Yes – Section 1 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, requires that in order for you to be prosecuted for failing to stop at a red traffic light or to comply with a sign, you must be given warning that you may be prosecuted within 14 days of the alleged offence.

This warning may be given to you either by a police officer warning you at the scene or alternatively, in writing such that you receive the notice within 14 days.

If you find yourself with a Fixed Penalty Notice or Summonsed to the Magistrates’ Court for an offence of failing to comply with a red traffic signal or sign, please contact us for advice and a no obligation consultation on how we can help.

If a traffic light is showing red then you MUST stop at the white stop line or in line with the traffic signal.

If the amber light is illuminated then you MUST stop unless your vehicle has already passed the white stop line or you are so close that it would be unsafe to bring your vehicle to a stop.

If you find yourself with a Fixed Penalty Notice or Summonsed to the Magistrates’ Court for an offence of failing to comply with a red traffic signal or sign, please contact us for advice and a no obligation consultation on how we can help.

The offence of failing to comply with a red traffic light is committed if any part of your vehicle crosses the white line.

This means that you may be prosecuted even if most of your vehicle remains behind the line.

In such cases however, it may be possible to make application to the court not to endorse penalty points on your driving licence on the grounds of “special reasons”.

If you find yourself with a Fixed Penalty Notice or Summonsed to the Magistrates’ Court for an offence of failing to comply with a red traffic signal or sign, please contact us for advice and a no obligation consultation on how we can help you.

In these circumstances you could factually dispute the offence at trial on the basis that you did not pass through the light when it was on red, such that you did not commit the offence. It is however, also an offence to pass through an amber light if it is safe to stop. The fact that you have passed through an amber light will not therefore always be a defence.

If you find yourself with a Fixed Penalty Notice or Summonsed to the Magistrates’ Court for an offence of failing to comply with a red traffic signal or sign, please contact us for advice and a no obligation consultation on how we can help you.

The offence of failing to comply with a red traffic light (and other signs) is a “strict liability offence” meaning that it is committed even if you did not intend to do so. In these circumstances, if the police or prosecution could not be persuaded to “drop” any prosecution the appropriate plea would be one of Guilty.

Whilst you have pleaded Guilty and the court would usually be required to impose a fine (to a maximum of £1000) and 3 penalty points, the court may be asked not to impose any points (and likely not to give any fine) on the grounds of “special reasons”.

If you find yourself with a Fixed Penalty Notice or Summonsed to the Magistrates’ Court for an offence of failing to comply with a red traffic signal or sign, please contact us for advice and a no obligation consultation on how we can help you.

Yes – Section 95A of the Highways Act 1980 gives authority for Highways Authorities to install traffic signal cameras to detect traffic offences.

At present there are 4 red traffic light cameras in operation in the UK. These include:

• Gatsometer (BV Type 36)
• Traffiphot IIIG
• Redguard
• Redspeed

If you find yourself with a Fixed Penalty Notice or Summonsed to the Magistrates’ Court for an offence of failing to comply with a red traffic signal or sign, please contact us for advice and a no obligation consultation on how we can help you.