syonxwf
Go Kart Champion
As the title suggests, I got a red light ticket to the tune of $124.
I'm not one to typically disagree with tickets I get, if I'm guilty, I'm guilty and it sucks. This one though really seems an awful lot like a money making ploy and not really to protect the public to me. No, I didn't speed up to beat a light, I definitely stopped, my problem was that I stopped past the marked line...Yes, you're supposed to stop on the line (per RCW), and if there's not a line, you must stop before the cross walk, which I always do if someone is crossing the cross walk, but there was no one for miles around, and you cannot see to the left in that intersection unless you pull that far forward (and I have read blogs/forums that people have received tickets even after stopping at the line and then pulling forward to see further - one guy even receiving two in the same day, both times stopping at the line first the then proceeding forward).
For your viewing pleasure, here is the video the red light camera took of my car, so you can see my guilty ass stopping in the cross walk like the bad driver I am:
So anyways, I decided I'm fighting this ticket. While I don't disagree that I committed the crime, I don't feel it warrants a ticket when I have zero history of running red lights, I didn't actually do what most people do (speed up to try and beat the light), I just stopped past the line. I don't feel that is worthy of a $124 ticket, even though it doesn't count as a driving violation, because it's considered a parking violation by the city.
I did some research and found out that this cities RCW's contradict the fine amount, so my goal is to use that to my advantage.
Chapter 10.60
AUTOMATED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT
10.60.070 Fines.
The fine for infractions committed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be the same as the total penalty (base penalty plus statutory assessments) for violating RCW 46.61.050, but in no event shall the penalty exceed the amount of the highest fine assessed for parking infractions within the city. (Ord. 1747 § 2, 2011; Ord. 1737 § 3, 2010; Ord. 1629-07 § 1, 2007).
This essentially says that the total fine should be the same as RCW 46.61.050 ($42, listed below), but that shall never exceed the max penalty for parking infractions within the city ($20).
Chapter 10.24
PARKING AND LOADING
10.24.110 Violation – Penalty.
Violation of any section of this chapter shall constitute a parking infraction, subject to a monetary penalty in the maximum and default amount of $20.00, not including statutory assessments. (Ord. 1662 § 1, 2008).
RCW 46.61.050, page 3, near the bottom (just ctrl F the rcw number):
Rules of the Road
Failure to stop (RCW 46.61.050.) $42
What are your guys thoughts on this? Worth the fight?
I'm in the mindset that if they want to get people for ticky tacky items like this to make money for their city, then they should have to fight for that money.
I'm not one to typically disagree with tickets I get, if I'm guilty, I'm guilty and it sucks. This one though really seems an awful lot like a money making ploy and not really to protect the public to me. No, I didn't speed up to beat a light, I definitely stopped, my problem was that I stopped past the marked line...Yes, you're supposed to stop on the line (per RCW), and if there's not a line, you must stop before the cross walk, which I always do if someone is crossing the cross walk, but there was no one for miles around, and you cannot see to the left in that intersection unless you pull that far forward (and I have read blogs/forums that people have received tickets even after stopping at the line and then pulling forward to see further - one guy even receiving two in the same day, both times stopping at the line first the then proceeding forward).
For your viewing pleasure, here is the video the red light camera took of my car, so you can see my guilty ass stopping in the cross walk like the bad driver I am:
So anyways, I decided I'm fighting this ticket. While I don't disagree that I committed the crime, I don't feel it warrants a ticket when I have zero history of running red lights, I didn't actually do what most people do (speed up to try and beat the light), I just stopped past the line. I don't feel that is worthy of a $124 ticket, even though it doesn't count as a driving violation, because it's considered a parking violation by the city.
I did some research and found out that this cities RCW's contradict the fine amount, so my goal is to use that to my advantage.
Chapter 10.60
AUTOMATED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT
10.60.070 Fines.
The fine for infractions committed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be the same as the total penalty (base penalty plus statutory assessments) for violating RCW 46.61.050, but in no event shall the penalty exceed the amount of the highest fine assessed for parking infractions within the city. (Ord. 1747 § 2, 2011; Ord. 1737 § 3, 2010; Ord. 1629-07 § 1, 2007).
This essentially says that the total fine should be the same as RCW 46.61.050 ($42, listed below), but that shall never exceed the max penalty for parking infractions within the city ($20).
Chapter 10.24
PARKING AND LOADING
10.24.110 Violation – Penalty.
Violation of any section of this chapter shall constitute a parking infraction, subject to a monetary penalty in the maximum and default amount of $20.00, not including statutory assessments. (Ord. 1662 § 1, 2008).
RCW 46.61.050, page 3, near the bottom (just ctrl F the rcw number):
Rules of the Road
Failure to stop (RCW 46.61.050.) $42
What are your guys thoughts on this? Worth the fight?
I'm in the mindset that if they want to get people for ticky tacky items like this to make money for their city, then they should have to fight for that money.
