Misc Red Light Camera Violation - Page 4

Huffmeister · 01-23-2013, 12:25 PM

Has anyone here ever tried to contest a red light camera violation? Any luck?

Just got one in the mail yesterday, and I remember when it happened. I was rolling up in the right-hand turn lane and the light was green. There was a wet patch (possibly slick) just past the line, so I slowed down and continued with the turn. But when I looked up the light had changed to red and I saw the flash. I didn't even see the yellow light because I had my eye on the possibly icy patch. It seems like they shorten the length of yellow lights at those intersections so that they can nab more people.

Anyway, it's not that big of a deal. I was just wondering if there's a chance of it getting thrown out if I show up to court and explain the circumstances.

**hometeam** · 01-23-2013, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flachief58

As much as I hate to say it but, I think the camras are a good thing. Intersection accidents were getting out of control down here because so many dumbasses thought that yellow meant "floor that bitch".

Maybe we should put cameras in all public places! That way no bad guys could ever get us!

Tombstone RJ · 01-23-2013, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

take a picture of $100 and mail it in
**** the local revenue generating govt.

I got a ticket in the mail too. They got me going like 55 in a 35 or something like that. It was on a major street in the middle of Denver and I had just exited the highway and I didn't slow down enough I guess. The thing is the picture was of the entire front of my jeep. So they had my picture (I was wearing some fantastic shades too, looking good) and my license plate, and the make and model of my car. So I was pretty much screwed. I should have taken a picture of the check and mailed that instead of the actual check, that's just a fantastic idea!

cosmo20002 · 01-23-2013, 09:47 PM

I got out of my red light ticket in KCMO about a year ago. The truth was that I actually wasn't driving, but they sent me the ticket because the car was in my name. I was actually out of town and had an airfare and hotel receipt.

I called the prosecutor's office and explained I had this info that I could fax/e-mail them and asked them to drop the charge. They said no, I had to show up at my court date if I wanted to contest it.

I go to court and talk to the prosecutor beforehand--showed my receipts. They said I had to fill out a form--which included naming who was actually driving. I said, "I shouldn't have to give someone's name--I wasn't even present at the incident, so I don't have first-hand knowledge anyway. Don't you need to prove it was me driving? I have evidence here showing it couldn't have been me. How can you still press charges?"

Prosecutor said he was not allowed to drop red light charges. So I had to wait my turn for the judge. Gave the judge my receipts and he asked who was driving. I said, "I wasn't there, so I can't say for sure." He didn't press me about it and dismissed the charge.

So, I didn't have to pay, but it was still a complete pain in the ass, especially considering I didn't actually commit the violation. In principle, I don't necessarily think the cameras are bad, but I do think it is complete BS that they don't have to prove you are the one driving by at least getting your face in the photo.

redgoldexpress · 01-23-2013, 11:21 PM

My wife and I just went to court for a red light violation. It was not because of a camera but an officer supposedly saw my wife run a red light. I happened to be in the car when this happened, and we were in the intersection when the light turned red. An Independence PD officer in an unmarked turned on the discos and pulled us over and gave us a ticket. When we received the ticket in the mail, we went to the courthouse to contest the ticket, once we got in front of the judge the officer said that he just looked at the video right before he came across the street to the courthouse. The judge granted a continuance for last week, in which the judge requested the officer to bring in the copy of the tape. Once we got in front of the judge the officer again explained what happened and stated that the dash cam footage of the violation had been purged and that he did not have the video evidence. The judge then asked my wife to explain her side of the story in which she did. After about 10 seconds the judge fined us with court cost the fine was $100.00. I in turned asked the judge why did he side with the officer when it is up the accuser to prove if you are guilty after all you are "innocent until proven guilty" the judge said that you could file an appeal. When we asked about the appeal process it would have cost us another $160-$170 to file the appeal in which we could of not "won" our money back. So we just decided to pay the $100 and call it good.

