CORNER BROOK — A woman ticketed for allegedly going through a red light at the busy intersection of O’Connell Drive and University Drive has had the ticket thrown out by a provincial court judge.
Carla Wells fought the ticket she was issued by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary after an officer said she had proceeded through the red light last Oct. 29.
The incident happened at the busy intersection at around 8:55 a.m. on a Monday morning.
In court, Wells told Judge Wayne Gorman that the traffic light turned yellow just as she was reaching the intersection and it would have been unsafe to stop. In his analysis of the evidence, Gorman said there was no basis on which the RNC officer’s evidence “can be favoured over Ms. Wells’ evidence” and there was reasonable doubt as to whether the traffic light she drove through had actually turned red before Wells entered the intersection.
“I accept Ms. Wells’ evidence that it would have been dangerous for her to have attempted to stop just before entering the intersection,” said Gorman in a written decision. “Doing so would have caused Ms. Wells’ vehicle to have stopped within the intersection itself.”
That's precisely what is right about this story. Put yourself in the driver's seat after this ticket. While you'd obviously be fine with being convicted on the here-say of one person; a he said, she said if you will... I'd still prefer the burden of proof to be on the accuser if I ever find myself in a court.