Photo Radar

[Pooky 3,930]

This is a thread about red light cameras and if red light cameras do not make people safer drivers... then why is it wrong to fight a ticket at one?

I can't quite believe someone wants a thread in Off Topic to stay On Topic.

And big engine or small, I still prefer a manual shift. As a motorcyclist on a Suzuki RF600, the rush as you time an upshift as you bounce off the rev limiter at 16,000 rpm is unlike anything you'll get in a car. I miss that bike. Manual shifting is a level of coordination and vehicle control that too few here in the USA understand, pampered as they are by the prevalence of autoboxes.

Mind you, most Americans think that "clutch" means Adam Vinatieri in the Superbowl

[Peikko 1,575]

Completely agree, I much prefer manual - and I don't get automatic sports cars

[Darnell 8,480]

It happened late last night. From what I recall the flash happened as I was almost all the way through the intersection and there was another car ahead of me by about 40 feet. I just don't recall running a red light or if I did, then so did the other driver.

According to what I've been reading, the radar isn't always accurate...and that you can appeal the ticket.

You know that photo radar there on El Toro and Moulton? That's the one. Before moving to Lake Forest, I lived in Laguna Beach for nearly 5 years and not once tripped it off.

Ya, flashes are everywhere, even in Texas at a dead stop. queued up to go INTO the intersection. grrrr

Suggest you don't sweat it, until the ticket actually shows up. I'm betting it's not a ticket, at all - just a routine photo.

[Dave and Helena 0]

I totally agree on manual though sometimes I think I have a little bit too much fun driving my manual transmission convertible.

Roundabouts are great and makes traffic flow much better however I don't think Americans are ready for it based on observations at our local shopping center and due to the fact that most cars in America seems to come without turn signals.

[Pooky 3,930]

Roundabouts are great and makes traffic flow much better however I don't think Americans are ready for it based on observations at our local shopping center and due to the fact that most cars in America seems to come without turn signals.

You got THAT right!

[slim 1,533]

I can't quite believe someone wants a thread in Off Topic to stay On Topic.

I'm still relatively new here.

Manual shifting is a level of coordination and vehicle control that too few here in the USA understand, pampered as they are by the prevalence of autoboxes.

It's yet another government ploy to make us lazy and satisfied with mechanisms that limit our control over our everyday lives.

Mind you, most Americans think that "clutch" means Adam Vinatieri in the Superbowl

We're also going to lose that whole "rolling down the window" thing pretty soon. It'll become as antiquated as "close the lights."

[NickD 203]

Wife had problems here getting her drivers' license with a five speed, her examiner wanted her to have both hands on the steering wheel at all times. Not easy to shift with your knee on these cars. After two failed attempts, convinced her to use one of my auto boxes as you call them. That time, she passed. Examiners are also accustomed to say a 1937 Cadillac limo when you had 14 compete rotations from stop to stop on the steering wheel. Can kind of go along with hand over hand steering with those. But on our car, 30* rotation is more than sufficient to make any tight turn in town with a fast ratio powered rack and pinion steering. Not very easy to go hand over hand with that, but they still insist you do that. Need very small hands so you can advance the steering wheel an inch at a time.

Photo radar is nothing compared to what's coming, with transponder type GPS and a black box, big brother will know exactly where you are, whether your check engine lamp is on indicating some kind of an emission problem, and how fast you are driving, even if you air bag kicks off so they can send help. May go home and find a ticket in your mail box.

[SuperDuper! 230]

WIth todays cash-starved cities and counties, police are getting more sneaky and aggressive than ever to issue moving violation tickets.

Professionally installed radar/laser detectors pay for themselves in a short time. Get a Passport SRX unit. Highly recommended.

[FortLaudy 10]

I got fined $125 for turning right before coming to a complete stop at a red light, even though there was no damn traffic, anywhere in sight... I paid it, and now I stop at every line... I guess it works...

[Darnell 8,480]

Has anyone here tried to fight a photo radar ticket?

Did you receive a ticket? Or are you scared about the photo taken? Which is it?

[Tahoma 2,298]

Steven...

You may want to research your local/state laws regarding traffic camera tickets.

For example, in the State of Washington, a citation involving a traffic camera is treated like a parking ticket. In other words, the citation does not get put on your state driving record. As a result, you don't have to worry about your insurance rates going up. Maybe it's the same in California.

Also, Washington State has the option of Magistrate Hearings where you can go in and explain things to a Magistrate. Usually the Magistrate will cut you some slack. I was cited by a Seattle police officer for speeding. I explained my case to the Magistrate and he ruled that if I kept a clean driving record for the next six months the ticket would be struck from my record. This may be another good option for you if it is available. After all, you surely were trying to get out of the way of the ambulance behind you, were you not?

By the way, following 40 feet (or less) behind another car at anything over 25-30 MPH is called tailgating.

Traffic camera link.

[Tahoma 2,298]

We've already established that getting "caught" by a red light camera doesn't reduce pedestrian (or cyclist) deaths or reduce accidents at intersections with them...

Slim...I disagree with you on this one. My reading is telling me the opposite is true. And even when the total number of accidents is not down, their severity is down (ie: t-bone versus rear-ender).

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Steven...

You may want to research your local/state laws regarding traffic camera tickets.

For example, in the State of Washington, a citation involving a traffic camera is treated like a parking ticket. In other words, the citation does not get put on your state driving record. As a result, you don't have to worry about your insurance rates going up. Maybe it's the same in California.

Also, Washington State has the option of Magistrate Hearings where you can go in and explain things to a Magistrate. Usually the Magistrate will cut you some slack. I was cited by a Seattle police officer for speeding. I explained my case to the Magistrate and he ruled that if I kept a clean driving record for the next six months the ticket would be struck from my record. This may be another good option for you if it is available. After all, you surely were trying to get out of the way of the ambulance behind you, were you not?

By the way, following 40 feet (or less) behind another car at anything over 25-30 MPH is called tailgating.

Traffic camera link.

Thanks. I still haven't received the ticket in the mail yet. The other car ahead of me was in another lane. There were 3 lanes - I was in the far left and the other vehicle in the far right lane.

[slim 1,533]

Photo radar is nothing compared to what's coming, with transponder type GPS and a black box, big brother will know exactly where you are, whether your check engine lamp is on indicating some kind of an emission problem, and how fast you are driving, even if you air bag kicks off so they can send help. May go home and find a ticket in your mail box.

One of these days we're not even going to have to wipe our own @$$es.

Then we'll get fined for eating too much red meat because that leads to increased healthcare costs. The downside to this "luxury" of having automatic @$$ wiper/fecal analyzers in our house - each $#!t will cost homeowners about $3. Then of course, we'll have to pay a service fee to a company that collects that.

Progress! Gotta love it.

I got fined $125 for turning right before coming to a complete stop at a red light, even though there was no damn traffic, anywhere in sight... I paid it, and now I stop at every line... I guess it works...

You just paid it without going to court?

Slim...I disagree with you on this one. My reading is telling me the opposite is true. And even when the total number of accidents is not down, their severity is down (ie: t-bone versus rear-ender).

Typically, when you read from the website of the company that installs such devices, you'll get data to support their side.

Thanks. I still haven't received the ticket in the mail yet. The other car ahead of me was in another lane. There were 3 lanes - I was in the far left and the other vehicle in the far right lane.

If you were in the far left, even if you ran the red light, you still wouldn't have created a safety hazard for crossing traffic.

[steve 27]

most cars in America seems to come without turn signals.

I love the classic, "change lanes and then signal basically once you are in the new lane".