I ran a red light
 

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. :D

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

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...

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

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.

+ 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

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'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.

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

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

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.