Should I have gone?

[StickyFingers]

I'm asking about the prosecutor's specific statement that I shouldn't have gone forward and that I ran a red light. Like I said, I clearly made a mistake by going past the stopline. I thought that because I was obstructing the pedestrian lane, I would have to clear. Then when the vehicles in front turned out of the way, and the light was still yellow, I proceeded forward and turned when I thought it was safe.

Obviously, is was not safe = your fault!

Is the at-fault aspect really relevant?

Yep.

The prosecutor's statement is that even if there was no accident, I shouldn't have gone--like it wasn't even an option. Is that right? I'm curious is this true, or the prosecutor was taking advantage of the fact that I didn't know how to use "objection" during his cross-examination.

Um... Yes! This is actually the law. And you did have an option.

Now, I have answered your questions and still proved that you are an idiot. Not to mention, that you are so dense that you can't even grasp common sense.

So the advice is still the same.....Pay the dang fine and move on.

You will not win.

 

[JETX]

Ohio Revised Code for traffic lights:
http://onlinedocs.andersonpublishing.com/oh/lpExt.dll/PORC/1f7c8/20364/203d0/20403?fn=document-frame.htm&f=templates&2.0#

And for liability:

§ 4511.42. Right of way when turning left.
(A) The operator of a vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right of way to any vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley approaching from the opposite direction, whenever the approaching vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley is within the intersection or so close to the intersection, alley, private road, or driveway as to constitute an immediate hazard.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.

 

[nullify]

Thanks. I had seen those paragraphs before. I guess I'm too stupid to interpret them because I don't see where it clearly states I cannot enter on yellow. I always hear that if the light is yellow and you can safely stop, then you should. But then I can't find where it states that in law. I assume it's been determined that such an idea is implicitly stated by the rules?

 

[jjoshua]

If you entered the intersection correctly prior to the light turning red, then you're probably ok on that part.

You still have to yield to traffic that has the right of way. That's where you went wrong.

 

[nullify]

Thanks. Hopefully that's true in this area. I'm glad you distinguished the two aspects. I was just wondering about the running a red light part. The other issue is clearly... =(

 

[poppakeith]

Thanks. Hopefully that's true in this area. I'm glad you distinguished the two aspects. I was just wondering about the running a red light part. The other issue is clearly... =(

It being a practical impossibility for statutes to describe in detail the rights and prohibitions designated necessary for orderly proceedings, a multitude of scenarios are covered in general terms. One says you ought not enter an intersection you likely can't clear before others have right of way. The lights are designed to provide notice of what time period the right of way is yours, and when that time is about to end. If it turns out you have made a bad mistake, entering and merely taking a chance you may get out in time, authorities will pick out the nearest relevant statutory prohibition and fine the behavior accordingly. Sometime you can nit-pick your way out of penalty, sometimes not....and almost never when the violation of legal principle results in the violation of somebody else, property or person.

As a side note, relating to this issue of judgement, a program set up to train monkeys to drive cars was largely successful. They even stopped at red lights, continued on with green lights. The glitch in it all was impossibility of teaching a monkey to stop on green, when another errant monkey was still in the intersection, often having stopped there, on account of his light had turned red. A sense of needing to rush tends too often to over-ride one's required focus on safety.

 

[nullify]

Thank you for your explanation.