Anyone deal with a photo shot run red light ticket in s cailf ?

[blues90]

To my horror I got one in the mail today and I don't even recall ever running a red light , yellow maybe . It's $350 i certainly don't have without a job and it's due by july 7th . Man I feel sick to my stomach now , completely sick and dizzy .

[flvegan]

1. So, did they send the photo with the summons?

What are your options?

[napi21]

2. I haven't, but I listen to Len Tillen on KGO radio in Ca. all the time.

EVERY time someone calls in with a question about a ticket like this, he asks 2 questions: Did they send you the photo? and Is it you in the photo?

I have yet to ever hear him say you can fight it and win. I think, if you check the Ca. traffic laws, you'll find you are guilty of running a red light if you are in the intersection when the light turns red.

I don't know if there's some way you can make payments on it or not. You might call and find out, but unfortunately, I'm thinking you're stuck with the ticket.

Edited for spelling....AGAIN!

[demosincebirth]

10. We have them here in Fremont and people have tried to fight

them in court with no luck at all.

You are right on the traffic laws in Ca. If you're in the intersection when it turns red, you just went thru a red light.
Those cameras have made me more cautious about going thru intersections on a yellow light. Yes sir.

[joefree1]

3. Can you do traffic school?

I've done it. A pain in the ass but a good refresher course I wish a lot of folk would take. I hope you can work it out. I hate cameras on the public but I've also been nearly hit by those trying to chase the yellow light trying to save a few seconds.

[SoCalDem]

5. You still have to pay the fine..even if you do traffic school

That's the part that sucks..

[SoCalDem]

4. If you call them, you can arrange payments, but

I doubt it would be worth your trouble to fight it..

A friend of mine got a $300 ticket for flicking ASHES out the window..on asphalt..not near brush .. a cop was behind her, stopped her and ticketed her..

[seabeyond]

7. i didnt know that was against the law. hm..... good to know n/t

[SoCalDem]

8. There was an article in the paper a while back about a guy

who got a ticket for DUMPING coffee from a cup..out the window....I know it's kind of a tastless thing to do, but there's a lot worse on the streets than cold coffee

[seabeyond]

9. that is truely bullshit. and i don't even see it as tasteless.

geeezus.....

that does nothing, as soon as it rains, if it is even visible, it will go away.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

29. In California the only thing you can legally have fly off your vehicle are

water and chicken feathers....ahhhh lobbying. It makes me want to call the cops everytime I end up behind a truck hauling pebbles that are pelting my car

[scoey1953]

34. nevermind...

I was going to say the same thing...

[Gatchaman]

6. Fight it!

they're too cheap to put a cop there, so make 'em earn that three-fiddy.

[demosincebirth]

11. Its been tried many times, and unless you can prove the

cameras were, some how, off, you're wasting you time and money.

[blues90]

17. this looks like the case from what I can see

There is my car and my blurry photo. It is me , I am the only one who drives that car . All I can do is call monday and see . maybe they will reduce the fine since I have not worked in 4 months maybe not . Maybe I can get it extended . Maybe I can sell enough stuff to cover the cost and suffer the loss and not even think the money could have gone to things like food and rent which it could have . I can't recall but it's been 26 years in LA and another 15 in iLL and I have not had one moving violation not one . I don't race and I don't run lights , it had to be yellow after I passed the crosswalk but I can't tell from this photo . I just know I would recall running through on red because this I have never done , it;s a chance I would not take for getting hit . Another big brother sucking the live out of a citizens wallet and it hardly seems fair , a waring would have sufficed .

[demosincebirth]

20. Many times we don't think we've run a red light, but if

you're any where in that intersection when the light turns red, you've run a red light. I know I've done that many times, but was just fortunate that there weren't any cameras in that intersection. Now, I'm very wary about going thru and intersection on a yellow light.
Unless you have the time and money I would just pay it. Even it you did fight it, chances are slim to none that you would win.
I'm sure the court will let you pay on installments seeing that you have a Clean record. Good luck.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

33. If you entered the intersection when the light was yellow

you did not run a red light. If you entered the intersection, i.e. crossed the crosswalk after the light was yellow you did. Were you turning left?

