Red Light Justice

I had a ticket for running a red light.

The intersection was restricted due to construction. The speed limit was 30 miles an hour. There was a police car in the left turn lane, but with his tail of his car sticking out into lane 1.

Knowing the intersection and the light was about to turn, I looked over my left shoulder assuring a car would not try to beat it through lane one and possibly shove me over. Just a quick look over my shoulder and back. When I took my eyes off the intersection, I was about 15' from the intersection and the light was green. I traveled the distance and when I looked back the light was red and I was already entering the intersection. What happened to yellow?

The police car immediately took pursuit and gave me a ticket.

I took the ticket and pled not guilty.

In the meantime, I went to the intersection with a stop watch. The time the light was yellow was 1.5 seconds. I spoke to the City Engineer and the size of the intersection dictated the time for the yellow was 3 seconds. I asked for and received a letter from the Engineer and presented that with my statement to the court.

I was found not-guilty.