worth fighting?

[Jack960]

Hey all, got my first fine today. Was a fixed red light so I feel retarded. However, it is my first offense in my time of having a license and it was by 0.6 seconds. Personally I felt it wasn't safe to stop. On my p's so can't really afford 3 demerits. Anyway just wondering if its worth trying to get outta it?

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by Jack960

Hey all, got my first fine today. Was a fixed red light so I feel retarded. However, it is my first offense in my time of having a license and it was by 0.6 seconds. Personally I felt it wasn't safe to stop. On my p's so can't really afford 3 demerits. Anyway just wondering if its worth trying to get outta it?

Yeah give it a go. Send the standard letter off ...... First offence etc and see how it goes. If that fails just grin and bare it.

Being P's though less chance ...... haven't had time to get a good record in place but still worth the punt

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by Jack960

Hey all, got my first fine today. Was a fixed red light so I feel retarded. However, it is my first offense in my time of having a license and it was by 0.6 seconds. Personally I felt it wasn't safe to stop. On my p's so can't really afford 3 demerits. Anyway just wondering if its worth trying to get outta it?

That's probably the point you need to emphasise.

[falconnut]

Yeah Jack i think its worth appealing it for sure, just send them a nice letter explaining why you think they should drop it and that it wasnt safe to stop.

[Rodp]

What about it made you feel it was unsafe to stop?

[ratter]

How long is the amber light to warn you a red light is about to light up?
That's what I'd ask you in return if I was appealing your question so expect the worse.

good luck

[xisled]

I would dispute it, just because you can. The worst they could say is no.

But the old, it was not safe trick does not work. Basically the orange light stays on between 3 to 5 seconds. The trigger for the red light camera only gets activated once the light turns red.

so the whole argument of not stopping because you did not think it was safe does not usually work. Technically you can get fined for running an orange.

You are better off saying that this is your first offence, you do not have much money you have part time job, your sorry for the offence, and such.

[MOTIV8]

Unless the road/weather conditions affected you in stopping, I dont like your chances at all. 0.6 seconds was when your front wheels crossed the line after the light went red and you had to still clear the intersection after that.... Good Luck and interested to find out the decision - keep us informed.

[gtxb67]

they take a dim view on red light camera fines
in vic, you can have a fine withdrawn and replaced by an official warning, but generally not for red light cameras, talking on phone and other serious offences
they may let you off on a red light camera in vic, but it seems only in some circumstances
http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content...ument_id=10369
here is the link. obviously if you are not in victoria, it doesn't help anyway, but it may give you an idea on what you are up against

personally, with the limited knowledge i have, if you missed it by over half a second, i would not fight it. by all means, ask the relevant questions before paying, but i don't think i would risk going to court for it

[BHDOGS]

Go to court please guilty say ur penance but ask the judge to remove the demerit points and increase ur fine appropriately that's what I did in s.a u learn a lesson but keep ur points the gov gets the money the judge feels good for some leniate sentenceing and the fact u owned up and admitted it was stupid everybody wins

[jpd80]

Especially if loss of license will cause undue hardship like loss of job/income and rental eviction...

[SDKC]

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

Go to court please guilty say ur penance but ask the judge to remove the demerit points and increase ur fine appropriately that's what I did in s.a u learn a lesson but keep ur points the gov gets the money the judge feels good for some leniate sentenceing and the fact u owned up and admitted it was stupid everybody wins

Magistrates cannot remove demerit points.

[BHDOGS]

Originally Posted by SDKC

Magistrates cannot remove demerit points.

Might be different in s.a or maybe he didnt record a conviction i dont know what couple years ago but i kept my p plates

[LTDHO]

on you p's and already running reds? I can't say this situatiin looks good for you.

[jrfttf]

costs nothing to send the letter and ask the question!

[krzysiek]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

on you p's and already running reds? I can't say this situatiin looks good for you.

Actually, I would say a large portion of red light runners ARE P-platers. We are the ones doing the stupid **** on the road for the most part.

What normally then happens is that (hopefully) the P-plater will learn and stop running reds. I've ran a few earlier on when I got my P's and then realised it's very stupid of me and inconsiderate of others driving (could kill them) so I stopped and I don't run any reds at all.

We shouldn't hold it against him though, because I guarantee you yourself have run a red at some point, even by sheer accident.

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by SDKC

Magistrates cannot remove demerit points.

That’s right. The court can record a “no conviction” and reduce a fine, however, they can’t remove demerit points.

Originally Posted by Jack960

Personally I felt it wasn't safe to stop.

The magistrate doesn’t really care about what a P plater thinks. He will go by the times on the ticket. Why do you think the magistrate will say anything different? They hear this every day.

Rack it up to experience. Courts take a very dim view to red light runners.

[Redrum]

In Vic a letter won't get you off a red, only for speeding, where abouts are you?

[Jack960]

In vic so I'm pretty much stuffed :P

[lockieoc]

Running a red is a very dangerous thing to do.
Just cop it, your lucky you only got a fine...

[Kryton]

Take responsibility for your own actions.
The sooner people do this, the better this world will be become.

[Stefan]

Don't waste your time, it's not like you have a 10 or 20 year unblemished driving record. You're not even off your Ps...

[madwag]

Originally Posted by Redrum

In Vic a letter won't get you off a red, only for speeding, where abouts are you?

got a speeding ticket, first offence like you. My situation was long story short, being tail gated to sped up a couple kms just to keep the peace. Got done.

went in to look at the picture, wrote a letter then and there, said thinks like accelerating out of danger ect, told the truth, got it downgraded to a warning.

Cant hurt, good luck.

[svo supporter]

Love how some on here are giving the OP grief for running a red. They've acknowledged they were silly, so why sink the boot in? Make yourselves feel good?

To the OP. I can't say whether you'll get off or not, but congrats for manning up to your mistake and you seem as though you've learnt from it. Pity some people on this forum can't see it. So good luck and keep us informed.

[Rodp]

While I didn't give grief, I've seen first hand what can happen running a red. I believe it turned out to be a double fatality. I've also been in an accident from someone running a red, other car's passenger hospitalised from hitting her head on the B pillar, I received concussion and written off car - that I wish I still owned today.

I'm still interested in why the OP felt it unsafe to stop...?

[Jack960]

Doesn't bother me that people give grief, not like many people have a perfect record.

Didn't want the hassle of going through fighting it, just paid it nd took the points.

Well it was on sparks and princess just down from the Ford factory in geelong ironically enough and there was a ceva truck behind that had pulled out of ford. Didn't want the truck up my **** as they are massive.

[xisled]

Even tho you paid the fine. Send a letter, you never know.

[Auslandau]

Fine paid ..... all done and dusted. I am sure Jack960 would like to move on from this ..... cheers.