Posted on 11/04/2011 9:11:11 AM PDT by re_tail20
The city of Denver is bringing in thousands of dollars in fines every year by ticketing people who stop at red lights. They are ticketed because their tire goes over the white line that marks where the vehicle should stop.
The red light cameras at various intersections in the city will flash and the driver will be sent a $75 citation if the vehicle goes over the white line, even if the driver stops for the light.
“They are stealing money. Who has extra money to pay?” asked one driver.
“I think this is an injustice, it’s just completely unfair,” said another.
“I didn’t go through the red light. I just didn’t stop at the white line,” said yet another driver. “I feel it’s a frivolous charge. If an officer had been present, I would not have been given that ticket.”
That driver went to court to fight the ticket and lost.
According to the law, Steady red indication:
a. Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line but, if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown; except that
1. Such vehicular traffic, after coming to a stop and yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection, may make a right turn unless an official sign is erected at each and every intersection where such right turn is prohibited.
2. Such vehicular traffic, when proceeding on a one-way street, and after coming to a stop, may make a left turn onto a one-way street upon which traffic is moving to the left of the driver. Such turn shall be made only after yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic proceeding as directed. No such turn shall be made if a sign is erected giving notice of any such prohibition at each and every intersection where such left turn is prohibited.
“Every nation has the government it deserves.” —Joseph de Maistre
Applies to local governments, too, and there are consequences for allowing thieving socialism in government. You can win.
We beat them, locally at least, on a legal technicality.
The fines were considered a "civil" crime, and state law requires that 90% of fines for civil crimes be distributed to the school system. The red light company that was running the racket was skimming off too much of the fine ($35 out of every $50 fine, if memory serves).
The camera fines were challenged in court under this premise, and the law was upheld.
Rather than pick up the balance of the tab that needed to go to the schools, all of the local cities decided to yank out the cameras, instead. Thus proving that it was NOT about safety, but about money all along. :-)
I doubt the cameras are members of the police union. Could be time for a police strike until this grievance is resolved.
Talk about your misleading headline!! Those white lines are there for a reason. Anything beyond is in the crosswalk. When I lived in Phoenix, the police there would hand out tickets for it. It was so common we called them the white line patrol.
I’m not condoning what Denver is doing here, but drivers need to realize that the lines are there for a purpose ... it’s not a suggestion.
LOL! Ok.
Was that Johnson Ferry Road? Crosses over the Chattahoochee River? If so, I grew up close to there.
I think that school bus law is nationwide. School busses are picking up & droping off kids all over the USA every school day. The driver who stops at my corner has kids who walk in front of the bus to walk to their houses. IF a driver were to pass that bus while it is stopped to discharge those kids, those kids would be hit.
For the bus driver to issue a ticket notice to the cops is OK by me.
Last Friday on the way home, I made a left turn at a traffic light. If you get up to the speed limit quickly, you can make the next light on green easily. The broad in front of me locked her brakes at that light when it turned yellow.
I stopped in time, as did the guy behind me. He couldn't see the car and was giving me the one finger salute until we left and he passed both of us on the left. I have a feeling he felt a little silly.
I was just fantasizing. It didn’t really happen.
shotguns should work fine on these contraptions
I have a feeling this is mysteriously going to stop happening now that they’ve been blown in by Eyewitness News during Sweeps Week
Who ever said it was to improve safety? This is a pure money making racket.
I have no problem with someone having the book thrown at them when they pass a school bus unloading kids.
As you mentioned, a kid could get hit by a speeding car.
But there is a flip side to that coin. Here in Maine, I know someone who got in trouble for passing a parked bus, with NO flashing lights, no extended stop sign, and no kids on board, parked on the side of the road. Just the bus driver was on board.
This person, the car’s driver, was ticketed by the police by mail, although the police officer who called on the phone was sympathetic and didn’t believe the bus driver, who had lied. (The cop’s hands were tied, even though the car’s driver was innocent). I was there in the car, as a passenger, and none of what the bus driver said was true. At the time, the car had an out-of-state plate, so maybe that was the problem. It was cheaper to pay the fine and accept the points on the license, than to go to court. If I was the driver, I would have gone to court....I’m stubborn and won’t accept guilt for something I didn’t do.
If they want to give bus drivers police powers, they should have them raise their right hand and make them part-time deputies with the appropriate training.
You seem to be the only FReeper on this thread supporting obeying the law. What's up with that?
I guess I'm just an oddball. :-)
Again ... not supporting what Denver is doing here. I've just noticed over the years that driving habits of the general public have gotten much worse and basic rules are ignored. Cars block crosswalks all the time. In a busy pedestrian area (or near schools) that can cause issues. That's all I'm tryin' to say.
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