Hypothetical red light camera question.

[Anonymous]

I don't know why people are blaming DC - red light cameras are everywhere. VA, MD, and others.

So you're SOL in a lot of places that run this scheme, if an emergency vehicle comes up behind you.

[Anonymous]

I've always wondered about this. It would seem so unfair to have to pay that ticket when you're trying to do the right thing.

[Anonymous]

Theoretically, I have no issue paying an unfair fine if it means saving a life.

But I just applied for a green card and people in my situation have been detained under threat of deportation, with pretexts that they had moving or parking violations. I am currently being extremely careful on the road. I have actually thought about this scenario, OP, because yesterday I needed to cross the white line at a red light to let an ambulance behind me pass through. I hope that any video or camera would capture the emergency, but apparently that's sometimes not the case...

It's a sign of these benighted times that I'm even thinking about dawdling in front of an ambulance!!! What a world we're living in.

[Anonymous]

Contact emergency services. They have records of their service runs. Seems easy to prove.

[Anonymous]

This happened to me. Still had to pay the ticket.


If it ever happens again, I’m not moving. The ambulance or fire truck or police car will just have to wait on the light to change.


If that pisses you off, too bad. Direct your anger at your elected representatives who are responsible for red light cameras.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can proceed legally through a red signal only as authorized by a LEO. OTOH, it’s fairly easy to determine whether there is a red light camera at an intersection and, if not, yield to the emergency vehicle by moving forward when safe to do so. Just exercise reasonable judgement recognizing that one or more lives might depend on your decision. Saying only DC is to blame is childish binary thinking.

Laws are childish and binary. So is requiring payment of a ticket that was clearly the result of yielding to an emergency vehicle.

They can wait.

Well actually no they can’t hence the flashing lights and siren. Grow up. People need emergency help and all you can think about is your wallet.

They can wait.


And they WILL wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got a ticket for this about 5 years ago. Contested the ticket. Was found “in violation of running a red signal” by the adjudicator within 10 seconds of sitting down at her desk. I appeal. “F you, pay me”

If I’m ever in that scenario again I’m sitting there at the light until it turns green. The ambulance or fire truck or police car will just have to wait.


DC govt has only itself to blame.

You’re not hurting the DC government. You’re hurting the family whose house is burning down, or the woman who has someone breaking in, or the grandmother having a heart attack, or the baby choking.

But if you’re lucky, when you need help, maybe it will give somebody else the opportunity to join your cause by delaying your ambulance. If you die, that will really show the DC government . . . absolutely nothing.

And they can be mad at DC government.

But I’m not donating $150 to Automated Traffic Systems, Inc just so your uncle Conrad aunt Jenny can get to the hospital 30 seconds faster for their diabetic emergency or angina flare up.