advise please

[daveymoll]

at approx 9.50pm this evening I was sat waiting at a set of traffic lights on red, and possibly due to not concerating i THINK not 100% sure i may have gone through the lights on red. Is there cameras on traffic lights or should i call the police now to prove (A) i havent been drinking (B) i am honest what should i do

davey

[Privateer]

Hi Davey,

What country are you in? Please update your location in your profile.

In the UK, some sets of traffic lights do have cameras to catch red light jumpers. The cameras look similar to Gatso but are thinner. Next time you’re in the area, where you think you may have gone through a red traffic light, have a look for a camera.

For an idea of what the cameras can look like, visit the UK Speed Trap Guide. If you click on Speedtraps | FIXED – Red light Cameras, you will see some. I.e. this page.

If you did go through a read traffic light, and if there is a camera there, then there is a high probability that you will unfortunately “be done”. I would not advise you contact the police because that might make things worst. The phrases that the police might use of “ driving without due care and attention”, “careless driving”, and “dangerous driving” spring to mind. However I am not a solicitor and the above is just my own thoughts. So do what you think is best, or better still, contact a solicitor who specialises in driving law.

Regards,
_________________
Robert.
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[Darren]

If you went through a Traffic Light controlled juntion whilst your lane was on red and 'if' the junction was monitored by cameras then you'll get a ticket. It's an absolute offence with no mitigating circumstances unless your driving an emergency vehicle or directed to do so by police.

However, only a very small proportion of traffic lights are monitored by such cameras.

My advice would be to re-visit the junction and see if there is a camera there. If not, stop worrying!
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Darren Griffin

[daveymoll]

thanks for the advise, have gone back to the lights and cannot see any camera's just the usual small black boxes that a lot of traffic lights seem to have. Does any one know what these are

davey

[Darren]

If you mean the boxes at ground level then thet contain the signal control equipment.
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Darren Griffin

[soweezy]

[Darren]

Hmm, that's a new one, no mention of it in the relevant Act (Section 36, Road Traffic Act 1988).

Passing a traffic light at Red is only ever lawful if it's done on the instructions of a police officer or traffic warden directing traffic. In the circumstances you describe the driver would still commit a technical offence although were he reported it would be unlikley for a file to be submitted to the CPS and even were it to reach that stage the CPS would likley take the decision not to prosecute.

I'm a former Police Officer so can claim some expertise in this field!
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Darren Griffin

[Nimrag]

Hi Davey - If the black box you have seen is on the same post as the traffic lights it is just a sensor for controlling the frequency of change depending on traffic pulling up to the lights. I shouldn't worry too much mate - traffic light cameras are easy to see if you've been specially to look for one.

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