Some time ago, driving on yellow traffic light, there was a flash to my surprise. All my attention on the traffic light, but it remained yellow till I lost its view.
My estimations are the following:
- passing the line 1.5 seconds after green light
- 0.5 seconds after the flash the traffic light remained yellow
- second flash when I could not see the traffic light
The letter says I crossed the line after 0.6 seconds after red light. The flash fired at least 1 second before red light.
Reducing yellow light time from 3.0 to 2.9 seconds helped Chicago to earn extra 8 Millions...
I guess there was some kind of technical malfunction. But there is no way to prove it. The only indication would be unusually high number of fines that day.
Is there something I can do about this unfair bill?
Is there any scenario the bill might be fair?
I am inclining to pay the bill. It is just the feeling of helplessness in front of unjust system... which is so uncommon in Switzerland.
The picture will probably capture the traffic light colour.
Driving through on orange probably triggers a "hold on orange" and stops the other lights from switching until you are clear. Also approaching the lights at speed can delay them switching for safety, at which point you no doubt get flashed and fined if you are not a police vehicle.
This hold on orange would explain the flash occurring on orange. There may well be some small print to stop people getting away with fast approaches to monitored lights.
You're so right. Hire the most expensive lawyer you can find (you get what you pay for in Switzerland). If your appeal fails, take it to a higher court. Do it for us.
I am just thinking of writing a letter, explaining the case and asking to reconsider it in case there are many similar complains on the same day and place...
My advice is simple: pay the fine and move on with your life. You could try to fight the system, get lucky and win. But you still get billed for extra costs and generally spend too much of your free time ending up back at where you are now (financially) but with a slight warm glow from "being right". It could also go badly wrong for you and cost you 000s
Anecdote:
Last week I was behind a truck at the lights on General-Willi turning right onto Alfred-Escher. As the lights turned green the truck arced out to the right in order to make the corner. The "ahead-filter" was red and the camera flashed the truck. Red-light cameras are lane sensitive which means if it is "set" on a certain lane (red light) and you are in part of that lane when you cross the line, and your filter is green/amber, you will get flashed.
If you think you really crossed while yellow. Do not pay, request the evidences, photos, protocols, contest everything, prove them wrong, win the court case. Done.
PS: If they are right and you indeed crossed while red, have a shit load of money ready to pay fine, court, and any witnessing experts. (CHF 2000 is my guess + possible lawyer cost)
No monetary cost if you win, expect if you have a super expensive lawyer (which is not needed but helpful), but a lot of wasted time. Is it worth CHF 250?
I successfully contested a red light fine on that basis. A lorry at the front of the turn left queue had broken down so we had to stray into the straight ahead lane to get around him and as the light for ahead was red the flash went off.
I didn't think anything if it until I received the fine and eventually worked out where it was and why. I contacted them ( as had several others apparently) and the fine was cancelled.