Help. Went through red light to let police car through..

[Thingymajigii]

Two lanes of traffic waiting at a red light. Police car comes through the traffic, blue lights on, all cars parting behind me to let it through, gets to me and car next to me won't budge an inch so it was down to me to move out of the way and the only way was to go through the light. I did stop very shortly after going through in a safe place, not obstructing any other traffic.
I think the lights had a camera on it.
I don't have any cameras on my car so I cannot prove that I was letting a police car through.
Any advice or previous experience with this one?

The Police uphold the law, they don’t make it, and the Highway Code is only advisory.

In that situation you appeal and speak to a magistrate or judge.

When we did 999 children's icu ambulance collections we always waited at red lights and turned the noise off the sirens (left the lights) then sped up as soon as safe to do so. Not sure on rules for police

Must have changed. When we (paeds icu drs) get a 999 call we have to get a job reference no, that our drivers take and register somewhere or other which allows us to use our blue lights. We can't leave without it, its part of our checklist on leaving the ward. This then cancels speeding tickets (not sure how but I asked them out of curiosity lol

@AlltheClocks It's true that the Highway Code is advisory but many of the instructions contained in it are backed up by law, particularly the 'must' and 'must not' points, rather than 'should' and 'should not'.

That’s pretty worrying that you have to ask that question

I have been driving for 25 years + and have never had any points or been in an accident so I think I'm doing alright.
Great contribution though, thanks.

I just did, as he happens to be in the room.

He said if his stationary vehicle was blocking the progress of a police car on a shout, and if it was safe to do so (he emphasised the 'safe to do so' bit), then yes, he would cross that red light to get out of their way.

And he would break the law in doing so.

How you drive shouldn't be based on "what would Jesus (or an off-duty paramedic/firefighter/etc who doesn't know the law) do?" reasoning but on the law and Highway Code.

Contact the police who issued the notice. If they can see an emergency vehicle in the photos they will cancel the fine

He does know the law. He has driven ambulances on red calls, and then after that career he qualified as a driving instructor. So as well as knowing the law, he's done more than his fair share of scraping dead people out of crashed cars, and anyway, I only posted his opinion because someone asked.
hth

If he knows the law, why on earth would he risk his instructor's certificate to break it?

Luckily police officers are no more authorities on the law than anyone else!

I have been driving for 25 years + and have never had any points or been in an accident so I think I'm doing alright.
Great contribution though, thanks.

Because you haven't been caught doing wrong, just as you probably won't this time.

Really the police car should've stopped and turned sirens off so people dont feel compelled to do thus, same as double white lines..if the police car cannoth safely get passed ir it causes a member of public to do somethihg dangerous, the training is to trun everyhing off and wait.. its usually only a min until traffic clears.( I'm a cop btw) . You shouldn't be put in a position to drive through a red light.
Note the time and date and if it comes back to you, let them know if you get a ticket. When a police car goes through a red light, or a speed camera it's registered so the light camera will also pick up the police going through

Never ever go through a red light for emergency vehicles. It is not a defence. They are trained to switch of sirens when at red lights and wait.

Actually I just remembered two similar situations recently.
First one, at red light, police car came screaming out of the police station and, being helpful I thought: should I move? Then remembered all the stories in the local paper about people getting tickets. It was very uncomfortable to wait and the police car should have turned off their siren.
Second one, red light at traffic crossing. There had been an car accident and the policeman on the scene waved me through. Unfortunately he hadn't (noticed?) communicated to the people crossing so it was really awkward for a while.
It's very difficult to know what to do in these situations, when you're in the moment.

You’re the one who drove through a red light not me 👍

You should be fine, 1m over wont trigger the camera, you need to trigger both sensors in quick succession for a picture to be taken.

@Thingymajigii did you get any paperwork come through yet?

@Thingymajigii any news?

Nothing yet!

@ExceededUsefulEconomicLife
Not yet!