[zonkers]

36. I have gotten that same ticket in L.A. If I remember correctly, you

are sent a letter giving you a drop dead court date which I think you can extend twice by phone. If you go for an extension, don't use their automated system -- it is better to do it through a "live operator" and GET THEIR NAME. Trust me. The last thing you want is for this to go to warrant because of a lame bookeeping error. You will probably end up pleading guilty or no contest and request traffic school to avoid points on your license. And yes, the judge will probably help you out with a payment plan but my advice is to borrow the money and get it over with -- otherwise you might screw up and it might go to warrant for nonpayment.

Yes, the camera system is flawed. But their real purpose is to make money for a city. I got my ticket because I was behind a very tall truck and could not see the light change until it was too late. But I didn't try to fight it. Can't fight city hall.

In some CA towns, cops have sneakily shortened the duration of the yellow light, throwing off those drivers who are familiar with a particular light's behavior. Rememer, cities Those cameras encourage drivers to speed through the changing light which is a bad thing. When I saw the light changing, I went through it calmly and slowly -- instead of mashing down on the gas pedal.

It's not the end of the world. Cheer up.

[slackmaster]

23. You have the right to subpoena documentation of everything

There is actually a lot you can do. Subpoena maintenance records of the camera, the qualifications of individuals who installed, calibrated, and maintained it; chain of custody of the image, etc.

You have the right to challenge the settings of the traffic signal. Often the yellow light is set too short.

If the plaintiff (the city) fails to come up with all of the requested documents, they may lose by default.

See http://www.highwayrobbery.net/

I would also suggest to the OP to be more careful about traffic signals in the future.

[blues90]

12. I don't know what I'm going to do

I looked at a few sites relating to this and it does not look good . the photo is blurry of me but i can't say it's not me . I don't want to lie , there is one bit telling you if the photo is blurry you don't have to say it was not you and they can't make you tell them who it was but this seems like a tough one to me .

I can't tell what the readings are that tells the speed and time , there are not photo's of the lights just a chart which tells me nothing , it's in codes .

I just can't believe this , right now this is half my rent and seems to be due in about 6 weeks . All I can do is hopefully sell more on ebay to cover this and hope I can make payments , not working should account for something .

I did'nt need this right now , it has been one depressing thing after another with no hope in sight . My wife has been so depressed she can hardly get out of bed and this brings me even more down because i have no good news just more bad news .

Of course there are all sorts of legal site that promise to win or your money back but who can say , most of these seem to be a scam at best . It hardly seems worth the effort . There is no traffic school offered on this that I can see and this cost more money and time .

And I thought this job I have been training for would kill me and now I have this added on to make life even less worth living .

[uppityperson]

15. Can you go to court and explain, apologize?

I have gotten a couple tickets over the yrs, found that if I go to court (or do it via mail) that just by showing up and saying "sorry, won't ever do that again, sorry sorry sorry" (rather than "I don't think I should pay anything because whatever") they will cut the fine in half. I don't know about S.cal and phototickets, but it might be worth a shot. Good luck.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

28. If you explain your financial situation to the courts, they usually

will work out a payment schedule

[RB TexLa]

13. Simple problem to never have to worry about

just drive slower than the posted speed limit and depress your brake until your car stops when the light changes to yellow.

[Hekate]

18. That's not very helpful in the present instance, is it?

I'm not sure if any of those cameras are turned on in my area (Santa Barbara/Goleta), but they are ALL OVER THE PLACE. I am a very cautious driver and stop on the yellow, but have become aware of every damn time I enter an intersection that the light clicks green-yellow-red before I'm out. I expect to get one of those tickets one fine day.

I have a friend who lives in Oxnard and got one in the mail like that. She says it had her missing the light by ONE-HALF SECOND. That's just merciless, in my opinion.

Hekate

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

31. I really hate when a person is at wit's end and someone shows up

in a thread with some trite comment such as this. It should have been obvious to you reading the OP's posts in the thread that the poster is quite depressed. What is the thrill of doing this? Can you explain?

[RB TexLa]

40. I didn't think it was trite

If you do that you never have to worry about red light violations. I always stop when the light changes to yellow no matter how close to it. I'm sure the person doesn't want to deal with this again.

