How This Simple Driving Mistake Can Cost You $100 or More – Hint: Everyone Does It

Have you ever had something happen to you that made you so mad that you wanted to shout at the top of your lungs?

This is exactly how I felt when I received the envelope containing a red light ticket – a whopping $100 due almost immediately unless I wanted the fine to double to $200.

For those of you who don’t know what a red light camera is, you will soon as these automated traffic cops are springing up like weeds in cities across the country.

Basically, these are automated cameras that take photos and short videos of people committing traffic violations at intersections. Violators are then mailed a ticket and web link where they can view their infraction.

“But Alonzo, why are you complaining? Shouldn’t you pay up for running a red light? Weren’t you putting other motorist in harms way?”

You see that’s exactly why I was so angry. My ticket wasn’t for running a red light.

The offense for which I received a red light camera violation and a $100 ticket wasn’t for blazing through an intersection like a mad man. No, I received the expensive ticket for the much more benign offense of not coming to a complete stop before making a right on the light!

In fact, most red light tickets ARE NOT issued for running a red light!

Instead they’re issued to people like me who do not make a COMPLETE stop before turning on red. Coming to crawl doesn’t cut it either.  Worse yet you may even get slapped with a ticket if you do stop – but stop past the white line in the road!

Its no wonder that  consumer advocates are claiming these red light cameras are not so much about safety as they are about raising money for cash starved cities.

Consider this case in point.  Near where I live in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, one red light camera stationed at an intersection outside a popular shopping mall raked in $1 million in fines between November and January alone. That’s 1 million dollars in three months by just one red light camera – 10,000 tickets at one hundred bucks a piece.

But here’s the kicker.  Almost all the fines were for people who did not make a complete stop before making a right turn at the light.  Residents and motorists were so outraged that they threatened to boycott the shopping mall if the red light camera wasn’t removed. It was removed shortly thereafter.

Be warned. Losing $100 of hard earned money is not a good feeling. You’ll think of a thousand ways you could spend $100 as you write out the check. Believe me. I know.

So the next time you’re about to make a right turn at a red light.  Make a complete stop first before the white line. Otherwise you too may see a $100 ticket arriving in your mailbox.

So what do you think? Am I over-reacting or do you see red light cameras and other traffic traps as ways for cities to milk us dry. Leave a comment below.