Red Light Ticket

Seeing Red: Fighting an Automated Traffic Ticket

Red-light cameras are one of the more recent attempts by cities to cut down on traffic accidents assorted with running red light cameras. Unfortunately, what may have been an attempt to make streets safer has largely backfired. Red-Light Cameras have been manipulated as a fund-raising tool, and in some cities, have caused more accidents than they could prevent as drivers change their behavior around red lights. Red-light cameras are also challenged because of the danger they represent to judicial rights. Since the cameras are automated, the owner of the car may be ticketed no matter who is driving it, and the tickets are administered without the benefit of a constitutionally-protected jury.

Many red light tickets that are issued may be invalid for a number of reasons, and many resources have since been created to help citizens fight these unfair tickets. What follows is a guide that collects some of the best ticket fighting advice available and compiles it all in one place.

WARNING: None of the information that follows may be considered to constitute legal advice. The information is the result of the success of private citizens in their respective districts. For any questions regarding the legality of any options, you must consult a licensed attorney.

Make sure the ticket is Genuine

Several sources have verified that companies which handle automated tickets may be using false tickets. When it is evident that the driver of the car is not the owner of the vehicle, a ticket may be issued that has no power unless the receiver pays it (thus admitting guilt), or implicates another person for running the camera. For that reason, these false tickets are called “snitch tickets”. To verify your ticket, simply contact the court (The ticket may ask you not to). If the court has no record of the ticket or any proceedings related to it, you may freely ignore the fake ticket.

Gather All the Evidence Related to Your Case

To properly fight the ticket, you need to get copies of all the information that relates to the red light cameras and your specific violation. Of upmost importance is the picture that demonstrates that you ran a red light. If your vehicle, your face, or your license plate is not visible, the case may possibly be thrown out of the court on any of those grounds. In addition to the photo, you may want to get copies of the installation and maintenance guides for the cameras, as they may be faulty and frequently wrong. Make sure that you also review all the necessary state laws that relate to how a traffic light must be run. An inability of the prosecutor to provide any piece of this may also be grounds to throw out the case.

Come to Court Prepared

It may seem hopeless to fight red-light cameras sometimes but the truth is they have been defeated and even outlawed in some states as a result of cases just like yours. It’s important for you to review the cases where red-light cameras have been defeated and base your defense around them. In addition to case law, there are many resources online that have archives of cases where red light cameras have been defeated. Make sure you understand all of them. If you still don’t feel confident, then hire a lawyer to speak on your behalf. Most traffic tickets are based upon very shaky reasoning, and a talented lawyer will often be able to get the ticket thrown out.