http://blog.motorists.org/short-red-light-camera-grace-period-leads-to-ticket-refunds/ News For Drivers Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:16:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 http://blog.motorists.org/short-red-light-camera-grace-period-leads-to-ticket-refunds/comment-page-1/#comment-9598 Todd Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:06:22 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/short-red-light-camera-grace-period-leads-to-ticket-refunds/#comment-9598 Wow!!! Randy I agree with Joe and say that most people probably might just be able to agree with what you just said. Wow!!! For once we can see eye to eye. Randy you say "I think there should be a yellow line set back from the light to show the line of no return, or you should stop at the light if you are behind the line when the light turns yellow" Now I don't know if that is your idea or not but I say thats a pretty good idea in which I have never even thought of. That idea should be implemented at intersections. The only problems might be like you said the money expense and that the yellow lines need to be adjusted with the speed limit because if the speed limit changes the yellow line needs to be repainted to match the speed limit. Wow!!! Randy I agree with Joe and say that most people probably might just be able to agree with what you just said. Wow!!! For once we can see eye to eye. Randy you say “I think there should be a yellow line set back from the light to show the line of no return, or you should stop at the light if you are behind the line when the light turns yellow” Now I don’t know if that is your idea or not but I say thats a pretty good idea in which I have never even thought of. That idea should be implemented at intersections. The only problems might be like you said the money expense and that the yellow lines need to be adjusted with the speed limit because if the speed limit changes the yellow line needs to be repainted to match the speed limit.

]]> http://blog.motorists.org/short-red-light-camera-grace-period-leads-to-ticket-refunds/comment-page-1/#comment-9597 JOE Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:51:50 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/short-red-light-camera-grace-period-leads-to-ticket-refunds/#comment-9597 Randy that's the very first thing I've heard you say that makes sense. Formerly, I've mentioned that very idea to my co-workers several times and they also thought it was a good idea. I came up with the idea when I started using the signs that warn a driver of an impending four way stop (we have many of those around here). As I pass that sign I start to brake and using that as my reference allows me to make a very comfortable stop. ConGrads Randy, I agree. I was reading somewhere, maybe Australia, they used a fourth light to count down to a yellow. The yellow line though would be just about as effective and cost almost nothing to implement. Frankly I don't know why that idea hasn't already been implemented. Randy that’s the very first thing I’ve heard you say that makes sense. Formerly, I’ve mentioned that very idea to my co-workers several times and they also thought it was a good idea. I came up with the idea when I started using the signs that warn a driver of an impending four way stop (we have many of those around here). As I pass that sign I start to brake and using that as my reference allows me to make a very comfortable stop. ConGrads Randy, I agree. I was reading somewhere, maybe Australia, they used a fourth light to count down to a yellow. The yellow line though would be just about as effective and cost almost nothing to implement. Frankly I don’t know why that idea hasn’t already been implemented.

]]> http://blog.motorists.org/short-red-light-camera-grace-period-leads-to-ticket-refunds/comment-page-1/#comment-9595 Todd Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:02:28 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/short-red-light-camera-grace-period-leads-to-ticket-refunds/#comment-9595 Ok Jeff there should be a reasonable yellow light time like I said and a 2 second grace period during the red light like you said. That makes sense but however we cannot have drivers always running the red light because what about the drivers making a left turn in the intersection who has to clear that intersection on red. Yes I guess in a way drivers have to kinda look out for each other but red light running should be avoided if at all possible because during that 2 second red light time it sometimes can be very gray. Do you see what I mean. I am not saying reasonable drivers should be fine with tickets but rather the ones who runs the FULL ON RED LIGHT which is anywhere after 2-3 seconds when the light turns red and puts the other drivers who has the right away in that intersection at risk. Sorry I know that I did not give enough detailed information on my last comment. Ok Jeff there should be a reasonable yellow light time like I said and a 2 second grace period during the red light like you said. That makes sense but however we cannot have drivers always running the red light because what about the drivers making a left turn in the intersection who has to clear that intersection on red. Yes I guess in a way drivers have to kinda look out for each other but red light running should be avoided if at all possible because during that 2 second red light time it sometimes can be very gray. Do you see what I mean. I am not saying reasonable drivers should be fine with tickets but rather the ones who runs the FULL ON RED LIGHT which is anywhere after 2-3 seconds when the light turns red and puts the other drivers who has the right away in that intersection at risk. Sorry I know that I did not give enough detailed information on my last comment.

