You may not have to pay a red light camera ticket if the photo is unclear or not of you, the warning signs are not visible, or the yellow light is too short. It’s recommended to speak to an attorney and gather evidence to fight the ticket.
Receiving a ticket with a red light camera doesn’t always mean you’ll have to pay a fine, especially if you don’t think the ticket is fair. For example, if the photo isn’t of you, or if it’s too blurry to be sure, you can usually avoid paying the fine. Also, if the red light camera warning sign isn’t easy to see, you may be able to fight the ticket since the sign should be visible to all traffic. Finally, if you suspect that the yellow light is unusually short, your ticket may be deported, as this may result in not enough time to stop before the red light appears. In most cases, it is recommended that you speak to an attorney to find out if you have a strong case.
The ticket should typically include a clear photo of your face and license plate. If your face image is too blurry for others to identify you, your red light camera ticket could be thrown out in court, as this is one of the most common reasons for a judge to dismiss a parking ticket. If you’re not sure whether to fight the fine based on this quibble, you should visit the police department to find out if the original photo is as blurry as your copy, as this is evidence that will likely be used in court. Of course, if you know the picture isn’t you, because a friend or family member has borrowed your vehicle, you can let the court know. Note that in most jurisdictions it is not required to reveal the identity of the person in the photo, which makes this an easy way to fight the red light camera ticket.
Warning signs for the camera are usually required to be visible from cars traveling in any direction, even if the camera only takes pictures of cars going one way. This typically means that there should be four signs at the affected intersection, so if the area in question is missing even one sign, providing proof via a picture can help you fight the red light camera ticket. If the signs are all there, but some are vandalized or hard to see due to foliage, you still may have a case. They need to be made obvious to drivers, so if you find them hard to spot while driving, you have a chance of your ticket being cancelled.
A shorter yellow light than usual can result in more tickets for the red light camera. If you can provide evidence that the yellow light doesn’t appear long enough before turning red, you may be able to have your red light camera ticket cancelled. Most areas have a minimum length that yellow light must reach, so consider recording the light to show the court there may be a problem with it.
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