Destroyed my clean record. Got a question!

[Corsara]

Every morning I drive down a road (with the car), and there is a traffic light for a left turn at one point that sometimes gets quite backed up. When I'm late, I make a left turn into one of the residential streets ahead of the traffic light, then I make a right turn and in this way I bypass the traffic light.

This is what I did today too, only that there was a cop waiting for me in that residential street. I thought he stopped me just to check my documents, but little did I know. Turns out that this left turn is prohibited from 7am to 9am. That was news to me, I've been doing that for years, I honestly didn't know that the turn is not allowed!

So, I got an $80 fine for "make prohibited left turn, City of Hamilton by-law 01-215.14".

Here is the problem:

I'll be buying my first super sport (GSXR750) in the summer, and I am afraid that this ticket will influence the insurance rates, which are high enough to begin with.

That said, is it worth pleading not-guilty and hope I get a trial date AFTER I get my new bike? Obviously I'm guilty because I did make the turn, so it's about strategy rather than avoiding the small fine. How about "Plea of Guilty with Submissions", or that would be just the same as "Guilty" for the insurance purposes?

[daisoman]

Always fight any ticket. Also don't take guilty with a lesser fine and the insurance company still considers that guilty.

Worst case your found guilty. Pray he doesn't show and your. Regardless extend it until you get your quote for your 750

[Corsara]

Always fight any ticket. Also don't take guilty with a lesser fine and the insurance company still considers that guilty.

Worst case your found guilty. Pray he doesn't show and your. Regardless extend it until you get your quote for your 750

Thanks! Just to confirm: if I want to fight the ticket, can it possibly become any worse?

[Baggsy]

Go back and check the signage.
If you haven't noticed it in years then there may be an obstruction in front of the sign.
Take pictures, if it's obstructed.

Sometimes these blitzes are due to complaints.
People get written up and the complainant is happy.
Officer gets busy and can't make it to court.
Offender gets off the hook, is happy, and never makes the same mistake.
Win-win-win.

[Corsara]

Go back and check the signage.
If you haven't noticed it in years then there may be an obstruction in front of the sign.
Take pictures, if it's obstructed.

Sometimes these blitzes are due to complaints.
People get written up and the complainant is happy.
Officer gets busy and can't make it to court.
Offender gets off the hook, is happy, and never makes the same mistake.
Win-win-win.

I can't wait work to finish to go home and see where the sign is!

[eastcoast_gsx]

I can't wait work to finish to go home and see where the sign is!

Try google street view

[Corsara]

There is one on the left as well.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=queen+%...2,,0,5.35&z=16

PS: They are stopping that manouver due to folks using the neighborhood to bypass the busy morning intersection (like you were doing).

Damn, there is. I wonder if it is hidden by the trees like this at the moment. I'll definitely go take some pictures. The truth is that I really haven't seen it before, otherwise I wouldn't have turned in the first place!

That said, if I want to go to court but don't show up at the appointed trail date, does it get worse or just the same as if I pleaded guilty now?

Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk

[daisoman]

In my experience worst case you are found guilty and have to pay said fine. Nothing added maybe late fee but nothing worse for ur record.

[vkhamphi]

Every morning I drive down a road (with the car), and there is a traffic light for a left turn at one point that sometimes gets quite backed up. When I'm late, I make a left turn into one of the residential streets ahead of the traffic light, then I make a right turn and in this way I bypass the traffic light.

This is what I did today too, only that there was a cop waiting for me in that residential street. I thought he stopped me just to check my documents, but little did I know. Turns out that this left turn is prohibited from 7am to 9am. That was news to me, I've been doing that for years, I honestly didn't know that the turn is not allowed!

So, I got an $80 fine for "make prohibited left turn, City of Hamilton by-law 01-215.14".

Here is the problem:

I'll be buying my first super sport (GSXR750) in the summer, and I am afraid that this ticket will influence the insurance rates, which are high enough to begin with.

That said, is it worth pleading not-guilty and hope I get a trial date AFTER I get my new bike? Obviously I'm guilty because I did make the turn, so it's about strategy rather than avoiding the small fine. How about "Plea of Guilty with Submissions", or that would be just the same as "Guilty" for the insurance purposes?

It's a by-law offence not HTA, won't even appear on your driving record. Pay it or fight it, means nothing to driving record.

[ZX600]

It's a by-law offence not HTA, won't even appear on your driving record. Pay it or fight it, means nothing to driving record.

This is wrong

[vkhamphi]

This is wrong

Really? Please explain. OP just posted the by-law infraction.

[250R-ICE]

I would fight it and state that the sign is past the intersection and not in advance of the intersection. One could argue that you thought that the sign meant no left turns past the intersection.

If you want to get technical, research the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and look in the section regarding signage. There may be some guidelines about sign placement spacing, distance from travelled lane, advancements of intersections etc.

[eastcoast_gsx]

I would fight it and state that the sign is past the intersection and not in advance of the intersection. One could argue that you thought that the sign meant no left turns past the intersection.

If you want to get technical, research the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and look in the section regarding signage. There may be some guidelines about sign placement spacing, distance from travelled lane, advancements of intersections etc.

In most major intersections the signage is on the far side of the intersection (on the traffic light poles, etc...) so I don't think that will fly at all...

[iFly55]

by-law infractions "can" appear on your driving record

and this one "could" carry two demerit points

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/reg...s_940339_e.htm

Item #29: Prohibited Turns - 2 demerit points

Section 143 and subsection 144 (9) and any municipal by-law prohibiting turns

[vkhamphi]

by-law infractions "can" appear on your driving record

and this one "could" carry two demerit points

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/reg...s_940339_e.htm

It can but unless you have lots of demerit points I wouldn't worry. Insurance companies don't care about demerit points, just convictions. I got the same ticket in Toronto and the cop was nice and wrote it up as a by-law infraction instead of HTA but it was $3.75 plus some fee of $15.00 which made it $18.75.

[daisoman]

Call a different SF agent and find out

[DaveTheCanuck]

I drive down this road every day. Never once noticed those time restriction signs until now.

I assume you use Aberdeen to get to the 403? If so, another shortcut is to go through the intersection (the backup is usually only in the left turn lane) and make a left on Stanely and then take either Kent or Locke back up to Aberdeen.