I received a notice by mail of a traffic law violation, 309.1 Failure to observe a light signal. The notice indicates that the red light time was 1.1 seconds. I submitted an appeal asking if the authority could consider that the red light duration occurred after our car was already in the intersection. I believe it occurred during rush hour, and timing is difficult to predict.
How likely is it that the authority would consider an appeal or lower the fine amount due to short redlight time? We are seniors and saved for a long time to visit beautiful Switzerland. The high fine is difficult for us.
I got one removed once. It is still CHF 250 today? Was the same amount like 30 years ago.
I got it removed because I wrote that I had to cross the red light to avoid an accident, a truck was about to hit me. They wrote back that my description of the events could be true and therefore the fine was withdrawn.
But heavy traffic I donāt think they will consider as a valid reason to cross the red light. Just pay or it will get much more expensive!
It is not clear what you mean by duration or short red light time. Time the light was at red or time after it turned red that you entered the intersection or the time it stayed green? Red lights are rigid here. The green light for pedestrians depends on motorists strictly observing the red light - there is generally no lenience that is common in some countries. The short sequence times take a little getting used to and can be very irritating but the upside is that a lot of lights are car activated which works well ouside of the rush hours.
The yellow phase already says ādo not enterā, but itās where you have wiggle room and get a pass. Thatās why thereās zero tolerance time during red.
Even if the fine gets reduced, an appeal comes with court costs and administrative costs on top of the actual fine. Usually this is roughly the same as the actual fine, so in reality the odds of you getting off lighter are very slim.
Whatās more, an appeal can also result in a higher fineā¦
Assume you are tourists. Was this a rental car, or yours. If so what country?
If a rental they hire car company will deduct it from your credit card.
You could simply not pay, but never return to Switzerland.
1.1 seconds is not a short time for a red light. Basically if you can afford a car and to holiday in Switzerland, the authorities are sure you can pay. I would pay it and like the rest of us who have been flashed and fined, drive very carefully!
I successfully appealed a red light fine but the circumstances were slightly different and I was not the only person in the same situation.
In this case an appeal is a waste of time and money I feel.
I crossed a green light in Zurich and got disorientated looking at my satnav screen as there were three potential exits. I slowed down to think and then the light turns red behind me and I was flashed.
I got my fine and called up ZĆ¼rich Police to argue that I did not cross a red light. The officer commiserated with me, told me it happens a lot since they only take one photo i.e they cannot judge speed. He then told me to consider it a fee to visit the beautiful city of Zurich.
Lesson learnt I guess, donāt dawdle in the intersection.
Thatās actually the requirement for people to even cross the entering white bar: It must not be crossed unless your entire route across is free.
Of course this gets generally disregarded during rush hour, but only on intersections without a flash (making those instances of āno plaintiff, no judgeā). However crossings are generally free where you do get flashed.
I know for a fact that red light cameras take two photos, so I donāt know why you were misinformed. It is required to prove that you entered the intersection, and didnāt just stop a little too far forward, or any other relevant context.
Thats good to know because I did specifically tell him that if they check their records they could see that I crossed when it was green. His response was it wasnāt possible because they only have one photo and it shows my car in front of a red light, so its open and shut.
This was around 2014 so could it have been the case then?
I doubt it. I got done for a red-light in Oerlikon around 2013 and it definitely flashed twice. Red light camera intersections have a induction loop just past the stop line. It goes live about 0.2 sec after the light turns red. It will take two pictures about 0.5 sec apart if this sensor is activated. All info is embedded in the photos / meta data, including time, date, location, lane and time since light turned red.
Me thinks he was leveraging your naievity on the topic; which is unethical as the burden of proof is on them.
What does one do if having entered the intersection while it is green but then suddenly the car in front stops and you are stuck in the middle? Hope that another idiot is behind you?
Thatās the answer for everything, thatās how I drive here, zero issues in 5+ years.
By force of habit did the same while driving in Greece a few weeks ago - where the norm is that 1-3 cars will pass the red light - and thankfully the driver behind was fast and competent and managed to not crash into me.
