Quote:
Originally Posted by Crittles1  I got a ticket for going though a red traffic light. Actually, it was yellow when I entered the intersection, but it did turn red while I was in the intersection. I did think about stopping but was right there in front of intersection when light turned yellow. I was driving in a unfamiliar part of a nearby town, and I had never been through that intersection before. What I noticed and thought about later was the intersection was a lot larger than most intersections, and right after the lights were railroad tracks, which were part of the intersection. I also noticed the yellow light was shorter than usual and you would think that a larger intersection would have a much longer yellow light. I always thought the larger intersections had a longer caution light anyway. If they don't, they really should.
Is there anyway this ticket is contestable or don't even bother?
Of course my daughter thinks I should go back and measure the intersection and time the lights. |
No, I would not contest it. You said yourself that it was yellow when you entered the intersection, and turned red while you were in it. You also said that this was an "unfamiliar" intersection that you had not been thru before. Therefore, you should have been EXTRA cautious (IMO) and stopped when you saw it was a yellow light. Which, I believe was BEFORE you entered the intersection.
I would say be glad you got a ticket, and be more mindful next time of the traffic lights.
IC 9-21-3-7
Signals exhibiting colored lights; requirements; explanation of colors
Sec. 7. (a) Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control signals exhibiting different colored lights or colored lighted arrows successively, one (1) at a time or in combination, only the colors green, red, or yellow may be used, except for special pedestrian signals under IC 9-21-18.
(b) The lights indicate and apply to drivers of vehicles and pedestrians as follows:
(1) Green indication means the following:
(A) Vehicular traffic facing a circular green signal may proceed straight through or turn right or left, unless a sign at the place prohibits either turn.
(B) Vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left, shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles and to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent sidewalk at the time the signal is exhibited.
(C) Vehicular traffic facing a green arrow signal, shown alone or in combination with another indication, may cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by the green arrow or other movement permitted by other indications shown at the same time.
(D) Vehicular traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
(E) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal, pedestrians facing a green signal, except when the sole green signal is a turn arrow, may proceed across the roadway within a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(2) Steady yellow indication means the following:
(A) Vehicular traffic facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal is warned that the related green movement is being terminated and that a red indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter.
(B) A pedestrian facing a steady circular yellow or yellow
arrow signal, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal, is advised that there is insufficient time to cross the roadway before a red indication is shown, and a pedestrian may not start to cross the roadway at that time.
(3) Steady red indication means the following:
(A) Except as provided in clause (B), vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line. However, if there is no clearly marked stop line, vehicular traffic shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. If there is no crosswalk, vehicular traffic shall stop before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown.
(B) Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn described in this subdivision, vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal, after coming to a complete stop, may cautiously enter the intersection to do the following:
(i) Make a right turn.
(ii) Make a left turn if turning from the left lane of a one-way street into another one-way street with the flow of traffic.
Vehicular traffic making a turn described in this subdivision shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic using the intersection.
(C) Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal pedestrians facing a steady circular red signal alone may not enter the roadway.
(4) No indication or conflicting indications means the following:
(A) Vehicular traffic facing an intersection having a signal that displays no indication or conflicting indications, where no other control is present, shall stop before entering the intersection.
(B) After stopping, vehicular traffic may proceed with caution through the intersection and shall yield the right-of-way to traffic within the intersection or approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard.
(5) This section applies to traffic control signals located at a place other than an intersection. A stop required under this subdivision must be made at the signal, except when the signal is supplemented by a sign or pavement marking indicating where the stop must be made.
As added by P.L.2-1991, SEC.9.