ThaVirus · 01-23-2013, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redgoldexpress

My wife and I just went to court for a red light violation. It was not because of a camera but an officer supposedly saw my wife run a red light. I happened to be in the car when this happened, and we were in the intersection when the light turned red. An Independence PD officer in an unmarked turned on the discos and pulled us over and gave us a ticket. When we received the ticket in the mail, we went to the courthouse to contest the ticket, once we got in front of the judge the officer said that he just looked at the video right before he came across the street to the courthouse. The judge granted a continuance for last week, in which the judge requested the officer to bring in the copy of the tape. Once we got in front of the judge the officer again explained what happened and stated that the dash cam footage of the violation had been purged and that he did not have the video evidence. The judge then asked my wife to explain her side of the story in which she did. After about 10 seconds the judge fined us with court cost the fine was $100.00. I in turned asked the judge why did he side with the officer when it is up the accuser to prove if you are guilty after all you are "innocent until proven guilty" the judge said that you could file an appeal. When we asked about the appeal process it would have cost us another $160-$170 to file the appeal in which we could of not "won" our money back. So we just decided to pay the $100 and call it good.

The good ol' justice system at work right there.

redgoldexpress · 01-23-2013, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

The good ol' justice system at work right there.

Yeah I know tell me about it.

verbaljitsu · 01-23-2013, 11:54 PM

I am a lawyer. I have had about ten of these dismissed in the last year. They can't make them. However, they fight tooth and nail when a pro se defendant tries to fight them. They quietly dismiss them when a lawyer appears. The problem is they set the fine amount almost perfectly. I need to charge about $100 to make it worth the effort. So the only people that make sense to hire me have like 5 red light tickets or more serious companion charges.

You absolutely cannot ignore them. They will issue warrants. Eventually you could get your license suspended.

**Predarat** · 01-24-2013, 11:51 AM

I want to take a baseball bat or hammer and beat the shit out of every Red Light camera ever made.

**mikeyis4dcats.** · 01-24-2013, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huffmeister

Actually, its a stop light, not a stop sign. Stop signs don' give you a half second warning before they appear.

neither do stop lights. light durations, including yellows, are mandated by DOT regs.

Frazod · 01-24-2013, 03:56 PM

Naperville actually removed the damned things. Thank God.

**MahiMike** · 01-24-2013, 04:34 PM

They just started putting these in here in Jax. I'm kinda glad actually. Here, if you don't run a red light, you're likely to get rear-ended by 3 more cars behind you.

Valiant · 01-24-2013, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Predarat

I want to take a baseball bat or hammer and beat the shit out of every Red Light camera ever made.

Offer young kids to paintball the cameras.. No real damage, just have to wait for them to be cleaned.. hypothetically of course..

houstonwhodat · 01-24-2013, 08:24 PM

In Texas they tried to outlaw them.

A cop told me that it's not a moving violation because a cop has to personally write that type of ticket.

Tombstone RJ · 01-24-2013, 08:36 PM

it's nothing more than a revenue stream for local municipalities IMHO. It's understandable why so many towns are trying to use this system because it generates revenue which is a positive, it "may" prevent accidents and it frees up law enforcement to concentrate on other things like bustin' hardened criminals and eat'n deep fried donuts!

**Saulbadguy** · 01-24-2013, 08:43 PM

Ignore it. Don't pay.

01-23-2013, 12:25 PM
Huffmeister Veteran Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $9904277	Red Light Camera Violation Has anyone here ever tried to contest a red light camera violation? Any luck? Just got one in the mail yesterday, and I remember when it happened. I was rolling up in the right-hand turn lane and the light was green. There was a wet patch (possibly slick) just past the line, so I slowed down and continued with the turn. But when I looked up the light had changed to red and I saw the flash. I didn't even see the yellow light because I had my eye on the possibly icy patch. It seems like they shorten the length of yellow lights at those intersections so that they can nab more people. Anyway, it's not that big of a deal. I was just wondering if there's a chance of it getting thrown out if I show up to court and explain the circumstances.
Posts: 1,245

