Red Light Cameras
In a ruling passed in July 2018, the Florida Supreme Court held that there was no merit in the allegation that town officials in Aventura, Florida erred in giving an external agency the power to determine whether the photos taken by cameras positioned at the red lights showed traffic violations. The outcome of this ruling means that the existing laws regarding the use of cameras at red lights in Florida will continue to be in force. It is worth bearing in mind that the lawmakers in Florida have been consistently attempting to rescind the law, the violation of which carries a fine of $158.
While the Florida Supreme Court ruling means that cities in Florida can choose to keep the cameras at the traffic signals working and hand out a ticket to violators jumping the red lights, several town administrations say that they have no intention of keeping these cameras on. This may sound surprising because not only are these cameras supposed to deter red-light violations but also represent a very good source of income. According to studies, the revenues from red-light violations caught by the cameras amount to $77 million annually with around 58% of that going into the state coffers. It seems that the reluctance to operate red-light cameras stems from the belief that these cameras actually cause more accidents as drivers try to stop abruptly fearing a ticket.
How to Avoid Getting a Red Light Violation Citation
It is not only illegal to drive through a red light at a traffic signal but also highly dangerous. This means, that if you drive through a red light, it is illegal, dangerous and expensive to boot. Here is what to keep in mind while approaching a traffic signal that has turned red:
- You must make sure that the car comes to a complete stop. This applies even if you intend to make a right turn because if you fail to do so, it is quite likely that you will receive a ticket for the violation in the mail.
- If you drive through a yellow light, you will not be fined. The camera programming ensures that it captures the photo of your car only you pass through when the light is red. You will be all right in most cases even if the light is yellow when you enter the intersection and it turns red while you are still in the intersection.
- Since the camera cannot figure out who is driving, the ticket will be issued to the owner of the car. This means that you will receive the ticket even when you have permitted a friend to drive your car and he has run the lights. Of course, you can contest the ticket; however, it can be quite difficult to establish the fact that it was not you who was driving the car.
- No points are added to your driving license for the first violation. However, if you ignore the ticket or for any reason do not pay $158 fine by the due date, a second notice will be sent to you. The fine is increased to $262 and points will also be added to your driving license.
- A violation does not necessarily happen just because the camera light has flashed. Sometimes the camera will get triggered even if the driver has not driven through the red light at an intersection. This can happen in case the driver has slammed on the brakes after passing the camera trigger spot. When the camera is triggered, two still photos and 12 seconds of video footage are taken automatically. The face of the driver is not captured by the photos in most cases as the camera is more focused to capture the details of the vehicle. When you receive a ticket, you will notice that it includes details like the date, time as well as the location of the intersection at which the red light violation took place.
Can You Contest a Citation?
If you believe that the ticket given to you for red light violation is not warranted, you can contest it in the appropriate court of law. While watching out for a few things can help you to decide whether to contest the ticket or not, consulting with an experienced attorney is advisable rather than representing yourself in the court:
- Scrutinize the photos thoroughly to find out whether the license plate is legible. Try to recollect if it was you who was driving, or did you loan out your car to someone else? If you can prove that you were not driving the car then the ticket may not be your responsibility.
- Demand the proof from the enforcing agency that sensors and cameras were working properly on the day of your citation.
- Were there any extraneous reasons for driving as you did on that day? Was it raining hard, the visibility very poor, and were the roads so slick that it was hard to stop? Did you have to cross the red light just to avoid being banged by another car that was approaching very fast from your rear?
If you are contesting the ticket, you should take in all the facts and make your case forcefully to explain the circumstances.
Have You Received a Red Light Camera Ticket That You Want to Contest?
If you have received a ticket for violating a red light that you believe is defective, you should contest it in the court. However, since proving the facts of the case may be difficult by yourself, you should seek the assistance of a competent attorney to represent you in court.You should get in touch with us at Lavalle, Brown, Ronan & Schwencke, P.A at the earliest so that our skilled attorneys can examine your case and advise you if contesting it worthwhile. We are one of the most reputed law firms in Boca Raton with more than 45 years of experience in representing clients in courts to protect their interests and rights. For a free consultation, call us today!