Some advice needed. Exorbitant traffic fine!

[Bobbin]

I always feel very silly for coming to a complete stop when the coast is clear but I do it just to avoid problems and it has just become sort of second nature. If there is a car behind me though I always think he/she will ram into the back of my car at the unexpected stop I make in a situation as clear as crystal which makes me tense. So therefore I have to sort of coast slower than normal to a complete stop to give the person behind me a heads up. Stopping a car completely seems to take 3 more seconds easy and also builds up traffic if everyone is going in the same direction, because for every complete stop in a string of cars needs to be repeated over and over.

I don't think the issue is about the law, it's about common sense. I do side with Wolvyreen on this debate as it is sheepish behavior to accept heavy punishment on minor infringements. Quite honestly I struggle to respect those who take this argument to the extreme and apply it to every situation under the sun. The law is there to keep society safe and must so be exercised, it isn't and shouldn't be THE LAW IS THE LAW AND THAT's FINAL in my opinion, but this is more a philosophical debate. The law isn't for bullying and taking advantage of people. A quiet neighborhood intersection should not have a cop on alert as a matter of traffic violation priority in the first place!!

This is why we have taxi problems for one, why isn't that cop on a main road checking emergency lanes or at a busier intersection where we all see violations daily? The ONLY reason I can think of is to take advantage on weaker targets. And just to be clear, we're talking 2-3kph here, not death blistering speeds going over a stop sign in the face of all traffic with middle fingers out the window.

 

[Wolvyreen]

I always lol at people that seemed shocked because of their speeding fines.. You know it's there.. you should have driven slower...

oh no! another person that hasn't read the thread. yes, cause this is about speeding :wtf:

 

[Necropolis]

I always lol at people that seemed shocked because of their speeding fines.. You know it's there.. you should have driven slower...

OP got fined for "Ignoring a Stop sign"

 

[Wolvyreen]

I always feel very silly for coming to a complete stop when the coast is clear but I do it just to avoid problems and it has just become sort of second nature. If there is a car behind me though I always think he/she will ram into the back of my car at the unexpected stop I make in a situation as clear as crystal which makes me tense. So therefore I have to sort of coast slower than normal to a complete stop to give the person behind me a heads up. Stopping a car completely seems to take 3 more seconds easy and also builds up traffic if everyone is going in the same direction, because for every complete stop in a string of cars needs to be repeated over and over.

I don't think the issue is about the law, it's about common sense. I do side with Wolvyreen on this debate as it is sheepish behavior to accept heavy punishment on minor infringements. Quite honestly I struggle to respect those who take this argument to the extreme and apply it to every situation under the sun. The law is there to keep society safe and must so be exercised, it isn't and shouldn't be THE LAW IS THE LAW AND THAT's FINAL in my opinion, but this is more a philosophical debate. The law isn't for bullying and taking advantage of people. A quiet neighborhood intersection should not have a cop on alert as a matter of traffic violation priority in the first place!!

This is why we have taxi problems for one, why isn't that cop on a main road checking emergency lanes or at a busier intersection where we all see violations daily? The ONLY reason I can think of is to take advantage on weaker targets.

I couldn't have said this better myself!

 

[mercurial]

I always feel very silly for coming to a complete stop when the coast is clear but I do it just to avoid problems and it has just become sort of second nature. If there is a car behind me though I always think he/she will ram into the back of my car at the unexpected stop I make in a situation as clear as crystal which makes me tense. So therefore I have to sort of coast slower than normal to a complete stop to give the person behind me a heads up. Stopping a car completely seems to take 3 more seconds easy and also builds up traffic if everyone is going in the same direction, because for every complete stop in a string of cars needs to be repeated over and over.

I don't think the issue is about the law, it's about common sense. I do side with Wolvyreen on this debate as it is sheepish behavior to accept heavy punishment on minor infringements. Quite honestly I struggle to respect those who take this argument to the extreme and apply it to every situation under the sun. The law is there to keep society safe and must so be exercised, it isn't and shouldn't be THE LAW IS THE LAW AND THAT's FINAL in my opinion, but this is more a philosophical debate. The law isn't for bullying and taking advantage of people. A quiet neighborhood intersection should not have a cop on alert as a matter of traffic violation priority in the first place!!

This is why we have taxi problems for one, why isn't that cop on a main road checking emergency lanes or at a busier intersection where we all see violations daily? The ONLY reason I can think of is to take advantage on weaker targets.

Finally someone with common sense.

 

[Wolvyreen]

Finally someone with common sense.

+1 on that!

 

[me_]

I'm sorry OP, I need to side with the traffic officer in this case. I'm really happy to hear about traffic cops doing their job and pulling people over for breaking the law. I get really annoyed when they just sit behind camera all day.
I'm not saying that I always stop at stop streets, but it's due to the apathy we have to the rules of the road due to the lack of enforcement. What we need is for more people to be pulled over and given large fines so that they talk about it and people start taking notice. I don't pay speeding fines I get in the post, but would have no problem paying for a fine where a traffic officer has actually pulled me over.

As a last point, If you weren't aware enough to notice the traffic officer then surely you weren't aware enough to ensure that there were no other vehicles that may be entering the intersection - just a thought.

 

[Sinbad]

I always feel very silly for coming to a complete stop when the coast is clear but I do it just to avoid problems and it has just become sort of second nature. If there is a car behind me though I always think he/she will ram into the back of my car at the unexpected stop I make in a situation as clear as crystal which makes me tense. So therefore I have to sort of coast slower than normal to a complete stop to give the person behind me a heads up. Stopping a car completely seems to take 3 more seconds easy and also builds up traffic if everyone is going in the same direction, because for every complete stop in a string of cars needs to be repeated over and over.

