Evening all,
Two days ago I was pulled over by a regular police patrol car for apparently running a red light. The junction in question involved myself coming towards it with the police car sitting at the lights to the right of the crossroads.
There are traffic lights on each side of the junction, both pointing towards my car. The white line was obviously at the first set of traffic lights. However, the patrol car was unable to see these lights and was only able to view the second, further away lights. The officer told me he had seen 3 cars and myself go through the red light, however, he was looking at the furthest away set of lights. I believe the lights were at amber when I actually crossed the stop line. By the time I had passed over the junction and passed the second lights, they had turned to red.
I am wondering whether to contest the charge or not. I am sure the lights I was looking at (the lights at the white stop line) were at amber when I crossed the line, and only changed once I was mid way across the junction. I am aware that amber also means to stop however with heavily congested traffic I did believe it was unsafe to do so.
I've attached links of google street view:
My view from the car:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sour...=12,303.25,,0,5
As you can see, the traffic lights at the left of the screen are the lights I was observing, with the white stop line. The police car was only able to see the furthest away traffic lights which are a good distance across the junction from the white stop line itself.
Here is the view the police officer had:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sour...,255.48,,0,5.42
The traffic lights he was able to view are on the right side of the road next to the pedestrian crossing. From his perspective I was approaching from left to right across the junction.
I hope the pictures help this make sense, I'm just seeking opinions and if I have no case then so be it.
Many thanks