Some advice needed. Exorbitant traffic fine!

[Sinbad]

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?

Law isn't about risk, Law is black and white - purely because it shouldn't be subjective. What you may think is risky, I may think is perfectly safe. Should you be fined more for the same thing than I am, because my perception of the risk is much lower than yours?

 

[Bobbin]

Law isn't about risk, Law is black and white - purely because it shouldn't be subjective. What you may think is risky, I may think is perfectly safe. Should you be fined more for the same thing than I am, because my perception of the risk is much lower than yours?

It is black and white yes and I understand the complexity of writing a law to fit every circumstance. We are all human and should respect one another a little more than applying blanket punishments though. Else we can all just read line items to one another and scrap the judge :/ And again I ask, as a matter of violation priority, why that cop isn't somewhere else? If the law isn't about safety and risk then we have a big problem with society I feel as we may as well then put all Metro Police budget on stop street vultures - black and white and all that, doesn't matter where our values and priorities are right?

 

[me_]

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

The thing is people don't always check for obstructions carefully. I was hit by a guy that yielded and failed to notice me. He just nicked the back of my car, but it could have been worse.

I don't get your logic that slowing down for a stop street is so much better than creeping through a red light when you can see the coast is clear. The taxis probably say that they make sure there's no obstructions before going through the red.
I think both offences (jumping stop streets and traffic lights) are serious and the fines are probably a bit light.

 

[mercurial]

The thing is people don't always check for obstructions carefully. I was hit by a guy that yielded and failed to notice me. He just nicked the back of my car, but it could have been worse.

I don't get your logic that slowing down for a stop street is so much better than creeping through a red light when you can see the coast is clear. The taxis probably say that they make sure there's no obstructions before going through the red.
I think both offences (jumping stop streets and traffic lights) are serious and the fines are probably a bit light.

Go back and read what I said.

You believe what taxi drivers say? :wtf:

 

[Sinbad]

Go back and read what I said.

You believe what taxi drivers say? :wtf:

Why does a taxi driver necessarily automatically lie more than a non-taxi driver who said that he checked for safety before he skipped the stop street?

 

[mercurial]

Why does a taxi driver necessarily automatically lie more than a non-taxi driver who said that he checked for safety before he skipped the stop street?

Experience.

 

[fastesthamster]

SOURCE: http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/how-much-will-that-be-officer/
“Personally, I also do not agree with fining motorists who do not come to a complete stop at a stop sign. If there are no other cars approaching, a driver should be able to just do a quick check and then keep driving,” Van Vuuren said.

My 2c, it's this very attitude that results in people almost knocking me off my bicycle on a daily basis. They roll through stop streets until their car is almost halfway into the lane before deciding whether to come to a complete stop. Most of them are looking out for oncoming cars and bicycles appear to be a bit of a blind-spot or an afterthought, not sure which.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Another point to add - following the law isn't just about following like a robot, it's about the reasons behind the law being a good idea.

 

[Sinbad]

Another point to add - following the law isn't just about following like a robot, it's about the reasons behind the law being a good idea.

So if you think there's no good reason behind the law you can just ignore it?

 

[OrbitalDawn]

So if you think there's no good reason behind the law you can just ignore it?

No... But you don't just follow laws because 'lol, it's the law'. There needs to actually be buy-in into the social contract that precedes and underpins laws.

 

[Sinbad]

No... But you don't just follow laws because 'lol, it's the law'. There needs to actually be buy-in into the social contract that precedes and underpins laws.

True. However, traffic laws are pretty old, well established, etc.
At what point is the buyin?
IMHO, with traffic stuff, it's when you apply for your license.

New laws like etolling etc, buyin has not yet happened

 

[Necropolis]

New laws like etolling etc, buyin has not yet happened

Was waiting for Etolls to be mentioned.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

True. However, traffic laws are pretty old, well established, etc.
At what point is the buyin?
IMHO, with traffic stuff, it's when you apply for your license.

New laws like etolling etc, buyin has not yet happened

Yeah, and they're old and well established because they're a good idea...

I agree it's when you apply for your license, but I think it applies generally.

PS. Paid your outstanding eToll fees yet?

PPS. Exactly, we don't buy-into eTolling because it's demonstrably bad - practically and morally speaking.

 

[Sinbad]

Yeah, and they're old and well established because they're a good idea...

I agree it's when you apply for your license, but I think it applies generally.

PS. Paid your outstanding eToll fees yet?

PPS. Exactly, we don't buy-into eTolling because it's demonstrably bad - practically and morally speaking.

JUST LIKE PIRACY!

 

[xrapidx]

How long till you have to renew your drivers license? If more than 3 years, just ignore the fine. A friend tested it, he only had to pay the fines in the last 3 years before renewal.

If the cop handed it to him, there is most likely a court date - wait three years and there would have been a warrant for arrest.

 

[Alton Turner Blackwood]

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

To add, I said earlier that in some cases it could be dangerous.

Its perfectly fine to stop at a stop sign in the middle of Sandton at 1pm. Its a whole different ballgame when you're in the middle of Nyanga at 1am. Stopping in the latter situation will get you highjacked, killed, or both!

 

[Rusty0]

They do this all the time. Easy money for them, especially in suburbs. People residing in the suburbs know the roads and 90% of the just yield.

 

[Wolvyreen]

They do this all the time. Easy money for them, especially in suburbs. People residing in the suburbs know the roads and 90% of the just yield.

But do traffic cops actually make money off the fines they give out? Don't they just get paid a salary??

 

[phoenix99]

Did the sign look like this?If it says stop you need to stop. There is no leeway here. The law is clear on this.

Perhaps you can go to court and get your fine reduced, but you have admitted guilt.

 

[SilverNodashi]

And this is exactly why we sit where we sit. people think they own the law cause they feel that a certain rule doesn't apply to them. so everyone bends them. And every cop is too happy to accept a bride because they know the person would rather pay them on the spot than goto the station to pay it.

You broke the rules, you pay the fine. live with it, or learn to respect the law.