Red Light Camera - genuine mistake

[TreVoR 3000]

In the car with my wife at the w/end we came to a crossroads where the roads straight on and to the right were blocked by barriers following a fire on the corner of the junction. Possibly looking a bit confused as to where we should be going, someone in a yellow fluorescent jacket within the barriers was "directing" us left - the only way we could go. The road we were on and the road we turned onto are both one way streets. Ordinarily the only way that traffic can come is in the direction we were travelling or from our right (blocked off)

My wife noticed a red light but as the junction was blocked off and there was no other traffic around, followed the directions apparently being given and turned left through the red light. Flash!

Questions

1 Do Traffic light cameras rely on film so there's a chance she won't get done if there was no film in it

2 If she does get done is the above a defence in that this was a genuine mistake. In hindsight the person "directing" was probably just indicating that we could only go left but at the time we thought we were being directed and that the traffic lights, though working, were not applicable. i.e. should she turn doen a fixed penalty and offer her explanation to a Court

By the way, this is in Scotland

Many thanks

[kevinday]

I would go with the 'following directions' bit if I were you. Plead not guilty and go to court (if you get the paperwork) and explain the circumstances.

[TreVoR 3000]

ta for that

Is there a risk that she will get more than 3pts / £60 if we go to Court and the reasoning isn't good enough?

This is why I disagree with Cameras. I feel sure had we been followed by Mr Plod he would have seen the circumstances and she would have got let off with a warning

[james_j]

TreVoR 3000 said:

ta for that Is there a risk that she will get more than 3pts / £60 if we go to Court and the reasoning isn't good enough? This is why I disagree with Cameras. I feel sure had we been followed by Mr Plod he would have seen the circumstances and she would have got let off with a warning

Yes, any camera is the ultimate zero tolerance enforcer. Not much sense.

[Streetcop]

Plead not guilty and go to court...

You have a good a chance as anyone of being found Not guilty....

If all fails..you'll still get 3 point, £60 fine and possible £35 costs, for example...You wont be carpetted in these circumstances..

Best of luck

Street

[gone]

If you were directed to pass the red light by an authorised preson involved in traffic direction, you will not have committed an offence!

[TreVoR 3000]

Ta for the responses - will just have to wait and see what drops through the letterbox over the next couple of weeks.

"If you were directed to pass the red light by an authorised preson involved in traffic direction, you will not have committed an offence!"

That's my point - I'm not sure he was an authorised person. In hindsight I think he was just a workie indicating that our only option was left but at the time we thought he was directing us left

[g_attrill]

Streetcop said:

Plead not guilty and go to court... You have a good a chance as anyone of being found Not guilty.... If all fails..you'll still get 3 point, £60 fine and possible £35 costs, for example...You wont be carpetted in these circumstances..

I would go with this. People who turn up and give good sensible explanation have a good chance of being found not guilty, and the worst would be to get the same fine and costs and lose 1/2 day - it HAS to be worth a go.

Those who turn up and give the "wrong answer" eg. 'I was changing casettes and missed the light', or 'I was rushing home to see Neighbours' are those who get whacked (and rightly so).

The scameraships will write about £1000 fines, disqualifiations and bans to scare people into paying up without considering that they have a fair chance of winning in court.

Gareth



>> Edited by g_attrill on Monday 6th December 20:20