red light violations (Baltimore: costs, law, car)

[sax33]

hi I have been in Baltimore about six months now. I have recently received 5 violations for running red lights in Baltimore. Most are on russell st and hamburg. I have never in all my years of driving ran a red light. Has anyone had this problem? what is the best way to deal with each violation is 75.00. I am not crazy I know that I did not run through any red light let alone 5!!! This is so ridiculous and i was just telling people that i thought law enforcement here was pretty cool. Any insight would be helpful I do plan to go to court, should I bring a lawyer?

[dojinick]

If you got 5 in the mail you must be at least cutting the lights close if not running them.

Anyway - here are a few thing to look for in your violations:

1) Is the light actually red in all the photos? If not, it is a bogus violation and you can get it thrown out.

2) Is you car completely in front of the white stop line in the first picture and completely past the stop bar in the second picture? If not, you can get it thrown out.

3) Check the speed of you vehicle and time past yellow data in the violations. If you were going the speed limit and time past yellow was 0.1 or 0.2 seconds - most judges will show pity and excuse it.

4) Even if you don't get a lawyer, it is worth it to show up for court, if you have that kind of time. About 50% of Baltimore judges hate the red light program and will cut down the fee to court costs ($10 or so) if you present yourself in a respectable manner within their court room.


Hope this helps.

[lemonhead]

My husband keeps getting them in the mail as well. Except...he's finally learning which lights he can't try and "get through". For a long term plan I suggest doing the same thing, especially if you keep getting these at one particular light like my wonderful DH. lol.