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Ever Get a Red Light Camera Ticket By Mail?

AZ is not renewing its contract with Redflex, so the 76 state contract cameras are coming down in July. Hell, nobody was paying the citations anyway (the AZ state consititution requires "personal service" for summons, so mail-in citations were unconstitutional in the first place).

I believe our red-light cams only trigger if you enter on a red, not on already being in the intersection as in a left turn scenario. I'm sure this differs from city to city, though, seeing as we can't even agree on leading or lagging protected lefts. :rolleyes: There's an initiative ballot measure for November that would just simply ban both speed and red-light cams statewide, period.
 
We have them in some places in Washington, but they are not simply still cameras. At most intersections, they capture video, so you can appeal, and uphold the 6th Amendment. I remember a few years ago, there was a case in Ohio against the cameras because they were only still pictures, and there was no way to "face your accuser".

I thankfully have never gotten one, but I know that unless there was video, I could, and would, fight it.

TEG
 
Here in the DFW area of TX they have cameras that take both still shots and video at the same time. My ticket was, like a previous poster, for turning right on red without making a complete stop. $75 stupid tax. The video is reviewed by an officer who signs off on whether a traffic violation was committed or not based on his review of the evidence. If you disagree then you call in and are scheduled for an appointment to appeal the charge and an "unbiased" party will decide to approve or deny your appeal. If you were not driving your vehicle at the time of the offense then you fill out a piece of paper identifying who the driver was at the time of the incident and you will be let off the hook if your information can be verified.

There are lots of rumors going around about whether these matters are enforceabe as they are considered "civil" as opposed to "criminal" offenses. I've had a lawyer friend tell me that there is no way for the ticket to be enforced and to simply ignore the letter and never acknowledge the incident. However, I've also had a police officer friend tell me that it goes on your driving record just like any other vehicle offense and failure to pay it over time can result in a bench warrant for unpaid offenses. I guess it can vary from city to city, county to county, and state to state depending of the local laws, regulations, and contract with the third party company that manages the service.

I've also heard rumors that some of the cities around my area are not going to renew their contracts because they made bad deals with the service companies and are not really making enough money to outweigh the frustration of the local citizens.

I'll tell you this, I don't risk running yellow lights anymore.
 
mscriv said:
If you were not driving your vehicle at the time of the offense then you fill out a piece of paper identifying who the driver was at the time of the incident and you will be let off the hook if your information can be verified.
Click to expand...

And how do they verify it?

"Hello, is this Jack Mehoff? This is officer Hugh G. Rection from the police department. Our red light camera caught a car registered to Dixie Normus going through an intersection on a red light. Mrs. Normus says you were driving her car at that time. We would just like to verify that so we know who to send the ticket to."

"Uh, yeah, sorry, I don't know anyone by that name"

"Okay, we'll send the ticket to her, you have a good day Mr. Mehoff"
 
JNB said:
I believe our red-light cams only trigger if you enter on a red, not on already being in the intersection as in a left turn scenario.
Click to expand...
That's how they're set where I live. If you're in the intersection when the light turns red, it does nothing. If the light is red, and then you proceed to enter the intersection (except right turns), it will photograph you.
 
A family friend who is a lawyer has gotten my family members out of multiple red light tickets. You just go to court and demand to cross examine your accuser. The judge will then throw the ticket out, because a camera can't testify. It has worked every time someone in my family tries it.

EDIT: @ tigres- what do you mean MI doesn't have red light cameras? They're all over Ann Arbor, in fact there are like 5 intersections in a row on Ann Arbor Saline Road that have them.

Don
 
jav6454 said:
Never... although New Orleans city is now implementing more speeding cameras than actual red light cameras... that oughta slow me down in the mornings.
Click to expand...

This, I can vouch for. My girlfriend got a speeding ticket from a camera in either Metairie or New Orleans at the end of May. It was about $130. Talk about a blow to the pocketbook. :rolleyes:
 
I got one. It came 5 weeks later. $100 fine. I knew it once i went through. I saw the flashing lights.
 
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