[RebelOne]

14. No, but I got one here in Georgia.

Cost me $70. But at least it doesn't go against your license.

[papau]

16. I pay for one or two a month in Washington DC for one of my kids -

don't ask about insurance rates - :-(

The court in DC does not buy the idea that they are machines giving a wrong reading.

Indeed now I just hope to get told of them within 30 days before they start to double then zoom a $30 ticket into a $250 problem.

[Hekate]

19. I'm so sorry, Blues. I don't think this type of ticket can be fought, but

...at least try to work out a payment plan, as some here have suggested. Don't waste any more money than you have to trying to fight it (unless a court appearance is free for you).

It's just rotten luck. Hang in there -- your luck will change, the job will come, you have friends here. :hug:

Hekate

[slackmaster]

24. It has nothing to do with luck

The OP either A) screwed up and ran a red light, or B) is the victim of a scam.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

32. In LA even if you are in the intersection turning left, it can be

impossible to complete your turn before the light changes

[Codeine]

21. They will give you an extension with very little effort.

Especially if you explain to the court clerk your situation. If you still don't have the money after the extension you can make payments, and they are usually very reasonable installments.

I've only had one moving violation here in SoCal (inland desert area) and I was very pleased about how reasonable the court system was about accommodating my needs in terms of payments.

[gollygee]

22. Call and tell them you need more time to pay

I'm sure you aren't the first person to get a ticket and not have the money that minute.

[lizziegrace]

25. They're being reported as unenforceable in Columbus,

unless you can see the driver's face in the photo and the cameras we have don't do that. Anyone could have been driving the car so law enforcement here wants the upgraded cameras...

[sbj405]

26. Here's some info on photo enforcement

http://www.motorists.com/issues/enforce/index.html

May be helpful. Good luck!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

27. Appear for the ticket either way so that you don't end up with a bench

warrant and worse problems. The only time I have seen cameras actually defeated in such cases is when the timing of the light sequence is off. You can go out to the light you supposedly ran. In So Cal the lights SHOULD be timed by the engineeers to stay yellow for 4 seconds.

[radwriter0555]

35. And here's the thing, no one is intentionally trying to screw the drivers.

Everyone who works with those devices is absolutely trying to do the best job they can. The point behind installing the lights is to reduce the horrific amount of deadly car accidents caused by long left hand turns and people running red lights. And since they've been installed traffic fatalities in those intersections have been reduced.

However, it would make MUCH more sense for the US to adopt reasonable traffic rules, such as 4 way lights; where each direction takes its own turn to go straight and turn left without impediment.

Roundabouts are also fantastic for eliminating intersection accidents and greatly reducing congestion in high traffic areas;

Road dividers are a GREAT way to completely eliminate head on/accidental lane cross over accidents.

3 simple and effective tools to save lives and ease traffic congestion. They work everywhere else in the world... why not the USA?

No other developed nation has as anywhere near as many car accidents as the USA.

And for the poster, sadly, most likely you'll have to pay it all by the date due. It's very, very rare that you can get an extension or will be allowed to make payments. The best they'll be able to suggest is that you put it on a credit card and make the payments basically to yourself.

I'm really sorry, it's a rough financial lesson that you didn't even know you were getting. It really sucks, I completely empathise.

[Redstone]

38. No, it's NOT a public-safety issue. Do some research. EVERY SINGLE

red-light camera system in this country is a profit-sharing deal between the city and the people who make the cameras.

Every single one.

AND, there are many well-documented cases where the city shortens the duration of yellow lights to drive up the profits.

It's a blatant, cynical money grab by the municipalities and the manufacturers. Period.

Redstone

[Blue-Jay]

30. Send them a photo of 350 bucks.

Seriously - I'm sorry that happened to you, but don't try to avoid it. They issue a warrant and throw you in jail next time they see you.

[Oeditpus Rex]

39. One guy tried that

The court sent him a photo of a jail. :P



Edit: Or it might've been handcuffs. :shrug:

[Redstone]

37. Boy, so much for "laid-back" California. How did that state get such a

reputation for being "laid back" when the government there is such a fucking police state?

Is there ANY part of your life that the California State Government doesn't control?

I'm not going there anymore, that's for damn sure.

Redstone