Please help! I got caught by safety cameras, shoud I go to a court?

**Godzillalee** · 06-05-2012 01:01 PM

Hey guys, I've received a penalty notice of $353 for driving through a red traffic light but I'm thinking about to have this issue solved on court. The image was taken by the safety cameras on Silverwater Rd just before entering the M4.

So here's actually what happened,

I was driving on St Hilliers Rd on April, 21st heading north. I thought that I could turn right at the intersection of Parramatta Rd and St Hilliers but it appeared that there was no right turning traffic light at the intersection, and I drove forward into Silverwater Rd. Cuz I don't usually drive around that area so I had no idea of where I could turn right to get back onto Parramatta Rd.
At the location of where the images were taken, I was concentrating at the road sign(The green ones) trying to see when I'm heading and if there's anyway I could turn right, therefore I wasn't looking at the traffic lights when I drove pass and at the time that the camera flashed.. I knew I was fcked..
This comes with 3 demerit points or maybe more for me as I'm on a P2 license. I wondered what excuses I can use on the court.
P.S I wasn't driving fast at all, no more than 30 km/hr...

**91led** · 13-05-2012 05:48 PM

To be brutally honest, I don't really think you've got a leg to stand on if you take this to court. You just said yourself that you weren't looking at the traffic lights, and I think that's what they'll latch onto in court unfortunately.

**trism** · 13-05-2012 05:57 PM

Yep, no leg to stand on.

How is "not paying attention to the traffic lights" gonna help you?

**Lanzamus** · 13-05-2012 11:07 PM

"P.S I wasn't driving fast at all, no more than 30 km/hr... "

How fast you were going through it is irrelevant, if it had been a different intersection and there had been traffic coming from the side, say a family full,,,,, could have been a disaster man. Plz be safer on the road for your sake and everyone elses.

**bennjamin** · 13-05-2012 11:10 PM

OP

you clearly broke the law and got done.

Have a cry for a second - then pay the fine. Sorry but you cannot contest this.

**Godzillalee** · 15-05-2012 02:52 AM

Originally Posted by Lanzamus

"P.S I wasn't driving fast at all, no more than 30 km/hr... "

How fast you were going through it is irrelevant, if it had been a different intersection and there had been traffic coming from the side, say a family full,,,,, could have been a disaster man. Plz be safer on the road for your sake and everyone elses.

I do always drive safely and this is just a bad luck I guess, and btw i dont think a family could jump for like 10 metres in 0.9 seconds

**Godzillalee** · 15-05-2012 02:59 AM

Originally Posted by bennjamin

OP

you clearly broke the law and got done.

Have a cry for a second - then pay the fine. Sorry but you cannot contest this.

As I've mentioned I wasn't intended to break the law, its just a thing that happened. You should be able to see from the photos that I was holding the brake, what if I say that I tried to stop my car at the traffic light but when I realized that the light turned red I was already in the middle of the intersection so I had to either reverse back to drive forward.

I'm not trying to win the case but I'm wondered whether it is possible for the judge to deduct my penalty and keep my demerit points.

**Stevil** · 15-05-2012 03:39 AM

Thinking is clearly not what you were doing, even as you were slowing you would have time to see the No right turn along with the light having changed to orange. You'll have to cop it sweat, and put it down to experience.

At major intersections you will always get heaps of notice whether its big arrow painted on the road or overhead signs indicating the ability to turn right.

**simmy** · 15-05-2012 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by Godzillalee

As I've mentioned I wasn't intended to break the law, its just a thing that happened. You should be able to see from the photos that I was holding the brake, what if I say that I tried to stop my car at the traffic light but when I realized that the light turned red I was already in the middle of the intersection so I had to either reverse back to drive forward.

I'm not trying to win the case but I'm wondered whether it is possible for the judge to deduct my penalty and keep my demerit points.

Won't work, I'm on my p2 aswell, didn't run a red intentionally. Copped a fine of $353 and 3 demerits, just take

like a sir!

**bennjamin** · 15-05-2012 07:09 AM

Originally Posted by Godzillalee

As I've mentioned I wasn't intended to break the law, its just a thing that happened. You should be able to see from the photos that I was holding the brake, what if I say that I tried to stop my car at the traffic light but when I realized that the light turned red I was already in the middle of the intersection so I had to either reverse back to drive forward.

I'm not trying to win the case but I'm wondered whether it is possible for the judge to deduct my penalty and keep my demerit points.

You are Kidding me , right ?

You COULD of avoided this situation by driving properly and safely.
It's a mistake I know - everyone here has probably been forced to do something illegal on the road due to a previous mistake ( 3 point turn over double lines for example) but these situations are not justified.

The only times you COULD have an excuse - is when avoiding an accident or government vehicle in response.
Your own stupidity/lack of geographical knowledge won't stand up.

**mocchi** · 15-05-2012 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by Godzillalee

Hey guys, I've received a penalty notice of $353 for driving through a red traffic light but I'm thinking about to have this issue solved on court. The image was taken by the safety cameras on Silverwater Rd just before entering the M4.

So here's actually what happened,

I was driving on St Hilliers Rd on April, 21st heading north. I thought that I could turn right at the intersection of Parramatta Rd and St Hilliers but it appeared that there was no right turning traffic light at the intersection, and I drove forward into Silverwater Rd. Cuz I don't usually drive around that area so I had no idea of where I could turn right to get back onto Parramatta Rd.
At the location of where the images were taken, I was concentrating at the road sign(The green ones) trying to see when I'm heading and if there's anyway I could turn right, therefore I wasn't looking at the traffic lights when I drove pass and at the time that the camera flashed.. I knew I was fcked..
This comes with 3 demerit points or maybe more for me as I'm on a P2 license. I wondered what excuses I can use on the court.
P.S I wasn't driving fast at all, no more than 30 km/hr...

hey mate,

i feel your pain but there is no way getting out of this.
this is not a bad dream. shit is real and you gotta pay it.

should be a good, lifetime remembrance of 'look at the damn signs'

so

**tiksie** · 15-05-2012 08:34 AM

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

They will laugh at you if you try to contest this, especially if you admit that you weren't paying attention.

We've all done it at one point (Worst was when I had a microsleep going 130km/h~ from Jervis Bay to Sydney). Scary shit.

But yeah, that's another story for another time.

Just cop it sweet and pay the fine and let it go. Once you pay it, you will feel that burden being lifted off your shoulders.. It's a good feeling man.

For future reference, you're better off turning right Camarvon st and doing a U-Turn back on to Silverwater then down to Parra road. Or just jump on to the M4 and jump off at Hill Rd if it's in between there.