...Anthony Wayne Trail. Today between about 4:10 and 4:15 PM I was stopped behind a truck that did a right turn from South Avenue (headed east) onto the Anthony Wayne Trail. I saw a flash of light. When I started as he turned, and went on South Avenue across the Trail I saw another flash of light. I figured it was the "red light" camera taking pictures but since the light was green, and I wasn't "peeling out" I figured I either saw a flash of light for another lane, or I imagined things. After I parked at the Broadway Food Center between Broadway and South Avenue at the corner a woman came up to me, and related that she saw the flash. She said that she counted four of them, and thought that she might have been "caught" by one. Since as she crossed Anthony Wayne Trail (she was right behind me), and the light was green, and she wasn't speeding she assumed that there must be some kind of mechanical error. She had read somewhere that the fines were going up, and intends to fight any ticket she gets. She gave me her name, address, phone number, and license plate, and she asked my information. She already had my license plate so I gave her the information. We will go to court together if necessary. I don't mind paying a ticket if I'm in the wrong (cop or no cop) but I feel that there may be something wrong with this new system (if that what it is). Four people receiving tickets while the light is green in about a minute's time span seems to indicate some kind of mechanical or electronic problem.
Problem With the Red-Light Camera At South And
Comments ... #
"requires traffic signals to be synchronized"
You wouldn't think this one would be so difficult with the fast pace of technology. They could reduce the amount of driving stress by about 50% by having the lights actually timed well.
Before appearing in 'court', you'll want to subpoena the test, maintenance and calibration records for that camera. (You'll no doubt find that it has been months since it was last calibrated.)
Once you get that record, you'll want to subpoena the 'training' records of the person(s) that calibrated and maintained the camera. Perhaps they haven't been 'properly trained' in the correct calibration and/or maintenance procedures.
Also, subpoena the calibration record for the unit that they used to calibrate the camera. Likewise for the person calibrating the unit.
If you want to really get 'technical' (and piss 'em off), subpoena the record for the unit that was used to calibrate that unit, that calibrated that unit, that calibrated.... well, on up the line.
Hey, you want to make sure that they are in 'proper working order' and have been maintained and calibrated according to the manufacturer specs, right?
posted by GraphicsGuy on Feb 22, 2008 at 05:09:50 pm #
If the light was green (and I'm not implying that it wasn't) then the picture will show that won't it?
Since someone has to actually mail them out (my daughter got popped by a speed camera and they mailed her a copy of the pictures) I'd hope they'd notice the green light.
If they don't and you get a ticket with the picture showing the green light then take the picture to court with you and show the judge the green light.
Has anyone tried reporting the possible malfunction?
call:
Division of Streets, Bridges & Harbor
Phone: 419-245-1526
I've seen that particular one go apeshit in bad weather before. It even popped me once in those conditions, and I wasn't in the red. I wasn't notified, so apparently the huge increase in hits must have said something ... that, and the green light clearly shown in the photo.
About two weeks ago, I could've sworn that one erroneously flashed me, too, as I was west bound on the Trail. The light was yellow as I was going thru the intersection and it really peeved me off to think I'd get a ticket for a YELLOW light, particularly because I was behind a truck and could not even see the light until the very last second. But nothing's come in the mail, so ... (knock on wood).
I remember thinking at the time that it was a weird time for the flash to go off -- like it was set just a second too early.
Correction: It was 10 days ago, on the 13th. Maybe the thing's being going a little more and more out of whack progressively over a matter of weeks or days or something?
Thanks everyone. Your responses have put me a little more at east. On Tuesday I intend to call the number above, and see if they are aware of the problem. The comment about the green light showing up put me more at ease.
posted by oldsendbrdy on Feb 23, 2008 at 08:36:53 pm #
I'd get a ticket for a YELLOW light, particularly because I was behind a truck and could not even see the light until the very last second.
Jim,
The way it was explained to me is that it's illegal to enter the intersection on a yellow light, and furthermore if you can't see the traffic light because of a truck in front of you, you're following too closely. You get a ticket for the light and another for following too closely.
See?
Eff that.
It was right around 5 p.m. on a week day coming out of downtown Toledo, going at least 15 mph below the speed limit, maybe a tad more, following probably two to three car lengths behind a semi, at a time and a place in which vehicles were all crawling up each others' bums, including mine. Do you regularly drive out of downtown Toledo during rush hour? Are you familiar with what the traffic is like at that time of day? Westbound traffic doesn't loosen up much until you get up around the zoo or beyond it. It probably would have been MORE dangerous for me to slam on my brakes at that point than it was to keep going. Fortunately I don't work downtown and have only had this experience a dozen or so times when personal or professional business has taken me downtown late in the day, but it's been often enough to recognize what seems "normal."
Anyway, the Ohio BMV traffic laws handbook only states that yellow lights mean that vehicles should clear the intersection, which I had done before the light turned red. Red means stop. (See p. 59 of the pdf.)
Much like the OP's photograph would show her car under a green light, mine would show me under a yellow light. I don't think I'd be any more deserving of a ticket than the OP. I was "clearing the intersection," and thus following the Ohio BMV handbook. Furthermore, although I might've been approximately one car length too close behind the semi (according to the rules I know, if I was going 40 I should've been four car lengths behind the truck), but I'd argue that it's difficult to maintain a consistent distance behind a semi because their speed varies considerably in tight traffic.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
As an aside, I did get a speeding ticket via the camera on Douglas last fall, and although I was ticked at myself I didn't bitch and moan about that one because, oh crap, I DID deserve it.
Harassment and duress are for your safety. And by safety, I mean balancing the gubbermint's checkbook.
Here's a great strategy:
http://www.motorists.org/blog/red-light-cameras/when-the-money-disappears-so-do-the-ticket-cameras/
When The Money Disappears, So Do The Ticket Cameras
February 18th, 2008 Posted in Red-Light Cameras
disappear
From The Daily World in Aberdeen, Washington on January 24, 2008:
“If you don’t want a ticket, don’t run a red light,” said Councilwoman Margo Shortt, who felt safety should trump everything else and the red light cameras would prevent accidents.
“We need to try this to see if it works,” said Councilman Bob McCullough. “The key issue in all this is traffic safety.”
From The Daily World in Aberdeen, Washington on February 16, 2008:
Mayor Bill Simpson will hold off on plans to put red light cameras in Aberdeen intersections in the wake of an initiative Tim Eyman is proposing to reduce traffic congestion.
[…]
Eyman has proposed an initiative that could take any revenue the city would receive from the tickets the cameras would generate and put it into a special account to help reduce traffic congestion statewide.
“That’s not really what we were expecting when we got into all of this,” Simpson said.
[…]
Eyman’s initiative aims to reduce congestion by opening up carpool lanes to all vehicles in non-peak hours, requires traffic signals to be synchronized and insists accidents be cleared from roadways quicker.
posted by charlatan on Feb 21, 2008 at 10:31:56 pm #