NAC-Fighting a ticket

[urq]

... I've got to second Brett's advice here.  You didn't indicate what state
you're in ... the situation will vary from state to state.  Make sure you
understand the law you are accused of breaking exactly ... the infraction
should note the code.  Make sure you fully understand what the law states as
illegal ... where must the vehicle be when the light switches to red.  

Here in California they've started using what they call "Rat Lights" ...
which is a red light which faces the opposite direction from traffic.  This
light is specifically for the purposes of officers who are looking for red
light runners.  

You might also want to research the timing of the light.  Sometimes the
light is programmed to stay in the yellow state too short a time given the
speed limit for the road.  Here again in California, they've started to
install automated cameras to tag red light runners.  There is a case where
the lights were deliberately timed to switch from yellow to red shorter than
the speed limit for the roads should allow ... got the tickets tossed out of
court.  I have heard that the companies who supply and service the red light
cameras are not making as much money now ... and there seems to be a lot
less talk of installing more such cameras ... 

Here's a couple links which you might find helpful ... especially should you
decide to go to court without a lawyer ...

	http://www.highwayrobbery.net/index.htm - mostly for red light
cameras
	
http://www.nolo.com/resource.cfm/catID/CF015A63-6B69-4EED-A34B6F4035C8BE0E/1
04/263/ - if the link doesn't go through, navigate "tickets" on the nolo.com
site.  

Whatever you do, do your homework thoroughly ... and make sure you know
about whether or not you need to subpoena anything.  I screwed myself on a
RADAR speeding ticket because I didn't know I was supposed to subpoena the
traffic survey which supported the use of RADAR.  

Steve B
San José, CA (USA)

-----Original Message-----
> Looking for some help from the list as?I received a ticket for  
> going through a red light. Although it turned yellow once I entered  
> the intersection, it certainly did not become red.? Could not  
> convince the cop and I intend to fight the ticket.? Is this just a  
> question of he-said, I said?? Anybody have success fighting one of  
> these?? Cop was about 200 feet (still need to measure) away looking  
> at the front of the car, which is part of my defense.? I have never  
> gone through a red light in my life.

If it's a point against your license and going to influence your  
insurance rate, hire a lawyer who specializes in traffic cases; they  
can sometimes find technicalities, and the bump up in your insurance  
costs a lot more long-term than the (usually) fixed fee such a lawyer  
charges.  If not, it's not worth your time, most likely.