Running Red Lights. Warning or Ticket?? hmmmm [Archive] - Police Forums & Law Enforcement Forums @ Officer.com

ppdgirlbm79

03-09-2003, 10:11 AM

Ok, so yeah I've run red lights in my time, but not if it would cause an accident. A friend and i were headed to class the other day and well it was raining out and there was one car ahead of us, and the light turned yellow, and then red just as we were crossing over the red light that *your supposed to stop at*.
Well there was a cop at that intersection and we got pulled over.
Now under the circumstances we knew it was cutting it close and prob should have slowed down.
Well my friend has 2 speeding tickets on her record, and like me she is going to school to go into law enforcement. She's had her license since december of 1995 and only has those two tickets nothing else.
I've done ride alongs with this department (I'm not going to say which one) but they'll give a warning to someone that has had 2 beers, and just passed a sobriety test, when this cop gives us a ticket for running a red light. I'm not the type to weasel my way out of a ticket just cause I know cops in the departmen, but in all seriousness, what factors do cops take into affect when deciding whether or not to give a warning or a ticket?
I just get frustrated, because when I'm a cop, I'd really like to know if I am thinking the right way or not when giving someone a warning or a ticket.
please let me know your input on this:) thanks

ppdgirlbm79

03-09-2003, 10:13 AM

correction: the white line that *your supposed to stop at*

Mike Tx

03-09-2003, 10:38 AM

I can't believe some power hungry cop gave you a ticket just for running a red light. That really sucks.

KenM

03-09-2003, 10:44 AM

I started to take issue with some of your points, but I won't preach. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

In my town if you run a red light it's a ticket. Period. They are there for a reason. Doesn't matter who you know or how "good" your driving record is.

SGT Dave

03-09-2003, 10:49 AM

Theres no departmental standards I'm aware of-it's always officer discretion.

Just because one officer decides to issue a "warning" and another a ticket for the same offense or even different offenses, doesn't mean that there is anything improper going on.

Given everything you said, I'd have issued a cite also. However, I'm sure many would have chosen to warn, or ignore completely. She just drew the wrong officer that day :D .

It may not seem "fair", but I have never heard of a department telling officers what offenses merited warnings and which "only" could be "warnings" except in the case of a brand new law-again, officer discretion.

IPDBrad

03-09-2003, 10:50 AM

There are a few things I almost always give tickets for, check that (for MikeTx) for which you earn tickets.

Running a red light is one of them.

Blocking a fire hydrant.

Parking in a handicap spot.

Since becoming a cop I have become much more of a defensive driver, not because of the accidents I have seen but the near misses. Not to mention, catching that light isn't all that important but the consequences can be.

You will find, if you become an LEO, that your pet peeves may change when you start enforcing law, traffic law and ordinances.

Darkwulfe

03-09-2003, 12:27 PM

If we only gave warnings to people with

Niteshift

03-09-2003, 01:30 PM

"Ok, so yeah I've run red lights in my time, but not if it would cause an accident."

If we always knew what would or would not cause a crash, we probably wouldn't have many crashes.

BTW, there is a reason that NHTSA stopped calling them accidents and started calling them crashes; because they are rarely "accidental". They usually have a direct cause.

"Now under the circumstances we knew it was cutting it close and prob should have slowed down."

You're right, you should have. Not only were you pushing the light, but it was raining too.

"She's had her license since december of 1995 and only has those two tickets nothing else."

That's not terribly impressive. I know plenty of people with a lot fewer tickets in a lot longer time frame.

"I've done ride alongs with this department (I'm not going to say which one) but they'll give a warning to someone that has had 2 beers, and just passed a sobriety test"

If they passed the sobriety test, what should they be getting a ticket for? :confused:

"what factors do cops take into affect when deciding whether or not to give a warning or a ticket?"

That is really variable. Too many variables to go into, so I'll just address one of them.

First is the offense itself. Running red lights and stop signs are inherently dangerous acts. When your light turned red, someone elses turned green. Suppose someone was coming down the cross street at about 5mph over the limit. They are already moving. They, like you, are focussed on the color of the light, not cross traffic. Next thing you know, there is a big crash in the middle of the intersection.

Traffic control devices are there for a reason. If everyone chooses to disregard them, the traffic flow would be a mess. So when one person chooses to disregard them while the others obey them, that person gets a ticket.

One could also argue that your warning was the yellow light...... it warned you that the light was going to turn red soon and you needed to stop.

Chief Wiggum

03-09-2003, 01:49 PM

Mike Tx

03-09-2003, 01:54 PM

No, I was being sarcastic to a little cry baby that got caught running a red light, got a ticket, and is whinning about it.

