Got my first RLC ticket

So far I have safely avoided getting trapped by these cameras....always glad to have the warning pop up on my Nuvi.

This is at the intersection of W. Lakeshore and Clover in Pell Lake, Wisconsin.

http://i1258.photobucket.com/albums/ii530/stopright/P3280721...

Here in Florida, the law (316.0083) states:
"A notice of violation and a traffic citation may not be issued for failure to stop at a red light if the driver is making a right-hand turn in a careful and prudent manner at an intersection where right-hand turns are permissible."

Most authorities seem to have settled on 12 mph as being "careful and prudent", and with no hazard to pedestrians or other vehicles when turning on red.

The law was written to avoid the problems that have occurred in other states (as happened to Sharper4).

Here's where it gets confusing: The "careful and prudent" law ONLY applies to red light cameras. A police officer can still issue a ticket to a driver for failing to come to a full and complete stop when making a turn on red.

You can read the entire statute at:

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Displ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gord99/5968914788/

http://bit.ly/H2yucy

We are the state ATM. controlled by machines with no tolerance.

The first time I noticed that was in Montello WI. I was making a hard left, with no stop sign. As I was cutting the corner a little, I met an 18-wheeler that was swinging wide to make his "right turn no stop"...Our little Scion almost creamed him.

I don't know how it is in other states, but in Florida you don't really go to a court. You go to a hearing that is presided by a magistrate who is appointed by the municipality that installed the red light camera. Bummer. In the years that cameras have been installed around here, I don't know of anyone that has gotten a break. I supposed that's because most municipalities here have the photos reviewed by regular police officers before the cases even go to the magistrates.

I heard on the news today (Public Radio) that Los Angeles would no longer have red light cameras and would not prosecute any outstanding tickets for previous violations.

I heard on the news today (Public Radio) that Los Angeles would no longer have red light cameras and would not prosecute any outstanding tickets for previous violations.

Hope it's the start of a nationwide trend!

I'm not a fan of the cameras at all. I agree with others that these things are simply there for revenue - not for safety.

However, I tend to just STOP before turning right on the red light. That's how I was taught when learning to drive. Hopefully I won't get a ticket if I make a complete stop.

I have to admit though that, even after making a complete stop, I still worry about turning right on the red when there's a camera there. I don't trust the damn things.

Exactly!!!!

I don't trust them either. I can understand if they'd issue tickets when an accident happens. When nothing bad happens, why are we being punished? Because something potentially could happen? In that case, how about they start ticketing me every time I don't clean my lint filter after each load?

If they wanted to install red light cameras for intersections with NO TURN ON REDs, okay. But where rights on red are permitted, why don't they charge a toll, since essentially that's what they're doing. Or go back to the days where every intersection was NO TURN ON RED. We can all sit and wait, and waste gas.

It would appear they have done just that in Philly, I haven't seen them all but the ones I have seen also have a "No Turn On Red" sign.

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NYPD has recently decided to make their cops pay for RLC tickets to patrol cars issued during patrol. A big part of street patrol is surveillance and surprise. How many crimes will not be stopped because now officers will be worried about getting their pocket picked for doing their job?

I have a couple of cop friends who on a slow day will just go and sit at a stop sign and write a heap of tickets, our local guy would be the worst, I live in a small town so he won't give the locals a ticket, he gets all of the out of town people, nobody stops at stop signs, go and have a look some time.