Anyone fight a red light camera violation?

fricksgirl · April 2011

I got a ticket a few weeks ago from one of those red light cameras. I was making a left hand turn. The letter came with pictures (of course) and links to video of exactly what happened posted (password protected) online. Crazy.

This is the thing. I am a safe driver. I am BEYOND a safe driver, I'm paranoid in the car. Now, on the video, you can CLEARLY see that as I was approaching the intersection, I braked when I saw it going yellow, and in that split second I determined I was safer going though the light than I was coming to a stop, because I didn't feel like I could have stopped quickly enough to not be in the intersection, and no, I was NOT going super fast, the video has me clocked around 22 MPH when I get in to the vision of the camera.

So I really think a human being wouldn't have given me a ticket. And I think if a judge looks at the video they might let me off. What would be awesome since the fine is $470. Yep, you read that right. $470.

Anyone done this before?

mandy0505 · April 2011

Did you end up stopping at the limit line (the white painted line on the roadway)? If no, I think you would be fighting a losing battle. You can always go to court and request the judge reduce the fine. Before you do that though I would find out if you will still be eligible for traffic school if you go to court to contest it and are found guilty. If you can still go to traffic school then I'd say it was worth the try to get it reduced.

Regardless, go to traffic school, it will be an extra charge but in the long run it will save you money for car insurance because it will take the point off the record.

fricksgirl · April 2011

mandy0505:
Did you end up stopping at the limit line (the white painted line on the roadway)? If no, I think you would be fighting a losing battle. You can always go to court and request the judge reduce the fine. Before you do that though I would find out if you will still be eligible for traffic school if you go to court to contest it and are found guilty. If you can still go to traffic school then I'd say it was worth the try to get it reduced.

Regardless, go to traffic school, it will be an extra charge but in the long run it will save you money for car insurance because it will take the point off the record.

Crap, I didn't even think of this. Seriously. This is SO stupid. I really don't think I did anything wrong, I think if a cop had been driving they would have made the same choice!

I didn't come to a stop, but you can clearly see me brake, then accelerate, it's like when you watch the video you can see exactly what was going through my mind- and I really think I did the right thing.

Mrs.BoomBoom · April 2011

From what I'm reading, I think I judge could hear "I was going so fast that I couldn't stop at the limit line when the light changed so I gunned it and didn't make it"

What sucks is that your caution is what got you. You had that second of hesitation where you started to stop. If you'd been going faster or just continued when it turned, you'd probably have been fine.

I probably wouldn't fight it because you run the risk of not being able to go to traffic school then.

futrkingsley · April 2011

I can think of only one way to fight it and it's sorta complicated. You need to do a bit of research to see if this intersection has been set with a yellow light that is too short (not long enough for a car to travel at the speed limit through from lane to other side without light turning yellow). If the yellow light is too short, you have a case. If not, not likely.

LV2006 · April 2011

I would rec a couple of things: 1) find out about the traffic school issue - you want to be sure it is an option even if you dispute it. 2) Get (or check out from the library) a Nolo Press book called 'How to Fight Your Ticket' or something like that. I am all but certain it has been updated to include issues with the camera stop light. 3) If you do end up with a large fine, find out whether or not our county allows community service in lieu of payment. I had never heard of this but my mom recently was able to get rid of her $360 fine (speeding) and instead did community service (she passed out food at the food bank). I know you don't have lots of time, but this might be a more palatable alternative.

I did fight a ticket once (the only non-parking ticket I have ever had). It was also an alleged light violation and I was making a right hand turn. I was able to convince the judge that it wasn't a violation because the officer was too far away to see whether my tire had really crossed the limit line before the light turned red, and also since the line was mostly worn away I couldn't be held to the standard of the line. All of which was true, but I never would have thought of those arguments without the book I mentioned above. If you dispute it and want some court-room coaching, I'm your gal

Good luck!

Mrs.BoomBoom · April 2011

I once did community service for a ticket but could not also do traffic school for it. I don't believe you can be assured of still being able to do traffic school if you contest but a lot of judges will still let you if you ask

mandy0505 · April 2011

Based on your self admittance of not coming to a stop, I personally believe the judge will find you guilty. What section did they charge you for 21453 (a) CVC? That is the basic red light violation which states you have to stop at the limit line.

The camera's are tricky. Sometimes they go off even if you stop but roll over the limit line even slightly? Is that maybe what you did, or did you continue through it?

You can try that book but I think something like this is going to be hard to fight because of photos and video. Sorry

cougarlicious · April 2011

I went to court for a traffic camera violation. I watched as the judge asked every single person two questions: 1) pleading guilty or not guilty? and then 2) if pleading guilty, have you gone to traffic school in the past year. Every person that said guilty and that they were eligible got their fines reduced to $80 (no matter what the traffic charge was) and a notice to go to traffic school. There was one person who pleaded not guilty and the judge said that if they go to trial they may not be eligible for traffic school. I decided to plead guilty after watching all this happen (even though I did not qualify for traffic school) and he just reduced my fine to $80 without any more questions and moved on. It seriously took thirty seconds in front of the judge for each person. My original ticket was $385 so I was happy.

mandy0505 · April 2011

cougarlicious:
I went to court for a traffic camera violation. I watched as the judge asked every single person two questions: 1) pleading guilty or not guilty? and then 2) if pleading guilty, have you gone to traffic school in the past year. Every person that said guilty and that they were eligible got their fines reduced to $80 (no matter what the traffic charge was) and a notice to go to traffic school. There was one person who pleaded not guilty and the judge said that if they go to trial they may not be eligible for traffic school. I decided to plead guilty after watching all this happen (even though I did not qualify for traffic school) and he just reduced my fine to $80 without any more questions and moved on. It seriously took thirty seconds in front of the judge for each person. My original ticket was $385 so I was happy.

Just curious....what county did yu get the ticket in? It sounds similar to Santa Clara although I don't think the judge automatically reduces the fines down here.

fricksgirl · April 2011

cougarlicious:
I went to court for a traffic camera violation. I watched as the judge asked every single person two questions: 1) pleading guilty or not guilty? and then 2) if pleading guilty, have you gone to traffic school in the past year. Every person that said guilty and that they were eligible got their fines reduced to $80 (no matter what the traffic charge was) and a notice to go to traffic school. There was one person who pleaded not guilty and the judge said that if they go to trial they may not be eligible for traffic school. I decided to plead guilty after watching all this happen (even though I did not qualify for traffic school) and he just reduced my fine to $80 without any more questions and moved on. It seriously took thirty seconds in front of the judge for each person. My original ticket was $385 so I was happy.

This is super helpful. Hopefully Sacramento works the same way.

I called and talked to a chick at the Red Light Camera Headquarter )ha ha, whatever it's called) here in Sac and she took my name and reviewed my tapes and pics. She says I'm crazy if I think I'm getting off, the light was red for 1.4 seconds before I entered the crosswalk. But, it's just like Boomboom said, those 1.4 seconds were totally when I was braking.

Sucks.

I'm going to go on Monday and try to either get community service or a lowered fine.

Crying Embarrassed

cougarlicious · April 2011

mandy0505:

Just curious....what county did yu get the ticket in? It sounds similar to Santa Clara although I don't think the judge automatically reduces the fines down here.

San Mateo County...

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