I figured most people would get it. I'll PM you next time with an explanation beforehand. :D

Jim Burnes

03-09-2003, 03:41 PM

Heh, Mike is ticked off today! He has to live in Texas, and they won't let him carry anything but a .22 pistol (short barrel at that!).

Texans get grumpy if they miss their naptime!

Jim Burnes
This Is Indian Country.

retired

03-09-2003, 03:49 PM

PPDGirlbm,

The most important criteria in a situation like yours would be how attractive your friend is, and if she was friendly. :D :D Not to mention how nice of a figure she has. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Mike Tx

03-09-2003, 04:04 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Jim Burnes:
Heh, Mike is ticked off today! He has to live in Texas, and they won't let him carry anything but a .22 pistol (short barrel at that!).

Texans get grumpy if they miss their naptime!

Jim Burnes
This Is Indian Country.<hr /></blockquote>Better than living up there in Oinklahoma! And I'll take that .22 over a bow and arrow any day. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

[ 03-09-2003, 05:14 PM: Message edited by: Mike Tx ]

ppdgirlbm79

03-10-2003, 08:02 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Mike Tx:
No, I was being sarcastic to a little cry baby that got caught running a red light, got a ticket, and is whinning about it.<hr /></blockquote>I wasn't being a little cry baby. I just was mainly trying to focus on the whole giving a warning and giving a ticket. and a good example was the one with my friend who ran the red light. When I was doing a ride along with this same department a car full of female subjects ran a red light right in front of the cruiser. we pulled them over and the girl had been drinking, we gave her a sobriety test, she passed, and he still only gave her a warning. One of my pet peeves is people drinking and driving. And yes, like i said in my time I've run red lights, but since, I've changed my career goals, I obey all traffic laws, and I always drive defensively. I see alot of things that way.
I apoligize if it looked like I was trying to be a cry baby, but i was really curious on what makes someone give a warning and what makes them give them a ticket. I appreciate alot of your answers, because they answered alot of my concerns and theory's going on in my head. I am a female, and have a career goal to become a terrific cop. So all your input helps me point in the right direction.
Thank you

ppdgirlbm79

03-10-2003, 08:04 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by retired:
PPDGirlbm,

The most important criteria in a situation like yours would be how attractive your friend is, and if she was friendly. :D :D Not to mention how nice of a figure she has. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <hr /></blockquote>were you being serious, because if that's the case, that's probably why I don't get pulled over. just kidding. I always wonder about that though.

Mitzi1

03-10-2003, 08:46 AM

I saw a great bumper sticker the other day. It was in the window of a car. It said "SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL POLICE". The underneath it, in smaller leter, it said, "Officer, will this get me out of a ticket?" lol
I think we all feel pretty stupid when we get a ticket, ppdgirlbm79. Many of us rationalize but bottomline is...we get tickets when we commit infractions. You went through a red light. If you had hit someone, would you rationalize then?
Suck it up....and stop for yellow lights...red lights too. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

retired

03-10-2003, 08:49 AM

ppdgirlbm,

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by ppdgirlbm79:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by retired:
PPDGirlbm,

The most important criteria in a situation like yours would be how attractive your friend is, and if she was friendly. :D :D Not to mention how nice of a figure she has. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <hr /></blockquote>were you being serious, because if that's the case, that's probably why I don't get pulled over. just kidding. I always wonder about that though.<hr /></blockquote>I have known it to work on more than one ocassion. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

nickg

03-10-2003, 09:10 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Mike Tx:
I can't believe some power hungry cop gave you a ticket just for running a red light. That really sucks.<hr /></blockquote>someone runs a red light. smashes into the car your wife or kid is driving. your wife or kid is DEAD as a result.

how's that for the power hungry cop who gave the ********* the ticket??

someone runs a red light or a stop sign they ought to get the frikkin' rodney king treatment in my book!!

ppdgirlbm79

03-10-2003, 10:13 AM

ok this is turning into something that I didn't plan on. I was not driving, therefore i did not get a ticket.
Thanks for all of your input, but the main reason for this forum was pretty much asking where or how does an officer draw the line on giving a ticket or a warning. take the whole running a red light thing and look at everything in general instead. i know running a red light is wrong, I was not driving, and like I had said, yes I did it in the past, but that is just that the past, I am talking like couple years ago, since I have put my head in the direction of law enforcement.
IT was a stupid choice to run the red light, doesn't make the person an *********. and I don't think anyone deserves to be beaten, no matter what the case. can you say I need to take a domestic violence class? yeah, pretty sure you do.

nickg

03-10-2003, 10:28 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by ppdgirlbm79:

IT was a stupid choice to run the red light, doesn't make the person an *********. and I don't think anyone deserves to be beaten, no matter what the case. can you say I need to take a domestic violence class? yeah, pretty sure you do.<hr /></blockquote>"someone runs a red light. smashes into the car your wife or kid is driving. your wife or kid is DEAD as a result."

i stand by what i posted. 'nuff said.

