NYC Police Officer Tickets Me For Running Red Light
 

This morning I received a red light ticket on Riverside Drive heading back from a 9W ride. While riding I saw another cyclist in the opposite direction shout to me and a few other cyclists that were riding to watch out at the lights, they’re giving tickets. It was funny because when I started the ride to 9W this morning I saw two cyclists get pulled over right in front of me as they blew through the light. So I knew for a fact to stop at them, which I try to do anyhow. Anyway, I got popped on West 145 street and Riverside drive by an officer. Here is what happened in detail.

Approaching the light, I was fully stopped and unclipped from my pedals. I was patiently waiting for the light to change especially after what the other cyclist shouted in the opposite direction to watch out for the cops at the lights. So the light began to change from yellow and I clipped in. At this time, I began to sit down and slowly push forward as all the cars were stopped and underneath the signal my light was green. I get pulled over about a minute later and the officer tells me that I ran the light.

I argued that no I did not officer. I was stopped at the light and when it went from yellow to green I clipped into my pedals and slowly proceeded to go and it was green when I was underneath it. She says, “You know lights change from Red to Green right. I said I understand that, but on the other side of the traffic light it was yellow and that was when I clipped in to get ready to move on my bike. She says “Your story is far different from what you did”. She goes on to say that I was behind two cyclists that were behind you at the light, and YOU WERE STOPPED but then decided to go when the light was still red. I said offer, I did not run that red light because I know I didn’t I wouldn’t have waited all that time at the light just to blow through it. Anyway, she ended up giving me a ticket. I was going to plead not guilty and take her to court to share the details with the traffic court as to what happened. I also have a video above that I managed to pull footage from. Check it out, I wanted some thoughts… Pay the price or plead not guilty.

Sounds like you got a deserved ticket. Can’t stand red light runners, gives the rest of us a bad rep.

Where I live no light goes from yellow to green.

I'm unclear. In the middle part of the video you're saying you did it. Do you really want to post that online?

Only you know. Was the light green when you entered the intersection, or was it not?

If you got ticketed for forward motion without entering the intersection, then that sounds like a bad call by the policeperson.

Where I come from $25 is a lot of money and not something to ignore. $190 is like WTF.

Sorry you got popped, that sucks.

If I'm reading this correctly, the OP was watching the light for cross traffic, and started his motion when the light for cross traffic was yellow, or as I've always called it, "jumping the light."

Sounds to me like another victim of Tolerance Zero or Zero Whatsits or whatever the hell NYC is calling it's policy of punishing cyclists and pedestrians for getting run over in ever greater numbers.

That said, any video of the intersection crossing in question? Without that, it's your word against the traffic cop, and NYC strikes me as one of those places that pays the officers to go to court days.

Here in California, most jurisdictions don't give a crap about cyclists at all. I've jumped lights directly in front of a police car, they don't even take notice.

The extent of my police interaction has been a cop (who currently had a homeless guy off of his bike) pointing and giving me a thumbs up for wearing a helmet.

So, the cross traffic light turned yellow when you started... SAFELY?

I find that many judges, especially lower court judges have a very black and white view of the world. No extenuating circumstances.

Nonetheless, one might argue that many cities have started a Pedestrians First for the crosswalks, and that bicycle safety depends on vigilance and visibility.

Was there turning traffic crossing your path?

Any other reason necessitating jumping the light, or were you just impatient?

Seems like the answer to encouraging cycling, and to improve cycling safely, is to crack down on cyclists doing things that don't impact or hurt anyone except make for less traffic and improve air quality. Brilliant.

If I were you, I'd pay the money and be happy you weren't shot and arrested (in that order).

I would go to court and plead not guilty. In my limited experience with tickets it’s always worked in my favor to do so. Spengler reread his post lol.

I know what you are saying. I pull forward when I see the light in the other direction change to discourage people from making a right on me. You'll get your day in court, and it may be reduced, but it will depend on the judge. Goodluuck.

This language sounds a little weird. The light "began to change"? Judge Judy would smack you down for talking like that.

In my very humble opinion you deserved it....You still had a red light and left if I understand it right, that is still a violation of the law.

You ran a red light. Next time don’t be so impatient, wait until you get a green.

Ditto most of what DrIsotope says. Also would be important to know if there is a delay between the time the cross-traffic light turns read, and you get a green light. In a lot of places I ride in Southern California its usually a 2 second delay. In that case you're REALLY in the wrong. And I'm pretty sure there's no entitlement for 'clipping in' in NYC or my home area; you want to wear that shoe/pedal combo for city riding, you still have to wait for the green light before rolling forward and clicking in. Pay the fine and consider it a lesson learned.

If you had not crossed the painted line indicating where the intersection starts, then you have not 'run' the red light. I mean no one gets a ticket for rolling slowly up to the line when it's already red.

Problem is that you can't prove it. However, if the cop didn't have a camera rolling either, then it's your word against hers with zero corroboration and she might just screw up under questioning (ie she's already admitting that you'd been completely stopped - so that lends credence to your story).

I'd fight it. Chances are they won't even turn up to challenge you.

Don't run red lights when cops are around....if you decide to run a red, look around and make sure that there are no cops around.

You just reminded me! I have a ticket I’ve got to pay this week for not stopping long enough at a stop sign. $190 for me too :troll:

I think what is more troublesome in this thread are the INSANE prices these tickets cost! DANG!!!

I watched your video on You Tube fullscreen and couldn't believe you let your address be fully visible.

You need to be absolutely sure that the light in front of you is green. Also, it sometimes pays to wait a second or two after the light in front of you is green before you start off. That's in case someone is running the cross traffic red light. I had that happen to me not that long ago and the only thing that saved me from being T-boned by a speeding car (I was on my bicycle) was me not taking off immediately after the light facing me turned green.

Cheers

Around where I am the cops are more often than not very lenient or forgiving. You can go through red lights on T intersections if you on the path crossing the T and no pedestrians are on your side of the crosswalk. You can go through certain red lights if it right and left side traffic cars are stopped for red on their side and the green left-turn lane for opposing traffic has no cars using it.

Then, of course, there is Mandeville Canyon and some other long descents around here. If you racing down the long descent everyone blows the stop signs and lights. No cops around and although obviously illegal you have a clear safe path or choices even if cars are around. (Summary: illegal but not dangerous.)

Is that code for failure to come to a complete stop? :)

go to court and hope the officer is a no-show, and if she shows up then ask the judge for a fine reduction
goddam i hate cops who have **** to do but ticket cyclists

Can a person clip in while track standing?

You can request video from the police officer, although it may cost you.

While technically one is supposed to stop before a crosswalk, I feel it is safer to move forward through the crosswalk if there are no pedestrians around. Get to a location where one is VISIBLE.

If @illjustride hadn't entered the cross road before green, then it would be valid to argue that he wasn't running a red light.

Bingo! :thumb: This is my procedure even in the car and a last look left and right as well.

This person (me) can, and does very, very frequently. You can't? (Then again, I've read recent posts on this board that indicate a lot of riders can't stand up and pedal without falling over, soooo...)

Same here. I've been on the receiving end of a t-bone in my car from a courier (in a light pick-up) trying to make the light and not making it. I was first in line to go on green. Late hit. Now I look both ways, and again, then ease on out.