3. Going through a red light
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arcadian13

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Going through a red light
« on: April 05, 2025, 06:47:30 pm »
Hi all,
I recently received a Notice of Intended Prosecution from the Metropolitan Police for allegedly failing to comply with a red light signal. I'm looking for advice on my options.
Here are the details:

Date of offense: March 23, 2025 at 11:15 hrs
Location: A24 Tooting High St junction with Garratt Lane, northbound, SW17 (code 5042)
Vehicle: Volvo (my car)
Offense: Failing to comply with red light signals - automatic equipment
Time into red: 1.4 seconds
Legal basis: Section 36(1) of Road Traffic Act 1988, Traffic Signs Regulations 2016

The notice is dated April 1, 2025, and I need to provide driver information within 28 days. The images clearly show my vehicle passing through the junction after the light had turned red.
To be honest, I don't specifically recall this incident, but looking at the evidence, I can see I was 1.4 seconds into the red light. The notice mentions an educational course might be available until June 20, 2025, instead of getting points and a fine.
I'm inclined to admit liability and hope I'm offered the course, but wanted to check with experts here if there's anything else I should consider before responding? Is there any defence for such a short time into red, or should I just accept responsibility?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you!
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andy_foster

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Re: Going through a red light
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2025, 07:19:09 pm »
There's nothing wrong with grasping at straws to see if there is some defence. However, nothing that you have told us suggests the slightest glimmer of the possibility of a defence.

Before the lights turned red, they would have been amber for 3 seconds (+/- 0.25 seconds). It is an offence to go through an amber light, unless it is not safe (or practicable) to stop - although this is rarely prosecuted. Red light cameras are typically set to activate (IIRC) 1 second after the lights go red. So that's 3 seconds of probably illegal to cross the lights but unlikely to be prosecuted, 1 second of definitely illegal to cross the lights, but also unlikely to be caught, and then 0.4 seconds after all that, you were caught.

So no, arguing that you only broke the law by a little bit isn't going to cut it as a defence.

The disposal options are based on the deemed seriousness of the offence - which is based on the simple metric of time into red, so if people mostly don't get caught until 1 second into red, 1.4 seconds would seem to be at the lower end, and more likely to be offered a course.
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arcadian13

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Re: Going through a red light
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2025, 08:31:05 pm »
Thanks for the amazingly detailed reply, and on a Saturday night too! I thought a defence was probably unlikely, and you have confirmed it. I will bite the bullet...
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  3. Going through a red light