Missouri Supreme Court Rules on Red Light Cameras

[RobBrady]

According to thenewspaper.com, the supreme court of Missouri has declared "the red light camera administrative hearing process in the city of Springfield to be void".

The court stated red light violations should not be treated in the same way as a parking ticket, meaning that no city in Missouri has the authority to issue civil violations that do not carry points and are therefore not within the sanction of state law.

Missouri's ruling comes on the back of an appeal by an ex police officer against a $100 red light violation ticket. He contended that the amber light was too quick.

The judge said, "This is a $100 case. But sometimes, it's not the money – it's the principle."

Other states are split on the issue. Minnesota's high court declared red light cameras illegal in 2007, whilst Ohio and Iowa have found them to be legal.
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Robert Brady

[hamsden]

Having spent some time in the states its a wonder anything gets done. There are numerous differences in the law between states and even cities. One has only to look at the health program debate which is being held up by ONE SENATOR. Grandstanding.

Yes you have to be very careful at junctions because even the change over time varies from city to city!

[IMB]

This country is much the same. The speed which lights go from green to amber then to red seem to vary quite a bit here too. Its a bit silly as the highway code says amber and red both mean stop, although amber has 'if it is safe to do so'. By this I take it that Red means stop, even if it isn't safe to to so. This then means that an automated system has priority over a human being in the sense that even if I will be killed I will obay the red light and stop .

[GerryC]

IMB, I'm not sure how seriously to take your post due to the at the end but here goes...

Unlike the States, we do have a single set of rules that govern the entire country (OK it's about the size of a smallish state but that's beside the point - we don't have Europe-wide rules that may or may not contradict the local ones). There are guidelines regarding how long the amber should be shown for - mainly larger junctions - but the rule is the same.

As for red or amber lights, point 175 of the Highway Code says

[hamsden]

But in other places various settings are being applied to the time the yellow stays on!

In some cases it is impossible to cross the junction in the time on yellow assuming you hit the white line at the time of change. Thereby breaking the law. Your loss and more bucks into the pot thank you very much and oh! by the way let me mark your card.

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