posted March 21, 2008
Ok, you are driving north bound through the long intersection at Signal Mountain Road at the proper speed, and just as you are going under the red light it changes to yellow, so you hit the gas, which brings you up over the speed limit. Will you get a ticket for running the red light or speeding, or both?
What to do.
1. Should you slam on your breaks and risk someone behind you hitting you in the rear end?
2. Punch the gas and risk getting a speeding ticket?
3. Stay the same speed and risk getting a ticket for running the red light?
Well, all of these things ran through my mind, just this very evening.
I made a bad choice.
I slammed on my breaks and turned into the side street just under the red light, and hope that works, but I am sure the person behind me gets a ticket because he was determined that he was going to speed up and get through the light. I almost caused a wreck. The fear of getting a ticket made my judgment not so good.
I hope I can make a better choice next time, before someone gets hurt or even killed. I try to stay out of Red Bank, but I had to make it to Ace Hardware, and didn't feel like driving to Home Depot.
For the person behind me, you know who you are. I am sorry for the delay in good judgment. I have made up my mind, if I must go to Red Bank again, and that stupid light changes on me again, I just keep driving under and take my chances in court.
A. Allen
* * *
I'm with you. I have caught myself in the same kind of quandary at the MLK/Pine Street intersection. If you see yellow after you've crossed the white line, to you lock up the brakes or hit the gas? Citizens shouldn't be forced to choose between a ticket that can't be challenged and a sure accident.
I question how much thought went into the intersections in Chattanooga that have been selected for camera monitoring. That corner of MLK and Pine Street is rather benign, but the intersection of MLK and Carter/Chestnut (one block east) is horrible. I see at least one car run it every single day, typically in traffic turning south from MLK onto Carter Street at speed.
I inquired with the city to learn why the MLK/Pine Street intersection was selected over the one at MLK/Carter/Chestnut. I got a courteous reply that mentioned an anticipated "halo effect" from the camera at the adjacent intersection. From what I have witnessed, that effect has yet to materialize.
Mike Crowder
Chattanooga
* * *
I, too, try to avoid the areas with cameras located for the revenue enhancement projects that the local governments have established with private companies. There are many studies on the Internet about the red light cameras and they all differ depending on who conducts them. The bottom line to me is that these are illegal and unjust. The Tennessee bill of rights is violated by these camera tickets and this practice should stop immediately before the cost to these municipalities grows too much. I quote the Tennessee state law:
Amendment 7 of the Tennessee state law reads as this:
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law."
With these tickets the right to trial by jury is not afforded to anyone, only an appeal process that is anything but fair. The cities' witness against you might as well be an employee of the court. They are an employee of the camera company that will benefit financially from the defendant's guilt. I recently appealed my camera ticket that I received while I was in Bologna, Italy. I attended an arraignment where the judge allowed all the attorneys there priority because they all had busy schedules.
Once it was my turn before the judge I was prepared to proceed then. On the contrary, the city was not and a court date was decided. The judge did take into consideration that I travel in my profession and allowed me flexibility as to the date. He did though, I felt, not show me the same respect that he did the attorneys present and for me I was offended by this. I may be wrong, but that is how I was made to feel.
I have spent several hours researching this issue on the Internet reading many studies and rulings. I have taken at least four days from work, and I have spent much money on this issue to avoid an unfair $50 fine.
It is not the money at issue. It is, however, how many times will this happen to me and how long before my insurance does go up over an accident that happens due to the very equipment that is placed there to make me safe (or to just get into my wallet).
My court date comes up in May and I will let the people know what happens.
Donald Carroll
Soddy-Daisy
* * *
I seem to be level headed and usually respond quickly but I too freeze up at the lights in Red Bank. I have found myself even stopping at green lights before I turn right.
In my 25 years of driving, I had stopped, at some point, coming to a full stop before taking a right. Until my husband got a ticket in Red Bank for a rolling stop on a yellow/red light. I now pay attention to come to a complete stop at all rights on red.
One problem with these tickets, they come to the vehicle owner not the one driving. So be careful who you loan your car to. I do avoid driving through Red Bank.
Patte White
Hixson
* * *
Another example for consideration.
Driver A goes through an intersection equipped with a red light camera a bit late and receives a $50 ticket in the mail. Driver A can pay the $50 and no points go against his/her driving record.
Driver B goes through an intersection without a camera a bit late, but an officer observes. Driver B is pulled over and receives a $100 ticket. Driver B can pay the $100 without going to court, but will have a point added to his/her driving record.
Same offense by both drivers - same penalty?
Tim Lawson
McDonald, Tn.
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