This is hard to describe, but I'll take a crack at it. I was driving southbound on a road in Durham County and came to two traffic lights within 10 feet of each other (one directly in front of the other). The first one was a stale yellow, but the second one was green. When approaching the second, green light (somewhat faster than normal to get through the previous yellow) two cars suddenly pulled into the intersection, making a left hand turn. Narrowly avoiding an accident, I realized the second of the two cars was a police car, and 4 more were lined behind it in the same turn lane. One of these officers turned around and pulled me over, claiming that (to my understanding) the second light was red, and that I ran it pursuant to NC G.S. 20-158 ("By entering an intersection while a stop light was emitting a steady red light for traffic in defendant's direction of travel.").
I tried to tell him my light was green, but as I understand it, he claimed that the light had to be red because the light on his side was red (and explains why the 2 cars entered the intersection when my side was green, because they had already started their turn when it changed).
I know for sure that they didn't have a protected left turn because I asked the officer if they did and he said no. If my light were red, it stands to reason that they would have gotten an arrow.
Couple of questions: How solid is the case, considering that the officer that pulled me over had no actual knowledge of the condition of either light in question?
Additionally, I have a NC driver's license and am wondering if the PJC route is the best to go (my driving record is impeccable, or it was prior to this).
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
I tried to tell him my light was green, but as I understand it, he claimed that the light had to be red because the light on his side was red (and explains why the 2 cars entered the intersection when my side was green, because they had already started their turn when it changed).
I know for sure that they didn't have a protected left turn because I asked the officer if they did and he said no. If my light were red, it stands to reason that they would have gotten an arrow.
Couple of questions: How solid is the case, considering that the officer that pulled me over had no actual knowledge of the condition of either light in question?
Additionally, I have a NC driver's license and am wondering if the PJC route is the best to go (my driving record is impeccable, or it was prior to this).
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
