and trys sending you to court).
        But my guess is he was trying to fine you, then noticed you have dashcams and no points/licence issues or weren't the type of driver he expected in that vehicle/looked responsible so decided not to write you a ticket.

        • Jamesrulez1 on 31/12/2023 - 17:00
          +1

          This is a good idea. I have all my dashcam footage backed up into the cloud automatically but i'll pull it out separately just incase.

  • bobbified on 30/12/2023 - 01:30
    +27

    Share dashcam footage so we can agree that it was not safe to stop… 😋

  • Benoffie on 30/12/2023 - 02:25
    -3

    I was taught that using the pavement arrows, you can reasonably judge stopping safely.

    3rd arrow - quite reasonable
    2nd arrow - depends on speed and traffic
    1st arrow - no hope unless you lock up and have cars up your arse.

    The standards bare this out with arrow placement 6m behind the line, then 6m in length for straight ahead, then placement again generally at 15m and 50m.

    If OPs dashcam shows 70kms/h past 2nd arrow, then Id say cop was a douche.

    https://austroads.com.au/publications/asset-management/ap-r5…

  • randomusername2017 on 30/12/2023 - 05:18
    +2

    car is a performance car (200k+)

    Free Pass 👍

    • Mikeer on 30/12/2023 - 13:01
      +37

      I don't know why that's impressive, my Mazda has already done 262k's and is still going strong

      • md333 on 30/12/2023 - 13:34
        +8

        You really shouldn't be posting on Ozbargain while driving at over 260 kmph. But tell us what it topped out at when you stop.

      • CurlCurl on 31/12/2023 - 17:15
        +1

        I don't know why that's impressive, my Mazda has already done 262k's and is still going strong

        My 4WD has 357,000 on it and just did a head gasket.

        • idonotknowwhy on 31/12/2023 - 17:40
          +3

          357,000 KM/s?? That's faster than the speed of light! If you get the gasket fixed, could you go back to 2010 and convince me to invest in bitcoin or at least nvidia or something?

          • Cheap Rich Guy on 02/01/2024 - 01:01

            @idonotknowwhy: A guy auctioned $50 worth of bitcoin in 2010 but no one bid. That amount is now worth $600 million.

  • Euphemistic on 30/12/2023 - 05:57
    +35

    There is no way you were 3-5m away from the light when it went yellow and you had time to decide wether to stop or not. At 70km/h you were travelling 19.4m per second. No one could be expected to stop in 1/4second.

    Go back and have a look at your dashcam footage and work out how far you wete from
    The intersection.

    • askbargain on 30/12/2023 - 10:36
      +4

      special relativity made it shorter.

      • OZKap on 30/12/2023 - 14:03
        +3

        Light was blue shifted from the speed OP's performance car (200k+) was travelling. Yellow appeared as green.

    • Jamesrulez1 on 01/01/2024 - 03:10

      I've had a look and distance is hard to gauge in metres but definitely not within safe braking distance and well within crossing distance.

      • Euphemistic on 01/01/2024 - 06:51

        How many second between when the light changes and when you cross the line? That’s give you a distance estimate.

        Doesn’t really matter. But will give you a better understanding of the actual distance.

        • pegaxs on 01/01/2024 - 11:01
          +1

          OP wont post the dash cam footage, what makes you think they are reliably going to tell the truth about how many seconds elapsed before crossing the line.

          • Euphemistic on 01/01/2024 - 12:26

            @pegaxs: I don’t care wether they do or don’t. Just want OP to be know that 3-5m is a stupid estimation.

      • Piranha2004 on 01/01/2024 - 11:06

        Did it turn yellow before or after the lines went solid?

  • El cheepo on 30/12/2023 - 06:54
    +6

    Probably just hitting KPI’s and you were an easy quick warning stop.

    Yellow is a easy reason to pull someone up and do an obligatory license check etc.
    Having an expensive car probably also makes it worth checking to see you are in fact the owner.

    Likely they would just write a very brief description of what you were cautioned about in their system and thats it.
    Means nothing unless another cop sees you go through a yellow again and looks you up and decides to pull you over.

    • Jamesrulez1 on 01/01/2024 - 03:09
      -1

      I don't run yellows and drive quite safe as any mark on my license = huge increases in insurance hence adaptive cruise control to stay at speed limit when possible.

      So if another cop were to put my plates into the system they'd see the notes from the last time I was stopped?

