Red light camera

[walkerscrisp]

Hi all, 

 

I'm nervously awaiting my NIP for jumping a red light on Sunday. I was sat at the lights waiting to change from red to green, and mistakenly moved forward to go straight ahead, when the lights to my right changed to green, although these lights were for a filter right hand turn. I only realised my error when the cars behind me didn't follow. 

 

I've checked with Merseyside police and the time on red offence limit for an education course is up to 3 seconds, and after that it won't be a course that's offered. 

 

Has anyone got any thoughts to what I'm looking at seeing as on paper I've passed the red light after approximately 60 seconds, although in mitigation I was waiting for the lights to change and only moved forward when I thought they had. 

 

Worried this might go to court as be considered an excessive red light jump even though it was an honest mistake. 

[Man in the middle]

Unfortunately the process the police employ to treat red light offences is a bit of a blunt instrument. As you seem to have discovered, it is based solely on the "time into red". It does not discriminate between somebody who simply continues driving across a red light 60 seconds after they turned red, and somebody like you who stopped and mistakenly pulled away. You will almost certainly see your matter dealt with in court. If it is, the first you will hear will be by way of a "Single Justice Procedure Notice" (SJPN). You will be asked to respond to the notice by choosing one of three options:

 

1. Plead guilty and have the case dealt with under the Single Justice Procedure (a hearing you cannot attend)

2. Plead guilty but request a hearing in the normal Magistrates' Court.

3. Plead Not Guilty.

 

I would not recommend Option 3. If you want the court to hear your mitigation you can either provide it in writing by choosing Option 1 or explain it in person to the court by choosing Option 2. The police have six months from the date of the offence to begin court proceedings and in many areas take all of that, so you may not receive your SJPN for some time.

 

The offence carries three points or a disqualification. A disqualification is unlikely in the circumstances you describe.

Edited May 9, 2023 by Man in the middle

[dx100uk]

@walkerscrisp just type in the blank msg box below here and hit reply

no need to use quote

last post hidden. just a repeat of your 1st post

 

dx

 

[walkerscrisp]

Thanks guys, helpful info. I'll wait and see what the NIP says when it arrives