I'm guessing the indignation in the OP's tone comes from the fact that the cop was a ******bag about the whole thing, when he could've just been like "red light. that's a ticket." We've all been stuck with overpriced tickets for blowing red lights, and no, it ain't fun to have to pay them. But if we get caught, it's the price we pay. I guess I get a ticket for every 2000 lights I run...who knows? Hell, at that rate, it'd probably be once a month..... All's I know is that if you're going to run from the cops, you better make sure you're going to get away! One time, I tried to outrun them, and I ended up with 4 tickets instead of 1, or perhaps even none, and a stern warning (as the cop indicated was all he wanted to do, before he had to chase me down). (Happy ending to that story: cop never showed up to trial & I never had to pay the tickets ).

Anyway, I'm not gonna jump down your throat, tombo. Bike tickets are outrageous. But it's just a fact of life. Until we change it......