  • payless69 on 30/12/2023 - 07:27

    At 3-5m with a speed of 70 ?

    Only a bargainhuntress Musk car in a Dolorean skin would stop…..

  • Sawtell on 30/12/2023 - 08:04
    +6

    Expect a fine in the mail…

  • GordonD on 30/12/2023 - 09:04
    +23

    The cop wasn't interested in what you did.

    He just wanted an opportunity to make sure it was legit that someone like you was driving a car like that. As you describe it, a "200k+ performance car". People who drive expensive performance cars have a disproportionate tendency to get booked, and lose their licences, but keep driving. And they are often people with dubious records. And their cars have a disproportionate tendency to be stolen and used for criminal acts.

    He checked. You looked and acted legit - as in you didn't run, you stopped, and behaved - so that's the end of the story. I'm surprised you don't get that regularly.

    • Jamesrulez1 on 30/12/2023 - 19:05

      Thank you this was what I was looking for.

      It's a new car I haven't had a chance to drive it much.

  • Dollar General on 30/12/2023 - 09:21

    You have nothing to worry about with the amber light. Police pulled you over and will issue you a fine for being a douche bag

  • Protractor on 30/12/2023 - 09:49

    Don't performance cars have performance brakes?
    Cruise control into traffic lights (OMG)
    Everything you did say will be edited (cherry picked) to add to your ticket.Usually it's worded well enough to give plod the advantage in court.
    Congratulations

    • OZKap on 30/12/2023 - 14:05
      +4

      Don't performance cars have performance brakes?

      It's the clapped-out overloaded tradie ute travelling behind you that you have to watch for.

      • Protractor on 30/12/2023 - 17:37
        -2

        Or plod

      • Jamesrulez1 on 01/01/2024 - 03:07
        +1

        This is correct. I have no problem hard braking last minute but the car right behind me as I'm going the speed limit, not so sure.

  • doctordv8 on 30/12/2023 - 09:54

    I have never heard of Traffic Police asking for ID, instead of the DL. Scan????

    Is this something new or NSW related only?

    Common sense, Cruise Control destructions along with Defensive Driving techniques all say do not approach Traffic Lights on open cruise without preparedness, I hope you had your tippy toes positioned above the brake pedal prior to the intersection, for when there is more than 3.5 m and following drivers are at a safe distance.

    • kerfuffle on 30/12/2023 - 10:16
      +1

      They probably asked for DL and OP is referring to his DL as ID since it is a form of ID

    • Jamesrulez1 on 01/01/2024 - 03:06

      Yes digital license scan.

      I had my tippy toes ready and had been observant of the traffic around me before the lights turned amber.

  • pegaxs on 30/12/2023 - 09:58
    +5

    I was ready to argue my case if it came down to it.

    Hahah, like the copper would give a (fropanity). Coppers apply the “attitude test” to traffic stops, arguing with them is usually a sure fire way to fail this test.

    The time to argue is in court in front of a magistrate, not with the copper at the side of the road. The cop is NEVER going to see your side of the story and rescind a ticket once they have started the stop. They will quote literally say “if you don’t agree with the fine, in the back of the fine are you options to contest the fine in court, you have 28 days… blah blah…”

    • MS Paint on 30/12/2023 - 10:10
      +3

      I just asked copilot about the consequences of driving through an amber light and giving the cop some lip…

      I was driving down the street
      Feeling happy and upbeat
      When I saw the traffic light
      Turn from green to amber bright

      I thought I had enough time
      To cross the intersection fine
      But then I heard a siren sound
      And saw a cop car come around

      He pulled me over to the side
      And asked me for my license and ride
      He said I ran a red light
      And that I broke the law tonight

      I tried to argue with the cop
      And said the light was not a stop
      I said he was unfair and mean
      And that he should have seen the green

      He did not like my attitude
      And said I was being rude
      He wrote me a ticket then and there
      And told me to drive with more care

      I was angry and annoyed
      And felt my mood was destroyed
      I wished I had not talked back
      And just accepted the fact

      That sometimes life is not fair
      And we have to be aware
      That driving through an amber light
      Can lead to trouble and a fight

      • Protractor on 30/12/2023 - 10:58
        -1

        Kudos for calling the light amber.
        Cold Play seem to have taken our language hostage

    • pegaxs on 30/12/2023 - 10:16
      -1

      EDIT: (had to add this as muzeeb replied to me with this lovely poem in the middle of my "extra" reply edit.)