I don't think the issue is about the law, it's about common sense. I do side with Wolvyreen on this debate as it is sheepish behavior to accept heavy punishment on minor infringements. Quite honestly I struggle to respect those who take this argument to the extreme and apply it to every situation under the sun. The law is there to keep society safe and must so be exercised, it isn't and shouldn't be THE LAW IS THE LAW AND THAT's FINAL in my opinion, but this is more a philosophical debate. The law isn't for bullying and taking advantage of people. A quiet neighborhood intersection should not have a cop on alert as a matter of traffic violation priority in the first place!!

This is why we have taxi problems for one, why isn't that cop on a main road checking emergency lanes or at a busier intersection where we all see violations daily? The ONLY reason I can think of is to take advantage on weaker targets.

Lobby for stop streets in quiet suburbs to be replaced with traffic circles then.
You don't get to make up the rules as you go along, or choose what laws to obey and when. THat's part of the social contract of being a citizen of a country, and people's decision that they can opt out of this social contract as and when they find it convenient is, as you rightly say, why we have so much chaos everywhere. The fact that you think the contract is flexible means you have the same frame of reference regarding the law as the taxi driver going down the wrong side of the road has - just the degree differs.

 

[Necropolis]

I do side with Wolvyreen on this debate as it is sheepish behavior to accept heavy punishment on minor infringements.

He was not fined outside of what is prescribed by the law.

If the law said the fine should be R1000 and he was fined R4000 then yes both you and the OPs argument would hold some water.

 

[Wolvyreen]

Lobby for stop streets in quiet suburbs to be replaced with traffic circles then.
You don't get to make up the rules as you go along, or choose what laws to obey and when. THat's part of the social contract of being a citizen of a country, and people's decision that they can opt out of this social contract as and when they find it convenient is, as you rightly say, why we have so much chaos everywhere. The fact that you think the contract is flexible means you have the same frame of reference regarding the law as the taxi driver going down the wrong side of the road has - just the degree differs.

This is like reading your cv
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusory_superiority

 

[Bobbin]

Lobby for stop streets in quiet suburbs to be replaced with traffic circles then.
You don't get to make up the rules as you go along, or choose what laws to obey and when. THat's part of the social contract of being a citizen of a country, and people's decision that they can opt out of this social contract as and when they find it convenient is, as you rightly say, why we have so much chaos everywhere. The fact that you think the contract is flexible means you have the same frame of reference regarding the law as the taxi driver going down the wrong side of the road has - just the degree differs.

This isn't chaotic behavior in the first place. Let's stick to the facts and apply some sense Not coming to a complete stop in the OP's situation is not a gateway drug to murder.

 

[Sinbad]

This is like reading your cv
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusory_superiority

There's nothing illusory about my superiority. Even your mom agreed

 

[mercurial]

It's a different story when you're speeding or jumping traffic lights, as you can harm others, including yourself. No one ever died from yielding at a stop street with no other obstructions in the vicinity.

/dons flamesuit

 

[Wolvyreen]

He was not fined outside of what is prescribed by the law.

If the law said the fine should be R1000 and he was fined R4000 then yes both you and the OPs argument would hold some water.

So when you get fined R1000 for speeding and the amount is WITHIN the law, you have NEVER EVER EVER tried to get a fine reduced? which by the way, is what this thread is about. just in case you didn't know!

 

[Wolvyreen]

There's nothing illusory about my superiority. Even your mom agreed

ok, a comment like that doesn't warrant a reply.

 

[Sinbad]

This isn't chaotic behavior in the first place. Let's stick to the facts and apply some sense Not coming to a complete stop in the OP's situation is not a gateway drug to murder.

You referred to taxi behaviour.
Ignoring traffic rules IS the gateway drug to the way they drive.

 

[Necropolis]

So when you get fined R1000 for speeding and the amount is WITHIN the law, you have NEVER EVER EVER tried to get a fine reduced? which by the way, is what this thread is about. just in case you didn't know!

Not once.

Always paid what I was told to.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Not once.

Always paid what I was told to.

Actually come to think of it, whenever I've paid a fine I've always paid the full amount.

My time is worth more to me than having to go and see the PP (who is usually very busy and has a queue of ppl waiting to get reductions etc) and request a reduction.

 

[Necropolis]

Actually come to think of it, whenever I've paid a fine I've always paid the full amount.

My time is worth more to me than having to go and see the PP (who is usually very busy and has a queue of ppl waiting to get reductions etc) and request a reduction.

I generally pay a little more as well because I use pay fine or pay city (whatever it is called now) - and they tack on a transaction fee.

But I'm happy to pay a bit more if I can do it from the comfort of my home.

 

[Bobbin]

You referred to taxi behaviour.
Ignoring traffic rules IS the gateway drug to the way they drive.

Nope. They (Taxi's) do it at busy intersections under circumstances where there is risk to them and others. They do not apply sense and they disregard other road users and safety. I view the mental gymnastics to make that decision as completely different to the OP's situation. I see no evidence of adverse behavior in OP's post and he put no one at risk nor did he do anything unethical in my view. As soon as even 0.1% risk is introduced in OP's situation the decision of not stopping probably wouldn't even factor or occur to him/her. Now Is that worth R1500-00? Hell is that worth R500-00?