Well what the heck it worked for my mom in 1972 when she dragged my nephews on behalf of my brotherinlaw who couldn't afford it so my mom did a Parry Mason and she got the ticket dismissed. Anyway it was a funny story so I thought it might generate a laugh.
Yeah, I think a few things have changed since 1972.
I found one article about the prosecutor and the police making it hard on canadians who choose to fight their tickets. We'll see.
I've worked out the math. The physics didn't even allow me to come to a stop if I -hadn't- had an asshat behind me.
Average "perception time" apparently is about 3/4 of a sec. Then reaction time on top of that, another 3/4 sec. In that time, I would have traveled 47.845 of the 95.69115 ft I was away from the stop line. Apparently, a motorcycle decelerates slower under hardbraking than a car, and I can believe it, cos we have to balance them and try not to go ass over teakettle. The number from Randall K Noon (Forensics Engineering Investigator- who wrote a book, so he's got to be right, right?
) is 16ft/per sec. So,.. I was out of time before I even started braking, even if I had been able to brake.
The physics support me,.. but now I just gotta hope that the judge understands physics.
i dont think the light colour will help.. as being colour blind and some times not being able to tell the difference in the colour of traffic lights, i was tested for which place the light is.. on the order from left to right. and up and down when i got my lisence. my ticket was for 30+ over speed limit... but in the pic the windows are down and arms are out... just an over all bad picture to try to fight in court... i figue i got lucky... because when i ever i speed on that road is when im "testing" and get to much higher then i did when i got my ticket... i got it right at my bday to.. (over 230 dollars!!!) but my pic the colour was fine... ish... they must have horrible w/b on their camera.. my pic was blurry tho. mabye because i was going sooo fast 
but i was making the lots of money then.. so that was pocket change...wish i didnt spend my money as much back then. now i am a starving student.
The light color would make a difference if it wasn't already yellow when I managed to swivel my head back to looking at it. :)
The pic I have here is B&W, in fact, it looks like it was run off on a laser printer. It's neigh on illegible. The images of the stop line are so light, you can barely see them, and the one of the license plate is pretty tough to read, cos the plate is light in comparison to the bike. OF course, we -do- have red lettering on a white background, so it stands to reason.
Money's like everything else,.. we never appreciate what we've got , til we don't anymore.
I don't know how the laws work in Alberta, but you might want to look into them a little and see if they are anything like the ones in California. If they are similar, some of the info at Highway Robbery may help.
Thanks Red! I spent a lot of time on that site. On it, I was able to tell what all the fuzzy squiggles are on my ticket, so I can go in there informed. I just hope that the speed indicated is in KPH, not MPH.
or I'm dead in the water.
The next hour will be spent making my notes for the "visit with the judge", cos I know, if I don't make the notes, I'll be first up.
One notable difference between California, and Canada, is the time for a "speedy" trial. Cali = 45 days. Canada ( Ontario for sure, more than likely Alberta too) 8 months! Apparently we have longer memories??
I'd deffinatly fight it. I also agree on not going into the traction discussion,but use the term aggressive driver behind you.Explain how you noticed his actions in your mirrors and were concerned as he was closing in. The coast was clear for a escape, and you preceded with exstreme caution. Although you don't want a ticket,it was a better choice than getting run off the road. (I'd skip the tattered clothes too,dress nice and be repectfull.)
Thats my story and I'm stickin' to it. Good luck, Dan
Thanks for the luck. I can use all I can get on this one. Check, another vote for looking sane and lucid when I go in there. Or as sane and lucid as I can when I get about 4 hrs sleep.
Yeah, there's WAY too many of these cash cows in Edmonton, and it's almost like there's a cop with a laser gun skulking behind every corner. Is it making Edmonton's roads safer ? NOT 
After my accident and subsequent rehabilitation we decided to move out of Edmonton (due to the crime, traffic, road disrepair and maniac cagers) to a rural area. Now I head out on a ride and in 5 minutes I'm out in the country. That's not to say that there aren't hazards here also, like late last season when a bull elk came out onto the highway 25 yds in front of me.
Anyway, about your ticket, fight it ! Explain to the magistrate what was going on with the nut job behind you and that you are not in a habit of running red lights. You might catch him/her in a good mood and score a discharge. It's possible. Good luck 
I hate it when I have to be in Edmonton. The highway cops are bad enough, especially with the new sherriffs, but MAN!! Everywhere you turn there's a cop either abusing his power, or pulling someone over. It actually makes me nuts, cos they'll put their lights on, and stop everyone at an intersection, and you'll see -that- car, about 2 mins later up the street at the Timmies. Yeah, I've had it happen a number of times. Called it in once or twice, but you make a complaint, and THAT cop calls you back to "explain".
I will do what I can. I'll report back, good or bad tomorrow aft.
I'm half tempted to show up there at 2pm, since, imho, the ticket is a little ambiguously worded:
I am commanded to appear before a justice at Provincial Court Traffic (etc etc)
On Monday, 17th day of December, 2007 between 9:00am and 3:30pm.
Sounds like they can wait on my schedule, doesn't it? I know that the biggest complaint about traffic court though is always the showing up at the beginning of the day and wasting the whole day there.
