Are Red Light Cameras Legal in California?
The Original California Ticket Dismissal Team Is Here To Help You Beat Your Traffic Ticket!
Are you wondering if red light cameras are illegal in California? You are not alone. These red-light cameras are all over the state and every day thousands of unsuspecting Californians are slapped with a violation because of what these cameras have captured.
The answer to the question about their legality is, yes they are currently legal, in the state. However, the injustice carried out by these systems remains the source of much controversy and this is what may likely get these laws overturned.
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An Injustice
When the injustice of automated enforcement is finally put into law by the appellate and even the state supreme court thousands of Californians would have paid enormous fines because of violations captured by their city’s red-light camera.
Getting this type of ticket can have a negative impact on your insurance. The hike in the amount of money that many people pay for their premiums because of these red light tickets often goes into hundreds of dollars. If a law is passed that determines their illegality millions of dollars spent for hiked insurance fees may have to be refunded, if those affected bring a legal challenge.
Speed Traps
Automated red-light cameras that impact traffic laws and determine guilt are clearly a speed trap. This is because of how speed is calculated. Sometimes it is almost as if the motorist has been ambushed.
It is more likely that the cameras have not been placed there because it would be a waste of time. Not because residents do not commit traffic violations but because they would not have the income to pay a hefty fine.
The location of many of the cameras in California is questionable especially in areas like San Diego. The neighborhoods in which the cameras are located are higher-income communities. Many of the cameras are not placed in lower-income communities that are considered dangerous.
This means that the heavy fines that are collected from speeding are taken from people who are deemed “rich enough” to afford a few hundred dollars in fines. However, the way the evidence is collected it’s not the only discrepancy in the entire system. The way the evidence is interpreted to determine whether you are guilty or not is also questionable.
The person who interprets the data and determines your guilt cannot come to court so that you can question them about how they arrived at the decision that you had violated a traffic law by speeding. What happens instead is that a police officer who is trained by a technician will present the verdict of what was seen on camera in court.
Ultimately it is a judge that will decide whether or not you are truly guilty. The truth is many of these judges are kept in the dark about how automated enforcement systems are set up and the data interpreted.
The judge will have no choice but to go with what is presented to them to determine your guilt or your innocence. After all, it will be the word of a police officer against yours.
Protect Yourself
When you are working with such an unfair system it is only fair that you also try to get around paying a fine especially if you know that you are wrongly accused. The last thing you want is to be accused of a crime you did not commit.
You may be wondering how you can get around it. The answer is to not pay the fine and instead go to court to defend your case. However, if you just don’t have the time to do this you should instead fight it through the mail. Contrary to popular belief you do not have to go to court to fight a ticket that has been levied against you.
These automated systems are a violation of your privacy on the road and they often become the judge and jury that decides whether you have committed a traffic offense or not. Fortunately, many people have begun to see this violation of their privacy and have begun to speak up.
Know Your Rights
One of the easiest ways to ensure that you do not get trapped by a traffic violation that you did not commit because of what was captured on a red light camera is to know your rights.
You should also know the best way to defend yourself if such a charge is levied against you.
The last thing you want to have to have happen is to have to pay a fine for something that you did not do.
Follow a manual added link
Photograph Your Ticket & License
*If you don’t have your ticket, we can still start the process and add it later!
Follow a manual added link
Provide Info Using Guided Questions
*Answer questions about the stop and we will include those specific details!
Follow a manual added link
Sign & Send Your Defense to Court
*We will send you a completed packet for the court that just needs your signature and a stamp!
We Help With Many Traffic Ticket Types
TicketBust produces results in fighting all kinds of tickets. Unfortunately, this list does not include exhibition of speed citations. Your best bet in fighting one of these infractions, is to contact an attorney. An attorney can negotiate on your behalf to try and reduce fines, or even to reduce the charges to a lesser infraction which could possibly qualify for traffic school.
We do however, contest infractions revolving around speeding, red lights, red light cameras, cell phones, signs (primarily stop signs), carpool violations, U-turns, out of lane violations, and commercial violations. If you receive a citation and have questions, contact us today.
