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Comment by asmithmd1 | Hacker News Reader

"red-light violators busted by the cameras have to pay a $446 citation"

Holy Sh!7 that is big fine for sneaking through a red light.

Here in Boston you have to be careful not to get rear ended when you are the first in line to stop at a red light. And don't even think of stopping on yellow -- that earned me a horn blast and finger as they zoomed around me when I first moved here.

It is not just my imagination -- as part of finishing the big dig a temporary light was mis-timed to give a green left turn arrow to one direction while at the same time the opposite direction had green ball. This went un-noticed for 3 months, everyone just assumed the other people were going through on red.

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> green ball

This is the first time I've heard this term; is it common to the Northeast, or where you're from, or what?

I might have heard it before -- I was trying to distinguish from any kind of green arrow.

It's the technical name for a solid indication. I've never heard it used in common parlance but that's how it's referred to in e.g. the USDOT Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

I am one of those victims. Not only paid $550 and another 8hrs of my life trying to deal with it in the court unsuccessfully. All for not coming to a complete stop before taking the right turn. Live and learn :)

Game theory at its best. Red light cameras are a lose-lose scenario, if you're in the wrong and fight it, you lose money and time, if you're in the right and fight it, you lose time, if you just don't fight it, you just lose money. There's no way to be involved with red light cameras and not be penalized.

In what way are you a victim? You ran a red light. Have you any clue what kind of accident that creates. I'm sure you were a tenth of a second late, so didn't endanger anyone, right?

Well, I have been first-hand crossing an intersection with someone ignoring the red light. It's not fun :-(

You're not alone. I thought this claim to be a victim was ridiculous, too. After all, "stopping at a red light" is standard driver's manual material, along with notes on being cautious about taking a right there, considering in this situation, you are the last to have the right of way.

I have noticed that Internet threads about driving are generally useless, full of ignorance and pride. Folks think they know how to drive, and they do not want to be told they are wrong.

I never figured a camera can tell if you stop on red when turning right? That seems like it would require advanced AI. Is that really what happened to you?

   And don't even think of stopping on yellow -- that earned 
   me a horn blast and finger as they zoomed around me when I 
   first moved here.

I avoid responding favorably to threats. If they want to break the law, that is between the cops and them. Also, I try to avoid braking suddenly. If I am stopping at a soon-to-be red light, my tailgaters are aware of it.

Change starts with one person.

I don't think he meant it as a threat -- he was genuinely annoyed at my blatant disregard for local customs.

And don't think the cops will make any effort to correct this. Just yesterday I sat looking at a green light and watched a cop ignore two people go through a full red light. I guess he knows there is no way the charge would be upheld. A green light is purely just advisory in Boston, be sure to look both ways also.

The interesting thing about this anecdote is that the cops, according to their own accounts, actually have the power to choose their battles. If it is a slow day, and they have to meet some kind of quota, they are much more likely to catch those infractions. I have seen examples like yours, and I have also seen cops suddenly pop through the intersection towards red light runners.

Basically, whatever culture has developed, the action is still against the law -- not to mention reckless! -- and the cops can choose to enforce it.

I have seen cops going 10 MPH over speed limit on city streets without their lights on, but that does not mean I can do the same.

Now I may not like every law out there, but I can definitely see (and have personally experienced!) where there is danger in people not stopping at red lights or making sudden maneuvers in order to rush a yellow. I think this is a law I can support, and this lax culture that creates a higher incidence of "accidents" is not something I can support, partially because I personally do not want to be someone else's "accident".

Really, I am responding because your words suggest you are joining and assisting in this insanity, and I just wanted to let you know that not everyone approves of it. Things can change. You just have to want to change them.

Having out of state plates seems to help. My rental car has NY plates, that seems to reduce expectations that I'll run a yellow anywhere in Boston.

Which basically means, I only experience honked annoyance about 2-3 times a week on average.

The blatant disregard for posted speed limits in my corner of MA? Even with police cars parked on the side of the road? Yeah, that I just don't get.

I have taken to just smiling and waving when that happens * . It may not help, but it sure makes me feel better.

* -it happens about once a month, even though I only drive about 2 hours a week

Anywhere in the US, if you have MA plates other drivers will give you a wide berth!

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