Does crossing the 'white line' count as 'going through a red traffic light'?

Question

Driving on a dual carriage way on my motorbike I come to a set of lights on red, left hand lane has cars backed up, right hand lane empty, take right hand lane, realise it is a 'turn right only' lane so when get to front of the queue so as not to block the right hand lane (and as there is a space left between the white line and first car) pull across into the right hand lane in front of the first car and stop. As pulling up see a flash in my mirror, followed by loads more flashes, notice my front wheel has gone over the white line, turn round to see a camera flashing away, roll bike back a bit and flashing stops.

Will I get a fine for going through a red light - I hope not as though I crossed the white line I always intended to and did stop at the lights - surely the whole vehicle has to pass over the white line - does anybody know?

Thanks

Answer 1

It isn't as if you're causing a danger by going over the white line a bit. Would be crazy if you do have points and a fine, but it wouldn't surprise me if you do with all the money they make from motorists.  

Answer 2

I would be suprised if you get done for that.  I think you should be fine.

Answer 3

Obviously multiple photos taken shows that you weren't actually running the light.  The answer to your question is TOTALLY dependent on your municipality.  Some ticket encroachment of the pedestrian crosswalk, would not.

Answer 4

Sounds like you have been caught red handed by a traffic signal camera! You also freely admit to contravening a lane marker by jumping the que of traffic. What you should have done is turned right then make a u-turn when possible, it would have saved you 3 points and a £60 fine.

By crossing the line, you have theoretically entered the junction. Its an absolute offence with no defence in law. Anything you can say will be seen as an insufficient excuse and dismissed in court. My advise is to wait for the letter from the police. It is called a NIP, notice of intended prosecution. They have 14 days to send it to you. Your only chance of getting away with it is if there are obvious clerical errors.

However, because you state that only the front wheel was past the line, you should get away with it. Multiple photos will show your intention and whether or not you was stationary. If you were stationary, then you should be ok.

Answer 5

Although you may have activated the GATSO, you won't be prosecuted. It takes a minimum of two pictures, one to show you crossed the line, the others to show you continued across the junction.

As you didn't continue, no offence has been committed.

Answer 6

Yes it does green means proceed if safe to do so Amber means stop if safe. Red means stop and if someone hits you from the back tough

Red/amber means the lights are about to turn to green.

I rather hope someone uses a bit of common sense here and sends you a letter of warning/advice at worst. The photos of your rear nember plate should show your intentions and the fact that you were not moving forward  

Answer 7

Contrary to previous answers amber means 'stop'. Red means no traffic may proceed over the solid white line. This rule is a great and easy way to catch the police out, as if their wheel is over the line, they have committed a traffic offence and you may stop them.

Answer 8

Absolutely no chance , sounds like a faulty camera to me . , dispute it and take it to court , highly unlikely they will ever take it to court but if they do a judge will see that you never broke a law if your front wheel was only thing over the line in both pics

Judges tend to be a lot more logical than council]s

Answer 9

Simple answer

Answer 10

I thought one was meant to stop only if it is safe to do so?

Answer 11

Yes it does. "Stop if it is safe to do so" is amber.  Red is "stop". But unless your bike has a number plate on the front, how could they snap it?

Answer 12

This is a bit of a tricky one - I recently went to court for a similar thing.

If it was only your front wheel over the white line you should be ok, however, our Government do like to get fine happy, so you will probably get a letter in the post.

The best thing to do is to contest it. If the camera took multiple photos, it will show that you did not 'skip' the red light.

The law states that all wheels have to pass over the designated stop LINE to count as an offense.

It is not illegal going over on amber.

Good luck with that one