Personal attack deleted. Dial it back Nick.

"Kumbaya my lord, Kumbaya......" :rolleyes:

[ 03-10-2003, 03:27 PM: Message edited by: Niteshift ]

lone ranger

03-10-2003, 12:32 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by ppdgirlbm79:

I was not driving, therefore i did not get a ticket...

...the main reason for this forum was pretty much asking where or how does an officer draw the line on giving a ticket or a warning...

...i know running a red light is wrong, I was not driving, and like I had said, yes I did it in the past, but that is just that the past, I am talking like couple years ago, since I have put my head in the direction of law enforcement.

IT was a stupid choice to run the red light, doesn't make the person an *********. and I don't think anyone deserves to be beaten, no matter what the case. <hr /></blockquote>Running a redlight doesn't make you an *********. It does indicate that you may need to be a little more careful with your driving.(Like you seem to be doing. Maybe your friend needs to make the same effort) Sometimes a good reminder is a small donation to the state. Or the Commonwealth in my case.

Red lights are my pet peeve. I may give you a warning for speeding but I almost always give a ticket for a red light violation. Unless there are other circumstances involved. Like wet, snow covered, or icy roads. My reasons are that the few time where I have almost been involved in a serious accident, were when someone ran a light and almost hit me. It may not be a conscious decision to run the light but it is dangerous.

My other pet peeve is when the person that committed the violaton tells me that I have to give them a warning.

Oh really! Let's find out.

retired

03-10-2003, 12:38 PM

ppdgirlbm79,

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by ppdgirlbm79:
ok this is turning into something that I didn't plan on. I was not driving, therefore i did not get a ticket.
Thanks for all of your input, but the main reason for this forum was pretty much asking where or how does an officer draw the line on giving a ticket or a warning. take the whole running a red light thing and look at everything in general instead. i know running a red light is wrong, I was not driving, and like I had said, yes I did it in the past, but that is just that the past, I am talking like couple years ago, since I have put my head in the direction of law enforcement.
IT was a stupid choice to run the red light, doesn't make the person an *********. and I don't think anyone deserves to be beaten, no matter what the case. can you say I need to take a domestic violence class? yeah, pretty sure you do.<hr /></blockquote>You are corect that running a red light doen't make one an *********, and I don't think you will find any cops on this board who will agree with beating someone for a traffic infraction.

Perhaps an anger management course, as opposed to a domestic violence class. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Tprspouse

03-10-2003, 02:31 PM

I ditto Nite's post. If everyone disregarded/didn't take traffic lights seriously, then traffic would be a mess. It's too bad you got caught...maybe next time you'll stop when you see yellow.

As for tickets vs. warnings...

Buxom blonde babe=ticket
Ugly zit faced fatso=warning

At least from my husband's standpoint. Let's give one to the ugly folks for a change!!! :D

nickg

03-10-2003, 02:59 PM

QUOTE:
"Perhaps an anger management course, as opposed to a domestic violence class."

are you saying i can't *^)(&^ control my (*(*& anger. well i'll show ya a t*$%$^ thing or two!!!

and another (*%#$* thing.......

:D :D :D :D

THE BRONZE

03-10-2003, 04:43 PM

If you give the babes with the "cross your heart" seatbelts tickets, you get to see them again in court. <img src="http://smilies.jeeptalk.org/contrib/xerx/smileybreasts.gif" alt=" - " /> :D As for right light violations, I have probably given fewer than five warnings in 16 years.

Evnings

03-10-2003, 04:45 PM

High on my list of mandatory tickets is Running a Red Light. Its right up there with Speeding in a School Zone and Passing a School Bus Loading or Unloading.

In my humble opinion, there is absolutley no reasonable excuse to run a Red Light. Every signal light intersection I have seen has a yellow light. The yellow light is a warning light to stop, not speed up.

But then I'm a traffic cop; therefore, I'm slightly biased about ticket writing.

[ 03-10-2003, 05:45 PM: Message edited by: Evnings ]

Chief Wiggum

03-10-2003, 05:09 PM

Yeah, most traffic cops I know never met a ticket they didn't like.