      Do police leave notes on file for future police officers?

      Yes. 100% they do. Especially if you fail the "attitude test"

      What was he scanning my ID for? I'm assuming to check if I have any past offences or warrants etc?

      Yes, checking past traffic history, checking for "attitude test" results, and most probably so they could write you a ticket out later when they get back to the cop shop.

      Is what I did illegal?

      Really? You need to ask this? Did you not get your license in Australia? Or like most people, got it off the back of a WeetBix box? It's covered by Road Rule #57 in most states… look it up.

      I have a clean record and the car is a performance car (200k+).

      Well then, that probably explains the willingness to want to argue with police. Just think yourself lucky he didn't hit you with speeding as well as you punched it to beat the yellow light. And a "clean record" doesn't help in matter of "dangerous driving" when you are seeking to apply for leniency, some offences are exempt from seeking leniency, running traffic lights is one of them…

      Just consider it like this, think of it as a toll (Traffic infringements are more akin to a toll, because they are totally optional). Think of all the times in your life you have punted your "$2o0k sPoRtZ cAr" though a red light. Now, take the fine amount in your state ($514 in NSW), and divide it by the number of times you have ever run yellow and red lights and you will see it's really not a bad deal at all. Usually only works out to about $1~$3 per infringement.

      If you do receive the ticket in the mail and you still feel you were hard done by, flip the ticket over and elect to have it heard in court by a magistrate. Might take 6 months for a hearing, but you will finally get your chance to "argue" with someone who will actually listen.

      • MS Paint on 30/12/2023 - 10:26
        +3

        Apologies for the interruption.

        • pegaxs on 30/12/2023 - 10:31
          +3

          I needed something to do while OP prepares the Dash Cam video to be uploaded where it shows him about 40m back when the light turned yellow and not the "claimed" 3~5m. A copper is not pulling someone over for 3~5m. That's literally about 1 car length from the line.

          • MS Paint on 30/12/2023 - 10:49
            +5

            @pegaxs: Fun fact : we are never going to see the footage or learn what this $200k car actually is.

            • xuqi on 30/12/2023 - 23:28
              +9

              @MS Paint: Officer was wondering why the car's value inflated….

              https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/thread/388lkn0y

              • MS Paint on 30/12/2023 - 23:31
                +2

                @xuqi: Nice find. Classic ozbargain phrase used on whirlpool….

                The car is a 2019 C63S with all the bells and whistles

                According to car sales the cheapest is $112k and the most expensive is $170k.

                • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 31/12/2023 - 07:39
                  +1

                  @MS Paint: Lollll reading that WP post OP clearly lives at home (added parents as driver's) yet bought a $120k "with cash".

              • randomusername2017 on 31/12/2023 - 07:06
                +1

                @xuqi:

                the bells ,whistles and knob

                Are you sure it's the same guy?.
                That other one sounds like such a douche.

              • Jamesrulez1 on 31/12/2023 - 10:17

                @xuqi: I'm suprised you people have all the time in the world to do a background search on me.

                Here's a hint - look for my reddit profile and the other car I purchased.
                The amount of KMs are on there as well and it is not a "high mileage" car unless you define <50k km as high mileage.

                I have a C63S and a E63S. The C63S is a daily but the E63S is a weekender that I don't take out as often as it's a "high yield investment".

                And before you go "oh the cheapest one for sale is $170k definitely not a $200k+ car" you forget stamp duty and insurance.
                Not to mention that car isn't sold because it's missing options from the final edition which I wanted.

                • furakoph on 01/01/2024 - 15:31

                  @Jamesrulez1: How is an E63S an investment? It's already outdated and they sold in large volumes. All it does is depreciate.

                  Something like an AMG Black series, SLS or AMG one would be closer to an investment.

          • Protractor on 30/12/2023 - 10:53
            -3

            @pegaxs: "got it off the back of a WeetBix box" Wash your mouth out!
            Weetbix, ( gateway drug to citizenship ) has a better filter these days.

            (I always carry a large family sized box (with half the 'bix' gone on my back seat.) It wards off trouble and acts as a 'you're free to go card', if plod pulls me over

            But I'm keen to see the dashcam of this one,too. Especially the cruise control shot.

  • CurlCurl on 30/12/2023 - 10:59
    -4

    Rule number 1: Don't have cruise control set at 70kph approaching traffic lights.

