Traffic Ticket

[gladaki]

This is a question on my friend behalf. She asked me for advise and I am not sure what to tell her.

So She did a Uturn from controlled intersection (She moved from Winnipeg, I think this rule doesn't work there). Anyway, she was pulled over by cops.
Now, suddenly she realizes that she forget her interim license at home and end up getting two tickets. She drove back home, came back to same spot and showed cop her license. Cop said that he already gave the ticket and cant do anything about it.

Her total fine is 155(u turn) and 233 (not having license), her court date is 11th July on which she will be travelling.

I am thinking of advising her to approach a traffic ticket agent (Not sure if its worth) or just pay the tickets. Any suggestions ?

Not sure, How much her insurance will be affected ?

[undercoverbrother]

I had a similar situation.

I was speeding and got pulled over.


I got a speeding ticket and a failure to produce valid insurance ticket. I had accidentally, put my wife's pink slip in my vehicle and mine in hers.


Short story, I went to court.


Told the crown my story, he asked the cop if I was a dick about it. The cops said nope. The crown dropped the failure to produce insurance ticket and I paid the speeding ticket (I seem to recall I didn't get dinged with demerits).

Go to court explain the mistake, it is not an abnormal mistake. I reckon she will have to pay the U-turn ticket.

No idea how this affects insurance rates.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Paper fines (forgot licence, failure to produce proof of...) are not chargeable as far as insurance goes. Only moving violations can potentially impact your insurance premium, such as illegal u-turns. Some insurers will let you get away with one or two. Some insurers, if you are at their top driving record, may ding you as their top records are reserved for those who are claim & conviction free.

Also keep in mind, insurers don't care about demerits, only if you got charged or not. Demerits are between you and the province and only measure how close you are to getting your licence suspended. Having demerits reduced or eliminated entirely will make zero difference to your premium.

[skudr248]

She can go before her court date to talk to the JP, and if the JP isn't willing to side with her and help her out she can schedule a court date when she is back.

[skudr248]

... and don't bother with the traffic ticket agents for these two tickets, it won't be worth the extra costs when you can do this simply with a visit or two at the court house.

[jar_e]

It's any date on or before July 11th or she can just plead not guilty via mail with the options on the back of the ticket.

[Hemi-Cuda]

So you can't legally make a u-turn at a controlled intersection in Alberta? I thought that only applied with the specific no u-turn signs you see in some intersections

[gladaki]

Originally Posted by jar_e

It's any date on or before July 11th or she can just plead not guilty via mail with the options on the back of the ticket.

Ticket says date as 11th July. Between 8 ans 3.
Yeah, I think she can go and talk to them. She got the ticket on 11th June .so it takes 3 weeks for a ticket to reach to them anyway.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by gladaki

Ticket says date as 11th July. Between 8 ans 3.
Yeah, I think she can go and talk to them. She got the ticket on 11th June .so it takes 3 weeks for a ticket to reach to them anyway.

She can go before. Its common practice and allowed. Or, alternatively, mail in a not guilty plea, get a court date in 6-9 months, then get a deal.

[REDVAN]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

So you can't legally make a u-turn at a controlled intersection in Alberta? I thought that only applied with the specific no u-turn signs you see in some intersections

I think: you can make a u-turn at any "uncontrolled" (ie/ no actual intersection ever), or at a controlled where it is specifically allowed.

It is VERY confusing that only some intersections specifically have signs indicating NO u-turns, when they are NOT allowed anyway.

[mrkajz44]

I thought it was just traffic lights that you were not allowed a u-turn? So if there is two streets crossing and one street has a yield, does that make it a controlled intersection and no u-turn is allowed? Because I do that a fair amount of times and wouldn't want to get busted for something like that.

[Hemi-Cuda]

I sometimes make u-turns at intersections with left turn lights. Can't see why that would be illegal as there's no difference safety wise in turning left vs a 180 in that scenario

[The Yen Man]

I hope you can make U-turns at intersections where there's signage (stop signs), because me and my family have been doing it for the past 20+ years everyday when making a u-turn at a boulevard intersection to get to my parent's house on the other side of boulevard.

In fact, I'm pretty sure I've done it a few times when a cop was right there, and I've never been pulled over.

[Sinny Darino]

People that pull U-turns at traffic lights really grind my gears because the traffic turning right (into the lane they are trying to u-turn too) have the right of way and the people pulling the u-turn ALWAYS stop and block traffic from the left turn light.

Do not do a U-turn unless you can do
it safely. U-turns are not permitted:
• at an intersection controlled by a traffic
control signal (traffic lights) unless
permitted by a traffic control device
• where a sign prohibits U-turns

In urban areas U-turns are not permitted:
• on a roadway between intersections
• at an alley intersection
• at an intersection where one or more of
the roadways is an access to a public or
private parking lot which the public can
access

Outside urban areas (rural) U-turns are
not permitted:
• on a curve
• approach to or near the crest of a hill
where the driver of another vehicle
cannot see you that is approaching
within 150 metres from either direction


From Here! http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/2000.htm

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

I sometimes make u-turns at intersections with left turn lights. Can't see why that would be illegal as there's no difference safety wise in turning left vs a 180 in that scenario

Definitely illegal.

Source: Received ticket

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

I sometimes make u-turns at intersections with left turn lights. Can't see why that would be illegal as there's no difference safety wise in turning left vs a 180 in that scenario

Slows down everyone turning left.

[gladaki]

Looks like she submitted the request to traffic agent, PTR solution.
They get back to her. Told her she dont need to go court and they can do everything for her. Charges will be 210$ + GST. All convictions will be dropped.

When she asked about fine. They said it will be reduce to minimum.

QUESTION: When they say all conviction will be drop does that mean, there will be no traffic violation on insurance file.

[GoinAllTheWay]

If she's paying a fine, she's getting charged with something. Whether or not that shows up on her insurers radar depends on what the fine is she is paying for.

Again, reducing the fine and/or demerits means nothing to insurers.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

I sometimes make u-turns at intersections with left turn lights. Can't see why that would be illegal as there's no difference safety wise in turning left vs a 180 in that scenario

+1, Especially on Macleod.

I guess based on the information Sinny posted, I won't be doing it any longer.

[gladaki]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

+1, Especially on Macleod.

I guess based on the information Sinny posted, I won't be doing it any longer.

True. Turning left and 180 degree wont make a difference.