Traffic Light Cameras - What is the Law?

I recently made the mistake of driving while tired / distracted, and having stopped at front of queue for red traffic light, saw the pedestrian crossing light change to green man and moved off... at a junction with a camera. Does anyone know the law with these...

(1) is there supposed to be a warning sign on the approach to these cameras, as there usually is with speed cameras? (I'm sure there used to be a sign just before this camera, but there isn't now)

(2) am I supposed to receive a penalty notice within two weeks of the offence

(3) the camera is fairly new, with two circular lenses... do these get you from the front, behind or both? It would have to have got me from behind, as I was driving away from it

(4) this junction appears unusual in that there are two traffic lights 'at' the stop line, with no light diagonally opposite (which may be why I was looking over there and saw the pedestrian light change)... is this arrangement satisfactory or wrong?



Thanks for any answersTraffic Light Cameras - What is the Law?
you said it all "driving while tired / distracted,"

thats illegal and dangerous and highlighted on tv ads a-plenty

you did wrong, accept it and change your driving not try to pretend it was the cameras fault

dotn and You will be the person running over a child in the news
i have just done search on web came up with this hope it helps



NIP - Notice Of Intended Prosecution.

This is that all important bit that people keep asking me about. It pertains to the 14 day rule that surrounds service of an NIP. As with all traffic offences in the UK, an NIP is required for prosecution to proceed. If you're stopped at the scene however (for example, by a radar-gun-toting traffic policeman), then a verbal NIP is sufficient. Otherwise it must be in writing. So theoretically, if you've not heard anything after 3 weeks, you got away with it. Not, of course, that the police don't get the calculations wrong from time to time - there's no better way to knock the smile off a prosecutors face than to ask if they can prove service of an NIP.

In order to remove some of the mystery from this area - or cast it into a murky grey area depending on your view of things, here are the relevant excerpts from Butterworth's Police Law (Butterworth's Law; ISBN 0406981469). Thanks to Simon Hepworth for help with this information.

Stuff not of interest to the subject of speeding have been omitted, stuff with particular relevance to NIPs and speeding has been underlined. You'll need a stiff cup of coffee and a shedload of concentration to proceed, so go ahead and make a 6-scoop cuppa and then come on back and read on:



http://www.speed-trap.co.uk/Accused_Home鈥?/a>Traffic Light Cameras - What is the Law?
if it as been more than two weeks since this happened dont worryy you have not got a ticket. the warning signs for this camera could three miles back up the road but normally there is one at almost every junction where ppl can enter the road and travel in the direction of the camera. the camera you describe is more like a speed camera from the description and finally the arrangement as you call it will be satisfactory as you put it or there would have been other complaints from the public check your local press to see if anyone as complained already
1. No warning sign needed as such - these rules apply to safety camera (speed cameras). There is usually signs in most areas.

2. Yes within 14days of the offence, HOWEVER, if it was NOT your vehicle (registered in your name) then this does not apply...some one would have to NOMINATE you as being the driver. One they have then you must receive the notice within 14days of that person nominating you.

3. Usually they are facing out of the lights, so yes would capture the vehicle from behind

4. Can't really understand what you mean here but it doesn't sound unusual. There are strict rules about these cameras and it is unlikely that there is anything wrong with the notice that has been issued to you.Traffic Light Cameras - What is the Law?
1] There is no requirement for a sign on the approach to the camera - different regulations apply from speed cameras.



2] A fixed penalty notice has to be posted to the registered keeper within 14 days - note, it doesn't say received - of the offence. There's still an option to take you to court by summons, though I'd doubt it would be applied.



3] The camera would be pointed into the junction to photograph you committing the offence, it would produce a picture normally from behind, showing the car, number plate and position in the junction.



4] There's no requirement for a light diagonally opposite, the "statutory" lights are at the stop line itself.



Hope that helps
a few point to address here,



1) warning signs

There is no legal requirement to display a warning signal.

This is set up for GATSO/ Speed camera's ONLY as the offence has certain charactaristics which do not apply to this one.



2)notice withing 2 weeks. You refer to the Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) has to be served within 14 days if they intend to prosecute you for that offence.

IF it isnt the prosecution has to prove to the court they took reasonable steps to provide this.



3)it takes pictures both ways!



4)the junctions have to be assessed by traffic management unit in both police and local council, so regardless whether you think its adaft set up, some bright spark somewheer |(rightly or wrongly ) has certified its ok. thats stands up in court.
there is no warnings for these cameras, you usually see them at the top of the traffic lights and they are used for people going through a red or amber light, they will send you out a speeding ticket for this offence.
Regarding the two lens camera. One lens checks your speed and the other one photographs your number plate.