Last night was driving from Ealing road going towards the a40 (Uxbridge).
I come up to a set of traffic lights and tried to get past but the lights turned red and I stopped.
I saw the police car on my right, once the lights turned amber I set off and turned right going towards the a40 and cut into another lane (did not indicate) but there but the lanes where clear…
The lights in front were just turning amber and I went past and the police car was following me.
On the a40 they pulled me over and said I’ve been doing wreck less driving and that was I in a rush as I floured the car at the traffic lights and they could barely keep up in there BMW to my polo 1.4.
They done a breathalyse test on my and I came clear… the office took my licence and checked and said that I already had 3 point for speeding…
He asked me where I was going and I said my gf has just come out of the hospital and went going to get her chips (guy has some cheek and said it’s going to be an expense chippy).
Also my grandfather passed away on Friday 10th and things at home have not been pleasant so I’ve also have him on my mind, I been at home all this time have the company I work for (unpaid work) has been me compassinate leave.
He said that both of the officer saw me go past the red lights, but if I went through a red light then they must also went though it as well, but they never had their lights on???
They gave me a fixed penalty point and £60 fine and 3 points, I asked to see the tape and they said that they can’t show me because they have to rewind the tape back.
Is there any way I can appeal this, current I’m a student and I just don’t have the funds to pay my bike insurance for the increase in premium otherwise I’ll lose my bike… :(
Technically, setting off on an amber light is ‘jumping traffic lights’ so no, you can’t appeal. Amber means, ‘get ready’ not ‘go’. If you were aware the coppers were there you should have toned it down and taken things easy until they’d left the area.
The best you can do is appeal to the courts by saying you were going through a lot at home, but then they’d probably penalise you by saying you’re not fit to drive and then you could end up with a greater fine and/or more points.
I’d bite the bullet and let this one go and take it easy out there.
Are you sure it was amber? Not that it really matters, because as judgejools says amber also means stop…
You can see the tape, if you opt for a court case… which might prove expensive - they’re not likely to have given you an fpn for anything other than a straight forward case - they’ve got far more interesting things to do than give a ticket they might end up in court for…
And yes they are allowed to go through red lights, whether or not they have their blue lights on…
sorry to bum our day but I agree with all the above amber means get redy or stop and as mentioned you knew they were there but still choose to make the decision to go and you got caught red handed mate.
I think this is a simple take it on the chin take the points and fine before it gets a lot more expensive
hehe… of course not Alex, who could ever think such a thing
To expand my point a bit…
I think it depends on the situation - in applying the information contained in that link, one would need to think ahead and make a rapid assessment of whether a fair case exists - if no speeding was involved e.g.- it is reasonable to refute the statement that the police BMW could barely keep up with the speed the polo 1.4 was travelling and if it had been unsafe to stop at the amber e.g.- the polo was travelling at a safe speed but was too close to the lights when they changed to amber, then all that is left is pulling away at an amber when the coast was clear - I think the courts would look quite dimly on the police for taking a case to court on that basis alone - indeed, I wouldn’t think the CPS would even let it pass.
Furthermore, if the police had gone through a red light without flashing their blues, would they really want that to come out?
Whilst a lot of our police officers are good, decent people, there will always be the odd one or two out there who like to lord it over people - the same is true of any profession involving authority (which means practically any profession due to management hierarchy).
I think it is right to hold your hands up when one is in the wrong - no point in wasting police time and causing yourself extra hassle and expense, but if there is a genuine case and one’s perception is that the police are being unnecessarily harsh or even, dare I say it, rash in their judgement, then the info contained within that link is a good way of giving Joe Public the wherewithall to challenge their stance.
Enough said really. Alot of people think the highway code is only to be used to pass the test (WRONG ANSWER!).
Sorry fella suck it up and learn from it. Hopefully you wouldn’t jump the lights in future (or if you do DON’T DO IT IN FRONT OF THE ROZZERS!!! :pinch: )
Like the other have said I think you might be on a hiding to nothing with challenging it. The other thing you said is that you are a student. How long have you had your license? Because you might be at risk of losing it.
If I remember correctly that if you accumulate six or more points in the first two years of having you license you lose it and have to retake the exams.
