Ticket for Stopping at a Red Light
My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Illinois
I got pulled over and received a ticket for disobeying a traffic light but I'm confused as to the nature of it though. I was coming up to a traffic light at a main intersection early in the morning around 2 A.M., the light was red and I signaled to get into the left turn lane and slowed to a stop with my left turn signal still on in the proper lane waiting for the light to turn green and a few seconds later a cop pulled up behind me and turned on his lights.
What I gather from the explanation he gave me is that those lights are timed at that time of night so that even on a red you're supposed to go ahead and proceed (not sure if he meant that the lights just don't turn green at that time or what) but the lights were not flashing or giving any sort of indication that I should go (I was only stopped at the light for maybe 5 seconds before the cop pulled up and didn't even have time to consider that maybe I was to go ahead and go) and I received a ticket for it.
I'm hoping to get some insight as to if I had misunderstood the cop's explanation or if maybe I really did receive a ticket for stopping at a red light. I have never heard of or seen a traffic light that one was supposed to go through on a solid red light. Information on how I would go about finding out more about why I was pulled over would be very much appreciated too.
Re: If I Understood Correctly, I Received a Ticket for Stopping at a Red Light
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Flapjacks
What I gather from the explanation he gave me is that those lights are timed at that time of night so that even on a red you're supposed to go ahead and proceed (not sure if he meant that the lights just don't turn green at that time or what) but the lights were not flashing or giving any sort of indication that I should go (I was only stopped at the light for maybe 5 seconds before the cop pulled up and didn't even have time to consider that maybe I was to go ahead and go) and I received a ticket for it.
That doesn't make any sense at all. What code section (number and/or description or both) were you cited for?
Re: If I Understood Correctly, I Received a Ticket for Stopping at a Red Light
what is the code section listed as the violation?
Re: If I Understood Correctly, I Received a Ticket for Stopping at a Red Light
11-305 Disobeying Traffic Control Device
Re: If I Understood Correctly, I Received a Ticket for Stopping at a Red Light
what do the notes on the ticket say?
Re: If I Understood Correctly, I Received a Ticket for Stopping at a Red Light
There aren't any notes on it, which is one of the reasons I'd like to know how to go about finding more information about why I received it.
Re: If I Understood Correctly, I Received a Ticket for Stopping at a Red Light
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(c) Steady red indication.
1. Except as provided in paragraphs 3 and 3.5 of this |
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subsection (c), vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if there is no such stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no such crosswalk, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until an indication to proceed is shown. |
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| 2. Except as provided in paragraphs 3 and 3.5 of this |
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subsection (c), vehicular traffic facing a steady red arrow signal shall not enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by the arrow and, unless entering the intersection to make a movement permitted by another signal, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if there is no such stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or if there is no such crosswalk, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain standing until an indication permitting the movement indicated by such red arrow is shown. |
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even if the allowance of turning on a red from a one way to a one way road on a steady red (legal for left turns) is applicable, the law says you may turn, not must.
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| 3. Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn |
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and local authorities by ordinance or State authorities by rule or regulation prohibit any such turn, vehicular traffic facing any steady red signal may cautiously enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a one-way street into a one-way street, after stopping as required by paragraph 1 or paragraph 2 of this subsection. After stopping, t...... |
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something has to be missing from this picture.
Re: If I Understood Correctly, I Received a Ticket for Stopping at a Red Light
I was on a two-way street turning onto a one-way, which from the way the law sounds, assuming it's applicable to my situation/area, then there's something even more amiss here. I'm also thinking something is missing, I don't know if that's from my side and I misunderstood or didn't hear something the cop had said or if I was pulled over without reasonable suspicion or something else. Any advice as to how I could go about finding out? This is my first ticket and I'm not familiar with how these things work or how to look into them.
Re: If I Understood Correctly, I Received a Ticket for Stopping at a Red Light
one way to one way ONLY when making a left.
It was not allowed in your situation.
I have never heard of such an issue as you have.
There is law in Illinois that allows a motorcycle to go through a red under certain circumstances due to the fact motorcycles do not trigger some of the lights out there. Even with that, it is not mandatory they go through the light. They could sit at the light all night long waiting for it to turn green if they wish.
Re: If I Understood Correctly, I Received a Ticket for Stopping at a Red Light
Wasn't even on a motorcycle, was in my car. I appreciate all the help, were the laws you quoted specific for Illinois and can I get a source for them?