As for the girls pushin' up their boobies to get out of a ticket....it's nice to look at but it doesn't work on me. In fact the last one that tried it got a fist full of pink paper and her car towed on top of it. She was ******ed! I guess good looking girls are used to getting what they want. Now I get my revenge on all those girls that wouldn't give me a second look in high school...and college...and last week at the club. HAHAHAHAHA! But I'm not bitter. :D

retired

03-10-2003, 05:56 PM

Chief,

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Chief Wiggum:
Yeah, most traffic cops I know never met a ticket they didn't like.

As for the girls pushin' up their boobies to get out of a ticket....it's nice to look at but it doesn't work on me. In fact the last one that tried it got a fist full of pink paper and her car towed on top of it. She was ******ed! I guess good looking girls are used to getting what they want. Now I get my revenge on all those girls that wouldn't give me a second look in high school...and college...and last week at the club. HAHAHAHAHA! But I'm not bitter. :D <hr /></blockquote>I wonder where I went wrong? When I was a single cop, the good looking ones with the beautiful boobs seems to not deserve a ticket, just a warning! :D :D

Mike Tx

03-10-2003, 07:36 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />someone runs a red light or a stop sign they ought to get the frikkin' rodney king treatment in my book!! <hr /></blockquote>C'mon Nick! LAPD has made way to many millionaires already! :D

AutumnAngel

03-12-2003, 06:26 PM

ppdgirl -- If you ever get pulled over again, remember this: Always keep a stash of Oreo cookies in the glovebox; works like a charm. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

[ 03-12-2003, 07:28 PM: Message edited by: AutumnAngel ]

shooter1201

03-13-2003, 06:56 AM

Here's the 'reason': <blockquote>quote:<hr />it was raining out <hr /></blockquote>If I have to get out and get wet, whether it be someone running a red light, STOP sign or not having their headlights on.....they're getting a ticket. I HATE riding around in a wet uniform! :mad:

Evnings

03-13-2003, 04:01 PM

This week alone, I have worked 2 major accidents where one of the vehicles ran a Red Light.

One of them was stupid enough to run a Red Light in front of a bobtail hauling gas, oil and diesel. He was lucky not to turn everyone into a crispy critter. This one caused me extra work because I had to fill out the Commercial Vehicle Supplement. I hate extra work.

The one I worked today was a housewife in a SUV full of kids under 7. She T-boned a pick up and spun the pick up. Debris got thrown everywhere. This one happened downtown with a lot of people all around. Fortunately no bystanders got hit by debris and no one in the SUV was seriously hurt.

This is why I'm serious about Red Light tickets.

Now nice looking blonde with just a sticker violation may get a warning. Even though I am a traffic cop, I still have a Y chromosome :p

celia

03-13-2003, 08:05 PM

A couple of years ago my dh and I were driving slowly around our neighborhood taking photos of chimneys for a construction project. We weren't paying attention and ran a red light. There was not a car for miles, except of course the cop car behind us. We were very contrite and got off with a warning, but we BOTH felt we deserved a ticket. Running a red light is a real 'no, no'. Sure, there was no car THIS TIME, but next time.....

AverageJoe

03-14-2003, 10:04 AM

Reading this thread does my heart good. I am glad to see that running a red light is (usually) going to result in a ticket. It's my biggest driving pet peeve.

Two intersections within a mile of my house have a "three second rule" - I usually can't pull out until three seconds after the light turns green my way because cross traffic is not yet done blowing the light. Also, if the light is yellow in front of me I am checking the rear view mirror as I hit my brakes because I figure the person behind me just hit the gas. Because of the traffic volume it's probably somewhere between difficult and impossible to target for enforcement so I don't gripe to the local PD, I just keep my eyes open.

Just for fun, every so often I will start into the intersection when my light turns green, then lay on the horn and get wide-eyed like I am trying to avoid a collision with the last car running the red. The mean streak in me loves seeing people crap their pants thinking they're about to get T-boned by a 3-ton Suburban with a stout grille guard. Hopefully it teaches them a lesson before they earn an actual accident and get someone else hurt or killed.

AvgJoe

ppdgirlbm79

03-14-2003, 11:14 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by AverageJoe:
 Two intersections within a mile of my house have a "three second rule" - I usually can't pull out until three seconds after the light turns green my way because cross traffic is not yet done blowing the light. Also, if the light is yellow in front of me I am checking the rear view mirror as I hit my brakes because I figure the person behind me just hit the gas. Because of the traffic volume it's probably somewhere between difficult and impossible to target for enforcement so I don't gripe to the local PD, I just keep my eyes open.
AvgJoe<hr /></blockquote>I totally know what you mean on that one. I was in Tucson, Az once, to visit a friend and people out there are ridiculous and run red lights really bad, you have to really watch yourself. There are also Suicide lanes out there, and if your not from around there, and you get stuck in a suicide lane, consider your self close to dead.