Today, around 18h I was waiting for a green light on this location .
While waiting in the left lane (I was the only one in this lane), police car with registration AG-2 came behind me under emergency lights..So I naturally went through red light to make them pass (I stopped in front of the first car in right lane until it horned to me to move).
So..There is some kind of camera mounted on sign there, I have no idea if this is just a "regular" one or red light camera.
What should I do? Wait for my ticket to come? Go to police and report?
Or just hope that this camera is not programmed for this?
Usually you don't have red light camera at those locations as it does not justify the cost. Also if you moved in front on the car on the right you probably wouldn't be advanced enough and also not above the speed threshold for flash.
You should be fine as I don't see any red light cameras there on google street view. I would never go through a red light for a police car to pass anyway.
If it was an ambulance I'll think about it or look out to see if there are cameras before moving over
I probably would and if I get a fine I'd obviously appeal it. If that then fails so be it, just the cost of living here I guess
I don't really see the point of trying to establish a hierarchy of police, ambulance, fire because each may be as serious as the other e.g. police rushing to a shooting, domestic violence etc..
The above translated to English using my browser's in-built translator:
Question
Anyone who drives over the intersection in red is usually liable to prosecution. But are there also situations in which this signal may or perhaps even have to be disregarded?
Answer from Marco Cortesi, media spokesman for the Zurich City Police
According to the law, a red light may not be run over. Excluded are vehicles with blue light and siren in an emergency as well as drivers who clear the road for said emergency vehicles and therefore have to run over the red light. So if you are standing in front of a red light and notice that a vehicle with the horn and blue light on is approaching from behind, the Zurich City Police recommends the following: Carefully, as far as necessary, swerve forward and to the side or onto the pavement, if it is ensured that no one is endangered. It is very important that the necessary space is freed up for the rescue forces, because in an emergency, seconds can make the difference between life and death.
Even if the vehicle is "flashed", it can be assumed that no fines will be issued. If this happens anyway – which can happen if no emergency vehicle is recognizable in the pictures – we advise the fined person to contact the city police immediately. We then examine the facts of the case again in detail on the basis of the objection. This includes, for example, clarifying whether a blue light ride was registered at the time and location in question. Because if you have made room for an approaching emergency vehicle and no road users have been endangered, the fine will be cancelled."
Depending on the country... In some countries, it is illegal to cross the red light, regardless of wether you have an emergency vehicle behind your or not. YOU are not an emergency vehicle, so if there isn't enough space before the traffic light to move to the side and let them through, you are supposed to wait...
I believe that some countries allow you to cross a red light if it is safe to do so, in an emergency.
Moving a couple of metres to the side rather than driving across a flow of traffic, for example.
I learnt to drive in the U.K. A quick google shows I was correct:
The Police National Legal Database’s website, Ask the Police,states: ‘If you cross the stop line at the junction whilst the lights are on red, you will commit the offence of contravening a red traffic light.’
They elaborate: ‘If there is an emergency vehicle behind you with its emergency warning signals on it might be possible for you to manoeuvre out of the way to allow it through. Ideally this should be to the side of the road without encroaching into the main area of the junction. It should only be done when it is safe to do so without putting yourself or other members of the public in danger and it should only be done slowly and carefully.’
Well Ambulance is a definite medical emergency.. with police in Switzerland most probably a parking dispute and its not worth me getting a 250.- ticket
If there is a camera, no way I am moving when the red light is ON for anything apart from an Ambulance with lights on. I believe its a personal choice in this case
That's a complete tool in that Skoda. Even just going forward a meter or so would have given enough space for the fire truck to pass. He also should have seen the fire truck when he was at the layby (bus stop?) he passed just before the traffic lights.