Traffic Light Camera Flashing on Amber!
Discussion
Has anybody had any experience of traffic light cameras flashing on an amber light?
I was driving on the A240 i think just outside Tolworth in surry and was flashed on an amber light.
I was traveling at about 35mph (limit 40) and the lights changed to amber when i was within five meters from the line. There was no room to stop so i had to keep going. I did not see the lights change to red because i was passed the junction. however the camera flashed (only once though! If there is a picture then it will show the light is amber, can you be done for this?
Within the last few months i have seen that camera flash no fewer than ten times (all other cars) and the majority have been on what looked to be an amber light.
any ideas?
I was driving on the A240 i think just outside Tolworth in surry and was flashed on an amber light.
I was traveling at about 35mph (limit 40) and the lights changed to amber when i was within five meters from the line. There was no room to stop so i had to keep going. I did not see the lights change to red because i was passed the junction. however the camera flashed (only once though! If there is a picture then it will show the light is amber, can you be done for this?
Within the last few months i have seen that camera flash no fewer than ten times (all other cars) and the majority have been on what looked to be an amber light.
any ideas?
... 
It was yeaterday so i suppose i will just have to wait.
The light was deffinatly amber, the junction is fairly wide and it had not turned red until i was passed the yellow box and the second set of lights.
The flash was when i was near the second set of lights but they were most deffinatly still amber.
(I have seen many people get caught at this junction on what looked to be amber so i am very carfull)
Do you think that the camera unit could be set to become active at amber? perhaps it is over sensitive.
If a picture shows an amber light then will the police try and persue it?
The light was deffinatly amber, the junction is fairly wide and it had not turned red until i was passed the yellow box and the second set of lights.
The flash was when i was near the second set of lights but they were most deffinatly still amber.
(I have seen many people get caught at this junction on what looked to be amber so i am very carfull)
Do you think that the camera unit could be set to become active at amber? perhaps it is over sensitive.
If a picture shows an amber light then will the police try and persue it?
Hope you don't get a NIP.
To put another angle on this I had a traffic light camera snap me while stationary behind the white line
I called the local nick straight away as it was right near my former home and I was on a return journey. BiB had a good laugh but were helpful, saying not to worry as it had already 'nicked' several police cars in the same circumstances. The relevance here is, yes they can definitely be set up wrongly so there's some hope.
Equally worrying is the period of time lights are on amber when a camera goes up. Safety-wise research shows just over 3 seconds is best, but the times are allegedly getting shorter, maybe to catch more by having a red light in the pic you couldn't have seen when in front of the lights. £££.
To put another angle on this I had a traffic light camera snap me while stationary behind the white line
I called the local nick straight away as it was right near my former home and I was on a return journey. BiB had a good laugh but were helpful, saying not to worry as it had already 'nicked' several police cars in the same circumstances. The relevance here is, yes they can definitely be set up wrongly so there's some hope.
Equally worrying is the period of time lights are on amber when a camera goes up. Safety-wise research shows just over 3 seconds is best, but the times are allegedly getting shorter, maybe to catch more by having a red light in the pic you couldn't have seen when in front of the lights. £££.
dobbin75 said:
Do you think that the camera unit could be set to become active at amber? perhaps it is over sensitive.
If a picture shows an amber light then will the police try and persue it?
Only a red would activate the camera...pressure pads on road before the line and some afterwards...
The police wont pursue an amber flash...if the camera has activated in such circumstance, but I would be surprised if it has.
Street
Streetcop said:
Only a red would activate the camera...pressure pads on road before the line and some afterwards...
Street
Well yes Street you're right but only if the thing is set up correctly. Some of your colleagues like me have been flashed for being stationary behind the linhe, never mind going through on amber (which means 'Stop' anyway). Not a good thing to assume everything's been set up and working well since as well as kit going haywire there are humans in just about every process.
>> Edited by turbobloke on Sunday 22 August 15:18
turbobloke said:
Not a good thing to assume everything's been set up and working well since as well as kit going haywire there are humans in just about every process.
Absolutely, and like I said..if you have doubts, don't plead guilty, ask to see the film and if they refuse or it's not the policy, then go to court to fight it.
Street
>> Edited by Streetcop on Monday 23 August 08:28
Streetcop said:
And like I said..if you have doubts, don't plead guilty, ask to see the film and if they refuse or it's not the policy, then go to court to fight it. Street
G'day officer! As part of the purpose of evidence disclosure is to allow cases to be resolved before Court where possible and so save Court time and the taxpayer's money, could you suggest why policy in many areas is to disclose photo evidence only when the person is pleading not guilty, and is therefore doing so 'in the dark'? Why not let everybody, at their own expense, view the red or amber light on film before completing the NIP? The cynical would say it's just to put maximum pressure on Joe Public to shut up and cough up. Reason for this view - when several such cases have gone to Court the photo / video evidence is 'missing', 'lost', or just plain inadmissable, or even (shock) in the defendant's favour although this usually results in a day-of-the-hearing withdrawal of the allegation. Not nice.
Streetcop said:
Money plays a big part...photos cost money and if a penny can be saved here and there... Street
Street, did you miss this bit???
turbobloke said:
...at their own expense, view the red or amber light on film before completing the NIP?
Anything further on this in your pocketbook Street
turbobloke said:
Why not let everybody, at their own expense, view the red or amber light on film before completing the NIP?
That's not the best idea in the world...
Do you really want to be charged for having your photo taken, whether you're innocent or not? I think that sort of system would be wide open to abuse.
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