I ran a red light

[wdfifteen]

This really ticks me off. I pride myself on being a good driver, and I completely blew it. There is an intersection that I drive through 4-5 times a week that has a stop light. It's always been either red, green, or yellow, but yesterday it was flashing red. I saw it and thought, "That's interesting" and drove right through. The magnitude of my brain fart didn't sink in until I saw the flashing lights behind me. Cost me $125. Damn.

[GH85Carrera]

I bet your brain will remember the $125 and stop next time you see a flashing red.

[billybek]

At least it was only $125 and nothing worse occurred.
It happens.

[KFC911]

Your honor, I was haulin' azz...that light wasn't red the split second I went through the intersection

[Bugsinrugs]

In California that would have cost you upwards of $400.

[Jeff Higgins]

Patrick, we are creatures of habit. I bet this would not have happened at an unfamiliar intersection. It's like we get into a "zone" around those things that are familiar, or habit, and changes don't fully register. Don't be so hard on yourself. We all do it. Instead, just be glad it was only a $125 fart - coulda been lots worse.

[cashflyer]

File a civil suit against the municipality. Claim that "flashing red" was not covered on your driving test and that they acted negligently when they created the dangerous situation.

[kach22i]

My mom got caught running though a flashing red light last year.

Her first ticket ever, she never knew that she was supposed to stop at a flashing red and told the judge so.

The judge gave her community service because of her fixed income status.

[pete3799]

My wife was on her way to visit my sister in N.Y. and got pulled over for running a light.
Cop asked if she had seen the light. Wife said nope.
Cop asks if they have lights in Vermont. Wife said yup we've got one and I know right were it is.
She got a warning.

[livi]

I saw it and thought, "That's interesting" and drove right through.

I am sorry but that sentence cracked me up. Hilariously well depicting your momentary state of slightly perplexed mind.

[Amail]

I've had similar brain farts. I once stayed stopped at a stop sign waiting for it to turn green.

[70SATMan]

Heh heh.

I'd be surprised by anyone claiming they hadn't done something similar.

At one of my regular lights, 6:30AM just after picking up a morning coffee at the local, I stopped on the red and then made my turn as there was no traffic around in any direction.. The problem?? I made a LEFT turn on the red...8>)

Got a half a block down the street when it sunk in...

[RWebb]

They usually post temporary signs saying the intersection has changed around here. No signs?

[Scott Douglas]

Ever seen a Pollack cross a flashing red?
Takes 'em nearly all day to get across the intersection 'cause they keep stopping for each flash.

[Radioactive]

+ lucky not in California

Get you calculator!


Red Light Fine $100 +

• $10.00 per $10/base fine goes State Trial Court Trust Fund; County General Fund.
• $2.00 per $10/base fine goes to the County Courthouse construction fund.
• $2.50 per $10/base fine goes to the County Jail Construction Fund.
• $0.50 per $10/base fine goes to County Automated Fingerprint Fund.
• $2.00 per $10/base fine goes to Maddy Emergency Medical Fund (State/County split).
• $3.00 per $10/base fine goes to State Court Facilities Construction Fund.
• $1.00 per $10/base fine goes to the DNA Identification Fund (County/State split).
• $4.00 per $10/base fine goes to the DNA Identification Fund (County/State split).
• $2.00 per $10/base fine goes to the State Court Facilities Construction Fund

Night Court Assessment Fee $1.00.
DMV History fee $10.00.
Twenty percent Criminal Surcharge State General Fund. 20% is calculated on the base fine amount.
Court Security Fee State Trial Court Trust Fund - $40.00.
Criminal Conviction Assessment - $35.00 (Infraction)
Citation Processing Fee $10.00.
Emergency Air Medical Transportation Act Fee $4.00.


I think it ends up about $490 plus 1 point


And the state is broke, no money for jails, and they are closing court houses because they have no money. WTF


FYI Speeding over 100MPH $900. is cheaper than parking in a bus loading or handicap zone $1100

[Targa Me]

Dont be too hard on yourself, we all do dumb things once in a while.

One time I was at a stop light, it turned from red to green, and i just sat there staring at the green.... dumb.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Amail

I've had similar brain farts. I once stayed stopped at a stop sign waiting for it to turn green.

I'm familiar with that drug! I recall standing in front of the refrigerator with the door open, carefully pronouncing the names of all the food.

[HHI944]

Originally Posted by Amail

I've had similar brain farts. I once stayed stopped at a stop sign waiting for it to turn green.

Originally Posted by Targa Me

Dont be too hard on yourself, we all do dumb things once in a while.

One time I was at a stop light, it turned from red to green, and i just sat there staring at the green.... dumb.

I've done both of these.......more than once....

[Joe Bob]

I looked up and saw the light flash, assumed it was going to green......it hadn't. The cop wasn't amused.

[notmytarga]

I felt like a country hick driving in San Francisco when the family went down for A Christmas Carol. The darkness, the congestion, the traffic (or lack of traffic in the Financial District on a weekend), green and red Christmas lights everywhere - it was difficult to discern the lights among the other distractions. I made up for the reds I went through with the greens I sat at.