]]> http://blog.motorists.org/short-red-light-camera-grace-period-leads-to-ticket-refunds/comment-page-1/#comment-9591 Randy Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:12:49 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/short-red-light-camera-grace-period-leads-to-ticket-refunds/#comment-9591 Jeff I know of no traffic lights that are red in both directions for 2 seconds but they may be in your state. The .3 seconds is to give you enough time to clear the intersection after the light is red. You actually should be able to clear most intersections in less than that time if you are going the speed limit. For the most part you should be through the intersection before the light turns red anyway. I think there should be a yellow line set back from the light to show the line of no return, or you should stop at the light if you are behind the line when the light turns yellow. The only thing that I can think why this is not done is expense of keeping the lines painted. Jeff I know of no traffic lights that are red in both directions for 2 seconds but they may be in your state. The .3 seconds is to give you enough time to clear the intersection after the light is red. You actually should be able to clear most intersections in less than that time if you are going the speed limit. For the most part you should be through the intersection before the light turns red anyway. I think there should be a yellow line set back from the light to show the line of no return, or you should stop at the light if you are behind the line when the light turns yellow. The only thing that I can think why this is not done is expense of keeping the lines painted.

]]> http://blog.motorists.org/short-red-light-camera-grace-period-leads-to-ticket-refunds/comment-page-1/#comment-9585 Jeff Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:28:14 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/short-red-light-camera-grace-period-leads-to-ticket-refunds/#comment-9585 Todd...you just proved why ticket cameras are a waste with this comment: "The motorists who is unreasonably far from the intersection and still enters the intersection on the red light should get a big ticket since they put the other motorists at risk". 0.3 seconds is barely after the light changed. Usually, there's 2 full seconds of red all the way around to clear the intersection! Using your argument, the grace period should be that 2 second timespan, not 0.3 seconds! Todd…you just proved why ticket cameras are a waste with this comment: “The motorists who is unreasonably far from the intersection and still enters the intersection on the red light should get a big ticket since they put the other motorists at risk”. 0.3 seconds is barely after the light changed. Usually, there’s 2 full seconds of red all the way around to clear the intersection! Using your argument, the grace period should be that 2 second timespan, not 0.3 seconds!

]]> http://blog.motorists.org/short-red-light-camera-grace-period-leads-to-ticket-refunds/comment-page-1/#comment-9574 Todd Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:08:35 +0000 http://www.motorists.org/blog/short-red-light-camera-grace-period-leads-to-ticket-refunds/#comment-9574 Red light cameras are good for safety if they are used appropriately. In order for red light cameras to be appropriately used 3 things need to be adjusted correctly. That would be speed limits which must be reasonable and prudent, and traffic lights which need to be adjusted correctly. The 3rd most important one is the yellow light time. It needs to be long enough so that the motorists in the intersection and for the ones just about to enter the intersection has a reasonable amount of time to safely pass through the intersection without getting an unfair ticket. The motorists who is unreasonably far from the intersection and still enters the intersection on the red light should get a big ticket since they put the other motorists at risk. This method would allow the police to let the reasonalbe motorists go while they focus on the serious motorists who violated the laws and put others at risk. Other than that red light cameras also can backfire when it comes to safety. The NMA gives a good example of this on www.youtube.com When you go to that site type in Mike Stollenwerk Discusses Red Light Cameras in the search bar and you should find that video clip. Red light cameras are good for safety if they are used appropriately. In order for red light cameras to be appropriately used 3 things need to be adjusted correctly. That would be speed limits which must be reasonable and prudent, and traffic lights which need to be adjusted correctly. The 3rd most important one is the yellow light time. It needs to be long enough so that the motorists in the intersection and for the ones just about to enter the intersection has a reasonable amount of time to safely pass through the intersection without getting an unfair ticket. The motorists who is unreasonably far from the intersection and still enters the intersection on the red light should get a big ticket since they put the other motorists at risk. This method would allow the police to let the reasonalbe motorists go while they focus on the serious motorists who violated the laws and put others at risk. Other than that red light cameras also can backfire when it comes to safety. The NMA gives a good example of this on http://www.youtube.com When you go to that site type in Mike Stollenwerk Discusses Red Light Cameras in the search bar and you should find that video clip.

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