Free Traffic Legal Advice

It says we were 3.6 seconds into red if that matters?

Yes it does matter.

Unlike speeding, the police do not publish the criteria they use to offer courses and fixed penalties for red light offences.

However, from anecdotal evidence, I would say that it is extremely unlikely that a course will be offered and quite unlikely that a fixed penalty will be offered for that length of “time into red”. If neither is offered, prosecution in court will be the result.

Do you know whether the light is still damaged? I assume you do not have any photographs showing the damage. You could try contacting the local authority concerned to see what information they have about it.

I note you refer to “we” throughout. You should realise that there is no “we” involved here. The only person to face enforcement action (whatever that might be) is the driver.

Unfortunately your link is not to GSV direct and it prompts me to update my browser (which I’m not going to do). Please attach a genuine GSV link.

This is all sounding quite serious so I need to get prepared.

Depends on what you're planning to do.  A guilty plea won't be much of a drama but a full blown trial something quite different...

Looking at the location: Here - there are 3 lanes going ahead and only 1 physically segregated right turn (with its own pair of lights).

If I'm reading it correctly, it was the shared pole for the straight ahead and right turn that was twisted, thus the right turn light was facing into the 3rd lane?

The fact that the polices own photo shows the traffic light is pointing the wrong way must help doesn't it? Add to that one 6 inches to it's side (and pointing at me) was showing green compounds the error.

Can we see that photo?

So as I understand it, you’re saying that the pole on the island (between the three lane section and the single “right turn” lane) was rotated so that the light that was supposed to have been turned towards the right turn lane (and so only visible from it) was facing the oncoming traffic in the three lane section? Meanwhile, the light controlling the three lane section (with the “No Right Turn” sign below it) was skewed away from that section and was invisible from it?

If you were in the outermost of the three lanes I can see the confusion there might be. However, if you were in the nearside or middle, I would think a court might consider that the light on the nearside (by “Paddy Power”) and that on the large overhead support would be sufficient.

I must say it seems a very strange arrangement to have the two sets of lights on a single pole like that. I would think it would be preferable to have two distinct poles. However, it is what it is.

It’s very hard to say how a court might view this. You have been helped very much by the police photograph not showing the errant set of lights. I would get down there pronto to see if the fault still exists and take a few photos if it does.

So as I understand it, you’re saying that the pole on the island (between the three lane section and the single “right turn” lane) was rotated so that the light that was supposed to have been turned towards the right turn lane (and so only visible from it) was facing the oncoming traffic in the three lane section? Meanwhile, the light controlling the three lane section (with the “No Right Turn” sign below it) was skewed away from that section and was invisible from it?

Yes

If you were in the outermost of the three lanes I can see the confusion there might be. However, if you were in the nearside or middle, I would think a court might consider that the light on the nearside (by “Paddy Power”) and that on the large overhead support would be sufficient.

Yes we were in the outside lane in the grey Mini pictured.

It’s very hard to say how a court might view this. You have been helped very much by the police photograph not showing the errant set of lights. I would get down there pronto to see if the fault still exists and take a few photos if it does.

The Police photograph does show the lights for straight ahead are facing the wrong way

Ah, I see... The mini?

The only downside I can see is the green you saw had a right turn only sign underneath.  (And that the lights on the left and centre were red)

Yes, we are the grey Mini. Is the picture showing up?

True but this is a very busy road with a 40 mph limit so a lot to take in. I just saw a big green light!
My partner thought they saw the left hand red light but it was just as we went through so we weren't sure what had happened and why we remember this moment.

Wish we had a dash cam as it would paint a thousand words as to our view.