My first time getting caught by photo enforcement of a traffic violation.

It didn’t take long to realize what that that "Photo Enforcement Program" letter from the City of St. Louis was all about.   As I opened the letter, the only thing that occurred to me was to make sure whether the letter was for me (as opposed to my wife).  It was for me.  I had gotten nailed by the new photo traffic enforcement system that the City of St. Louis installed near my house.   Over the past 30 years, I've received a total of 2 traffic tickets.  I guess I was due. I was pissed, of course.  This was going to cost me $100 even though I didn’t do anything flagrant.  I had rolled a right turn onto a high entrance ramp through a red light.  This occurred at a traffic light 1/2 mile from my house.  I had done it hundreds of times; hundreds of other safe drivers do it every day.   My crime is that I failed to come to a complete stop before turning right to accelerate down that highway ramp.  I was going about 5 mph around that corner. I remembered the strobe flash going off that day last week; at the time, I wondered whether it was aimed at me.  Sure enough.  I should clarify:  I don't always roll through that right turn.  If ever there is any traffic in the area, or any pedestrians, I always come to a complete stop.

Continue ReadingMy first time getting caught by photo enforcement of a traffic violation.