01-23-2013, 09:47 PM	#48
cosmo20002 Debunking your bullshit Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: KC area Casino cash: $5260315	I got out of my red light ticket in KCMO about a year ago. The truth was that I actually wasn't driving, but they sent me the ticket because the car was in my name. I was actually out of town and had an airfare and hotel receipt. I called the prosecutor's office and explained I had this info that I could fax/e-mail them and asked them to drop the charge. They said no, I had to show up at my court date if I wanted to contest it. I go to court and talk to the prosecutor beforehand--showed my receipts. They said I had to fill out a form--which included naming who was actually driving. I said, "I shouldn't have to give someone's name--I wasn't even present at the incident, so I don't have first-hand knowledge anyway. Don't you need to prove it was me driving? I have evidence here showing it couldn't have been me. How can you still press charges?" Prosecutor said he was not allowed to drop red light charges. So I had to wait my turn for the judge. Gave the judge my receipts and he asked who was driving. I said, "I wasn't there, so I can't say for sure." He didn't press me about it and dismissed the charge. So, I didn't have to pay, but it was still a complete pain in the ass, especially considering I didn't actually commit the violation. In principle, I don't necessarily think the cameras are bad, but I do think it is complete BS that they don't have to prove you are the one driving by at least getting your face in the photo.
Posts: 52,592

01-23-2013, 11:21 PM	#49
redgoldexpress Starter Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: 3 minutes from home Casino cash: $10004900	My wife and I just went to court for a red light violation. It was not because of a camera but an officer supposedly saw my wife run a red light. I happened to be in the car when this happened, and we were in the intersection when the light turned red. An Independence PD officer in an unmarked turned on the discos and pulled us over and gave us a ticket. When we received the ticket in the mail, we went to the courthouse to contest the ticket, once we got in front of the judge the officer said that he just looked at the video right before he came across the street to the courthouse. The judge granted a continuance for last week, in which the judge requested the officer to bring in the copy of the tape. Once we got in front of the judge the officer again explained what happened and stated that the dash cam footage of the violation had been purged and that he did not have the video evidence. The judge then asked my wife to explain her side of the story in which she did. After about 10 seconds the judge fined us with court cost the fine was $100.00. I in turned asked the judge why did he side with the officer when it is up the accuser to prove if you are guilty after all you are "innocent until proven guilty" the judge said that you could file an appeal. When we asked about the appeal process it would have cost us another $160-$170 to file the appeal in which we could of not "won" our money back. So we just decided to pay the $100 and call it good.
Posts: 109

01-23-2013, 11:54 PM	#52
verbaljitsu Starter Join Date: Dec 2009 Casino cash: $10013092	I am a lawyer. I have had about ten of these dismissed in the last year. They can't make them. However, they fight tooth and nail when a pro se defendant tries to fight them. They quietly dismiss them when a lawyer appears. The problem is they set the fine amount almost perfectly. I need to charge about $100 to make it worth the effort. So the only people that make sense to hire me have like 5 red light tickets or more serious companion charges. You absolutely cannot ignore them. They will issue warrants. Eventually you could get your license suspended.
Posts: 440

01-24-2013, 11:51 AM	#53
Predarat Run Chiefs fans, run!! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Nashville, TN Casino cash: $9973863	I want to take a baseball bat or hammer and beat the shit out of every Red Light camera ever made.
Posts: 10,776

01-24-2013, 03:56 PM	#55
Frazod WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $3215085	Naperville actually removed the damned things. Thank God.
Posts: 119,482

01-24-2013, 04:34 PM	#56
MahiMike He's Mahomie! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Jax, FL Casino cash: $10023443	They just started putting these in here in Jax. I'm kinda glad actually. Here, if you don't run a red light, you're likely to get rear-ended by 3 more cars behind you. __________________ 99.9%
Posts: 17,387

01-24-2013, 08:24 PM	#58
houstonwhodat Banned Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Parallel Universe Casino cash: $10004900	In Texas they tried to outlaw them. A cop told me that it's not a moving violation because a cop has to personally write that type of ticket.
Posts: 2,637

01-24-2013, 08:36 PM	#59
Tombstone RJ Broncos' Fan Extraordinaire! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Denver Casino cash: $10012184	it's nothing more than a revenue stream for local municipalities IMHO. It's understandable why so many towns are trying to use this system because it generates revenue which is a positive, it "may" prevent accidents and it frees up law enforcement to concentrate on other things like bustin' hardened criminals and eat'n deep fried donuts! __________________ ORANGE COLORED GLASSES ARE ALWAYS ON!
Posts: 6,151

01-24-2013, 08:43 PM	#60
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $2706966	Ignore it. Don't pay. __________________ http://www.goemaw.com
Posts: 46,964