    • Euphemistic on 30/12/2023 - 11:15
      +6

      Why not? I use my cruise control virtually every time I drive. Helps me not speed.

  • Derrick Crane on 30/12/2023 - 11:00
    -2

    Cruise control set at 70 I find incongruous. I am making the assumption you are in a built up area. Apologies if this is not the case.

    • ozbargainsam on 30/12/2023 - 11:58
      +4

      At least in Sydney, there are a number of arterial roads with traffic lights that are 70.

      Cars with radar cruise are fairly common these days, and they are excellent for city driving. Car makers even advertise it for use with traffic in mind (traffic jam assist etc) where it brings you to a full stop.

      I use active cruise on my car on basically any non-residential street.

  • ass3ts on 30/12/2023 - 11:11
    +4

    I've been pulled over for no reason quite a few times, they checked my licence/random RBT, nothing happened. A police woman returned my licence and said nice car once, another time I got pulled over as I drove out of Centennial Park in my t-shirt and shorts after a jog and he asked if the Aston Martin was my car or not, well can't you see the registration details matching the name on my licence??

    • MS Paint on 30/12/2023 - 11:18
      +2

      V8 or V12?

      • ass3ts on 30/12/2023 - 11:19
        +2

        DBS

    • mousie on 30/12/2023 - 18:20
      +1

      They wanted to see if you were James Bond

  • AustriaBargain on 30/12/2023 - 11:57

    You need better situational awareness, you should have known a cop was behind you.

    • Protractor on 30/12/2023 - 12:01
      +1

      If he had SA, he would not have posted his admission of guilt, here.

  • JIMB0 on 30/12/2023 - 12:19
    +4

    the car is a performance car (200k+).

    So in other words it's a V6 Camry with over 200,000 km on the clock.

    • MS Paint on 30/12/2023 - 13:48

      With factory rear spoiler and 16" alloys.

      • Protractor on 30/12/2023 - 17:44

        Nah, shiny plastic hubcaps that spin . Coooooooooool

    • mousie on 30/12/2023 - 18:21

      TRD stickers for added performance

  • Brick Tamland on 30/12/2023 - 12:38
    +1

    I think its always one of those tough ones to call as it does rely on a reasonableness test.

    If you coasted through it on the yellow it does sound reasonable to me. I am hesitant to brake hard as you may not always have time to check your rear view mirror and you never know that someone behind you might gun it to Gert through the yellow lights assuming you are going through them as well. It could very well be safer to go through.

    If you have to accelerate to get through the yellow in order to avoid the red then yeah its not a good choice.

  • BillyStm on 30/12/2023 - 12:57
    +1

    Sirens turned on behind me and I got pulled over. The officer told me his name and that I was being recorded and asked to see my ID. He scanned it and told me I was free to go. The reason for the stop was I had plenty of time to stop before the line. I didn't even say a word but I was ready to argue my case if it came down to it.

    So by not saying a word in response to the reason you'd been pulled over you've opted not to contest the stated version of events and can therefore expect a fine in the mail. His Axon body cam will also show it was an undisputed matter at the time.

    • CurlCurl on 30/12/2023 - 13:25
      -1

      Sirens turned on behind me and I got pulled over. The officer told me his name and that I was being recorded and asked to see my ID. He scanned it and told me I was free to go. The reason for the stop was I had plenty of time to stop before the line. I didn't even say a word but I was ready to argue my case if it came down to it.

      So by not saying a word in response to the reason you'd been pulled over you've opted not to contest the stated version of events and can therefore expect a fine in the mail. His Axon body cam will also show it was an undisputed matter at the time.

      Remember, you have the right to remain silent but, with traffic offences you must show your licence. If you claim not to have anything that identifies you, you must state your full name and address.

      • BillyStm on 30/12/2023 - 13:29
        +1

        Indeed, but in this case the OP had stated they were ready to argue their case…did they not realise that was the opportunity to dispute the reason provided and advise they would challenge the decision if required.

        • CurlCurl on 30/12/2023 - 13:39
          +2

          Indeed, but in this case the OP had stated they were ready to argue their case…did they not realise that was the opportunity to dispute the reason provided and advise they would challenge the decision if required.

          Argue the case with Highway patrol officer is one way to get a ticket. I got away doing 127kph on the Hume hwy in a 100 zone, Short version, don't argue, be polite, admit your crime.

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