Posted: 12/14/2007 6:55:03 PM EDT
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Not trying to start anything, but could one of you gentlemen tell me why it is "illegal" to go through private property to avoid a traffic signal? if it is "illegal"? Thanks |
The safety issue alone is more than reason enough. This and children not secured in the vehicle are two of my pet peeves. |
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I write that ticket all the time. If I have to wait for the light then so do you. Who do these people think they are? Is the light really all that long that you need to cut through and get ahead of everyone? Just wait your turn like everyone else. As an alternative to the ticket I will offer the violator to sit at all 4 red lights of the intersection before continuing on their way. That is if traffic will allow it. Somtimes its too busy out there. Same with stop signs, I give the violator the option of re-doing the stop sign correctly or a citation. Depends on my mood and if they chronically run the sign. |
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it is a Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device in my AO. avoiding the light/sign by cutting through private property lots or drives is failing to obey that device. the reasoning behind it is that it causes/increases private property accidents/traffic hazards, and that the use of the private property is conditional (based on the owner (gas station, homeowner's drive)). |
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And, the people who do this, are always going to be flying through that parking lot, because if they don't drive too fast through it, then what was the point of not waiting fo the light? It is a serious safety issue in my mind and the reason it is against the law. |
I agree on the safety issue. Citations should be written when violations occur. However, if I were offered this alternative I would demand the ticket. I would also contact your supervisor and whoever writes your check (i.e. the city council, county, etc.) and fill them in on how one of their officers was abusing his/her authority and creating an even greater safety risk than the original violation. |
Yes, how dare he not give you a cite... or in my state's case, take you to jail since receiving a citation is a COURTESY. The point of LE is to make sure there is voluntary compliance. If sitting there makes you not want to do it again, then fine. If paying money makes you not want to do it again, then fine. If you will keep on doing it, we'll keep on writing you tickets or taking you to jail. Maybe sitting for 4 red lights is too long of a wait in your busy life. I am sure it would be much longer than the 1 hour you would sit waiting to see a clerk, the 3 hours if you actually went to court, and the hours you would have to work extra to pay for your screw up. |
TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE ยง 545.423. CROSSING PROPERTY. (a) An operator may not cross a sidewalk or drive through a driveway, parking lot, or business or residential entrance without stopping the vehicle. (b) An operator may not cross or drive in or on a sidewalk, driveway, parking lot, or business or residential entrance at an intersection to turn right or left from one highway to another highway. |
Classic example of a good reason NOT to give people a break. 
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