mantis23

...Do I have a case?

There were two 18 wheelers and an SUV in front of me. They all were making a left turn into a construction zone. At the very least, the SUV was not using his left turn signal. I had to come to a crawl just as I was entering the intersection. This is when the light started to change. I was too far out into the intersection to put the car in reverse so I kept going through the light.

While crawling forward waiting for the 1st 18 wheeler to turn in, the light turns red. The next truck turns in, and finally the jeep. Sitting in the middle of the intersection waiting for the first truck to turn in gave the illusion that I severely ran the red light.

The pic below illustrates where I was when the light turned yellow.



I ain't paying double for some bullshit ass ticket... and I refuse to pay double(since it was in a construction zone) for deferred adjudication ($410.00) Anyone in Dallas got a hookup on a traffic ticket lawyer?

Bluto

Did you get the ticket yet?

You did not enter the intersection when it was red, you were in it. So you did not run a red light.

mantis23

yes, the ticket was issued right after the 'incident'.

sushimaster

I like the AutoCad illustration Mantis. I think you should hire a lawyer for this one. I vividly remember by Defensive Driving instructor saying that green means Go, only when it is clear to do so...therefore if the cars are blocking up the intersection, you're suppose to wait until it's clear. I would definately consult a lawyer.

anothercls

I would say it could be a good fight, but the judge will find a reason for you to pay the ticket.

duy

iTrader: (1)

Don't know the law in TX, but here in CA, if your front tires are over the crosswalk while the light turns yellow, it is legal to go.

darrinb

you do have a case, take that cad drawing to court to show the judge...

Slimey

Well, not always true...

Many locales have anti-gridlock laws that come with stiff penalities, sometimes as stiff as red-light penalities (ie: points + $$). I'd hate to see you argue away the red light thing by essentially claiming that you created gridlock.

The construction zone issue also adds another layer of legal complexity.

RUF87

Mantis,

Did you notice where the cop was sitting? What sort of view angle did he have?

Depending on the angle he had he made not have been in a good position to determine that you were already in the intersection.

Ruf

kensteele

You clearly ran the light....there is no illusion.

Maybe you can explain to the judge tho.

Zippee

In Texas you can not enter an intersection unless you can make it all the way through. Makes no difference what color the light was.

I think you're screwed.

Doom878

Not sure how it varies per state. It was my understanding that if you are in traffic and the car hasn't passed the crosswalk after the intersection then you shouldn't go. That might be your downfall in the case.

SilverKnight

Yup. Texas passed the anti grid-lock law several years ago. You cannot enter an intersection unless it's clear for you to make it to the other side.

Sorry bro

1killercls

Mantis..I would just pay the fine or hit up traffic school. You knowingly entered the gridlocked intersection. He probably could have wrote ya a ticket for that too.

O-Town_TypeS

From your drawing it looks like you had 2 other lanes to go in. Were they blocked too? If so did anyone else get tickets?

mantis23

How was I supposed to know the vehicles in front of me were making 'illegal' turns into an uncharted area? I assumed they would keep going with the flow of traffic.

mantis23

The other lanes had cars as well. Someone was crossing at the same time as me actually. I was the only one who got pulled over.

mantis23

He was sitting in the construction zone. He could not have known when the light started to turn yellow. But because I came across the intersection so late, he probably ASSumed I ran the red light.

mantis23

cant do traffic school if I was in a construction zone. I can do deferred disposition however, for the small fee of $285.00.

mantis23

I'm probably gonna go the deferred disposition route. I ain't got time for this crap. :sigh:

Down with YT.

Slimey

It's illegal to make a lane change within 100 feet of an intersection.

EricL

I guess this guy is wrong as here is his quote:

"It is not a violation to change lanes within 100 feet of an intersection, although it is a requirement to signal intent 100 feet before turning at an intersection. The double line markings on the pavement indicate a do-not cross double line pattern. Crossing the double line of buttons would be a violation and I have asked for officers to monitor that."


And, this person who doesn't know jack....


Todd Renshaw, Chief of Police
Moderator
Username: Todd

Username: Todd
Full Name: Todd Renshaw, Chief of Police
E-mail Address: trenshaw@ci.frisco.tx.us
Last Logged In: April 02, 2004
Registered: January 04, 2002
Total Posts: 202
Status: Moderator
Home Page URL: http://www.ci.frisco.tx.us/police/police_home.htm
City: Frisco
State/Province: Texas
Position: Chief of Police
Click Here to send a private message to Todd


Here is the link to the thread: "City of Frisco Message Board » Frisco Q & A » 720 and Dallas Pkwy Intersection"



http://message.ci.frisco.tx.us/discu...tml?1079978371

mantis23

Hey! I live right around the corner from the intersection!

kensteele

Send an email to the chief, explain your situation. Tell him you were reading his message board.

CLpower

take this guys advice on red light tickets, it's for CA but will probably work in TX too

http://www.ticketassassin.com/autoenf_toc.html

Slimey

EricL -- good find.

Although 'Doug' in that thread was thinking the same thing I was. We both must have learned that somewhere -- somehow I thought I learned the '100 feet before intersection=no lane change' when I took my CA driver's test oh so long ago.

RUF87

And don't forget that you had a SUV and two 18 wheelers blocking your forward view.

Basically traffic starts moving and you do too. I'm sure the law doesn't mean for each of us to stop before entering and intersection just in case someone in front of us stops, stalls or otherwise. We'd have so much gridlock it would be insane . . . just as it was for you to get a ticket. Might as well install a 4-way stop if that's the case.

Ruf