RLJ (Red Light Jumping). (The definitive bikeradar thread)

Ok, I got caught running a red on the Mile End Rd this morning, dumb move as a police car was right behind me, I was at fault no question.

Exactly what grounds would you have for disputing the ticket then? "it's not fair" doesn't count.

Looks like you're gonna have to pay it.

I don't know.
I got a fine last year for turning left onto Upper Street at the top of Pentonville Road.
Wrote a letter appealing it by saying that I had diarrhoea and was in a hurry home. That it was in no way dangerous; no one was about and that the cop was quite unsympathetic when I'd explained the situation to him.

None of which was strictly true, but I've not heard anything since sending the appeal off 8 months ago

Though of course, having posted this message, I'll probably get a court summons on Monday.

Or move to Brazil. They don't have an extradition treaty with the UK.

Tell that to Ronnie Biggs...
Update your files.

Excuses could include:

1) It wasn't me, someone must have been using my name as an alias
2) It was clearly an amber light
3) I was trying to safely get across to the other side of the road whilst the cars were halted (true)
4) No brakes
5) An injured swan was nearby

I don't know.
I got a fine last year for turning left onto Upper Street at the top of Pentonville Road.
Wrote a letter appealing it by saying that I had diarrhoea and was in a hurry home. That it was in no way dangerous; no one was about and that the cop was quite unsympathetic when I'd explained the situation to him.

None of which was strictly true, but I've not heard anything since sending the appeal off 8 months ago

Though of course, having posted this message, I'll probably get a court summons on Monday.

They used to send out little groups of rookey Cops on some sort of traffic mission/duties - I got 'ticket' from one years ago for going up a one way street somewhere off the Strand- but I reckon the ticket pads are pretend ones ..... never heard anything more about it.

Tell that to Ronnie Biggs...
Update your files.

Brazil does not have an extradition treaty with the UK. Ronnie Biggs came back voluntarily.

If I turn out to be a bigger pedant than you, do I win your avatar?

Oh god, what have I done.

Excuses could include:

1) It wasn't me, someone must have been using my name as an alias
2) It was clearly an amber light
3) I was trying to safely get across to the other side of the road whilst the cars were halted (true)
4) No brakes
5) An injured swan was nearby

Tried that, didn't work.

Phew, thank fuck.

Excuses could include:

1) It wasn't me, someone must have been using my name as an alias
2) It was clearly an amber light
3) I was trying to safely get across to the other side of the road whilst the cars were halted (true)
4) No brakes
5) An injured swan was nearby

You forgot "my (insert Mammal here) is having a baby, a beautiful baby (insert mammal here)"

They used to send out little groups of rookey Cops on some sort of traffic mission/duties - I got 'ticket' from one years ago for going up a one way street somewhere off the Strand- but I reckon the ticket pads are pretend ones ..... never heard anything more about it.

Yeah I got done by a rookie on new years eve on the way to a party, it was 7ish, had just got fully dark and me and a mate got done for not having lights on our bikes, not the best start to the evening but we did have a laugh at the cheek of the cunt.

pay it you gave your details, i've been running reds for 10 years as a courier in london and got fined twice in 8 years and let off i think 4 times in the last year with my sob (true) story of getting run over by a community police van which kept me off work for 11 months but now it's less bother stopping at lights, relax...
oh just to add some bastard copper lurking around bishopsgate on a mission had a go at me for not having lights on my bike last week even though they they were on my courier bag plainly visible.

billa the lights on your bag don't count as legal in the eyes of the law, the need to be on your biike i think.

I also keep getting caught on lights and always say i don't have an id ( story of the only ID i'd have is a passport and it's too valuable to carry around etc) and then give fictional name but an existing address, they check it against records so it has to be a real place.

Recently a motorbike policeman stopped me and after giving me a ticket he told me to look out better for police next time i jump red lights. WTF

Pay it, I got one and left it, they just mailed me and increased the charge (up to £45).

On a sideline since that I've stopped running reds, and started noticing the number of idjits running reds, then cycling slowly along the straights and blocking the people who are in a hurry (but didn't run the red), I don't think it'd be people on this forum as they're mostly MTB or Town & Trail but seriously why take the risk if you're not in a rush?! Rant over, I have excorcised the demons.

pay fine

It is legal to go through a red light if, and only if, it would have been dangerous to stop at it.
Unless you can argue that, then you're bang to rights.

Why don't you just not go through red lights? Radical i know but i kind of agree with the copper,we don't do ourselves/cyclists any favours by doing this.

Sometimes its just too tempting to RLJ tho, like making a left with no traffic, or where there are clearly no cars approaching. I dont think many of us are about to cross the A4 against the lights, but there are many places a RLJ is not too much of a foul.

It is legal to go through a red light if, and only if, it would have been dangerous to stop at it.
Unless you can argue that, then you're bang to rights.

what about the amber light beforehand, you're supposed to stop at those (unless in london it seems)... no chance.

you see the amber you're supposed to stop so finding an excuse for why you went through on red will get you fined some more I would guess

help fund the police so they can get more officers out there on the streets watching for red light jumpers and bike theives !

oh wait a minute they don't bother looking for bike thieves do they !

i jumped the red on clerkenwell rd last night in fornt of a cop down a one way street the wrong way, guess they could be arsed to chase me, and besides i disappered pretty quick down the back streets. but i did only notice them last minute...

This morning as I slowly approached the lights at the end of Queen Victoria St (before the left turn on to the bridge), the lights were red but the traffic from New Bridge St wasn't moving and a cyclist I had been racing had just shot past and through the lights, so I sped up and followed him. Just around the corner to the left on the green cycle lane there was a cycle rozzer (not mounted) who flagged down the cyclist ahead of me. I was too late to pretend I was waiting at the lights but stared dead ahead and ran through anyway to no detriment as the first guy was already riding over to be accosted. But watch out anyone who crosses the bridge in the morning.

bump