Traffic Cam Ticket

[JI7]

i got a ticket based on what was caught on a traffic cam. but the alleged violation happened on December 31st of 2009. and i just got the ticket today.

is there anything that says you have to get the ticket by a certain date or else you can have it dismissed ?

[Journeyman]

1. An attorney friend of mine told me he was going to challenge such tickets. . .

because they do come so late after the transgression. He contends he doesn't know he's getting ticketed and so doesn't have an opportunity to prepare for a defense. Perhaps he ran the red light on purpose, because he was concerned an 18-wheeler behind him might not stop in time, and he feared for the safety of his child in the back seat. Because he didn't know he was getting the ticket, he didn't know then he should prepare a defense. If an officer gave the ticket, he'd make the officer note on the ticket the the 18-wheeler in the lane behind him, and the presence of his child in the back seat.

All that said, everything I've read seems to point to traffic cams ultimately being a positive impact on traffic flow and the reduction of accidents. Perhaps someone else can point me to a different conclusion.

[JI7]

2. it depends, i have a problem with cams being operated by private companies

who place many of the cams based on what would bring the most money.

my violation was making a right turn on red. but it was a case where it turned yellow just around the time i was ready to make the turn. it wasn't as if it had been red for a long time before i prepared to make that turn.

in cases of right turns on red it can be tricky because there is a chance if you hurry to make a stop you might end up stopping in the lane with cars about to drive through and they could hit you.

it depends on many things.

but even if they were going to give you a ticket i think it should have been done a lot sooner.

i agree overall the cams can be ok in certain areas where people tend to purposely run through after red . this is usually in cases where people are making a left turn.

but i think it should at least be done directly by the public institutions and not private companies.

[Journeyman]

3. I'd forgotten about all the private companies getting involved with those. . .

n my area, it's all municipalities. Private corps shouldn't be involved in public roadways.

Another thing I've heard is that the cities are shortening the yellow lights, so more people go through on reds increasing the city revenues. Bastards.

And yeah, a requirement for all tickets -- like justice itself -- should be that they be issued swiftly and fairly.

[MindPilot]

4. Check the National Motorists' Association website

www.motorists.org

They are a lobbying group dedicated to fighting against this extra-judicial for-profit private law enforcement.

You're right; RLCs have not been shown to reduce accidents, and many municipalities have been caught shortening yellow times to well below federal standards after RCLs are installed.

Camera tickets are already outside due process, so the usual rules don't apply. It may be what's called a "snitch ticket". If there is no notice to appear with a court date, you may be able to disregard it because the ticket has to be issued to the driver, not the vehicle's registered owner. If they can't identify the driver, then they hope you will just pay the ticket and go away. Fight it.

Get the name of a lawyer from the NMA website and good luck!

[comtec]

5. There are THOUSANDS here in holland (and the UK)... Z E R O improvement in traffic

in fact it is a serious problem because at night when someone gets flitzed (flashed) it causes EVERYONE to slam on their BREAKS!!!

At least when you can SEE the cop people slow down in a slightly more natural manner.

Add to that the STUPID traffic laws in the manual (the test is crazy hard) that no one seems to heed after they pass their exams anyway!

making the test harder does nothing but give the people who pass a sense of entitlement to drive how-the-fuck-ever way they want, and with impunity!!

flitzers are a menace, and no replacement for a REAL cop handing out tickets.

and I don't drive! (here)