Every Camera Enforced Intersection DOES NOT Have Warning Signs 

The California Vehicle Code only requires that warning signs be posted to notify drivers of camera enforced intersections and that these signs be posted either at all approaches to the intersection or at all main entrances into a city including (freeways, bridges, and state highway routes).

Have you ever wondered why there are photo enforced warning signs for red light cameras at some intersections but not all them? The vehicle code VC§ 21455.5 says (a) (1), “Warning signs must be posted at each camera-equipped intersection and visible to traffic approaching from all directions, or at all the main entrances to town including, at a minimum, freeways, bridges, and state highway routes." The purpose of this law is to make sure that drivers are warned in all instances where there is red light camera enforcement.

Many times you will see warning signs posted right next to the traffic signal light, however not always. Sometimes warning signs might even be posted at the previous, non- camera enforced intersection which can be misleading or cause confusion. So while a City may not be in violation of the Vehicle Code requirements if they don’t have warning signs placed at the intersection (since they have a choice in the placement), if any signs you do find are blocked or damaged in a such a way you can’t see them, then you may have something that can help you in getting your ticket dismissed because warning signs do have to be reasonably visible. Be sure to take pictures of the signs to show they are not visible and take them to court with you or include them with your Trial by Written Declaration if you choose to fight your ticket in writing using form TR-205 (available at your local courthouse).

Contributed by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets. If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

Los Angeles - LOS ANGELES - As the Los Angeles City Council prepares to vote this week on the future of the city's critical traffic safety camera program, the Traffic Safety Coalition is outlining 10 reasons why the program should stay:

1. ZERO Crash Fatalities: Following safety camera installation, the Los Angeles Police Department crash reports, between 2002 and 2009 since the Photo Red Light Camera program began, NO fatal crashes have occurred at any of the camera enforced intersection approaches.
2. Safety cameras have worked to make Los Angeles streets safer. There has been a 62 percent decrease in red light related traffic collisions at the 32 intersections where the cameras are installed, with no significant increase in rear end collisions.
3. Safety cameras change driving behavior citywide. In Los Angeles there was a 22% reduction in crashes citywide after deployment.
4. Deadly consequences of dangerous driving in California. 3,000 people are killed in the California roadways every year (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
5. Red light running kills. 66 percent of all people killed at intersection crashes are victims of red light runners. The victims are innocent drivers, passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2011).
6. Red light running increased in Houston when cameras went dark. After intersection safety cameras were turned off in Houston, police cited injury crashes were up 350 percent after deactivation and one Houston intersection saw a 1,300% increase in crashes following camera deactivation. (“Exclusive: Accidents way up with red light cameras off.” KTRK ABC 13 Houston, 8-June-2011)
7. Speeding and red light running increased in Albuquerque when cameras were removed. Red light running and speeding increased by 584 percent after intersection safety cameras were turned off at three Albuquerque intersections just five months ago (“Scary stats with red light cameras off,” KRQE News 7, 5/27/11).
8. Speeding increased in Scottsdale when cameras were turned off. When speed safety cameras were turned off on Scottsdale's State Loop 101, the number of drivers speeding increased 1,024 percent (Washington et al., "Evaluation of the City of Scottsdale Loop 101 Photo Enforcement Demonstration Program, Arizona State University." Nov 2007).
9. Safety cameras reduce fatal crashes nationwide. A 2011 report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety concluded traffic safety cameras at the 14 largest U.S. cities using them reduced fatal red light running crashes by 24 percent (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2011).
10. Simply put, safety cameras reduce red light running and speeding, change driver behavior and save lives.

"It's a sad reality that when drivers are not held accountable for their actions, speeding and red light running increases dramatically as they ignore our traffic safety laws, putting everyone in danger," said Traffic Safety Coalition co-chairs Paul and Sue Oberhauser. “Cities should be taking advantage of red light cameras and every other technology available to ensure these laws are followed and enforced.”

About the Traffic Safety Coalition:
The Traffic Safety Coalition is a not-for-profit, grassroots organization comprised of concerned citizens, traffic safety experts, law enforcement, public officials, victim's advocates, health care professionals, and industry leaders who are committed to working together to make our roads safer for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. We work with our partners throughout the country to promote technology and education that save lives and keep our roads safe. For more information, visit www.trafficsafetycoalition.com.

Even if Los Angeles Shuts Down Red Light Don’t Forget About the Ticket You Already Have

The Los Angeles City Council has announced plans to stop using cameras to enforce red light violators at numerous intersections throughout the city. While many are rejoicing that the cameras may be shut down by the end of June, don’t forget about the red light camera ticket you currently have!

The program ending would prevent future red light camera tickets from being issued. However, don’t assume that any current red light camera tickets you have from the City of Los Angeles will just automatically vanish. If the current red light camera system ends these tickets will still be prosecuted. To avoid potential problems just be sure to follow up on any outstanding tickets. You can always check the status of your ticket on the court website to see if it is still active or closed. Remember, if the ticket is already filed and active with the court before the city’s red light program ends (assuming it does) then it may not automatically be dropped. If you don’t follow up on the ticket it may go to collections or affect you negatively in other ways if the DMV is notified (LA courts exercise their own discretion and can choose to refer your information to a collections agency OR the DMV OR Both, although it is rumored they usually stick with the first option).

We would like your opinion as well if you think LA LA should shut down the cameras?  Was Los Angeles losing money on red light cameras?  A few non-profits have raised the question of whether photo enforcement is a legitimate use of city and law enforcement resources considering the recent acknowledgement by the LAPD and LADOT that intersections have been made safer due to signal timing enhancements alone.

Contribute by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets. If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

Related Stories:
What If You Don't Pay Your Red Light Camera Ticket

How Do Changes to Traffic School Laws Will Affect Those With Multiple Red Light Camera Tickets?

There is a new law effective July 1, 2011 that will affect California Traffic School laws. Say you get multiple red light camera tickets within an 18 month period, well there will no longer be the possibility of taking traffic school more than once. Whereas before repeat violators could still take a Traffic School course if the court allowed it, now the courts will no longer be able to exercise this type of discretion.

The law will no longer allow superior courts to “mask” a conviction as a dismissal after traffic school is taken IF there is already a “masked” conviction on a person’s record within the previous 18 months. So you are still allowed one in 18 months, but there is no chance you can do Traffic School multiple times any more.

Basically the purpose of the law is to prevent the Courts from allowing repeat violators more than one Traffic School dismissal within 18 months, so drivers should be aware of this new law, always remember to drive safely, and take special caution at camera enforced intersections.

Blog contributed by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets.

Cast Your Vote?
	Yes
	No
	Don't Care

Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners will decide whether or not to approve the LAPD’s request for a new multi-year, multi-million dollar contract for the city’s Photo Red-Light Program.

Some highlights from the LAPD’s request:

·Under the new Photo Red-Light contract, the City of Los Angeles will lose a minimum of $1.5 million per year on the program.

·LAPD has chosen American Traffic Solutions, the vendor for the current system, as the vendor for the new contract even though ATS is based in the State of Arizona and the City Council previously voted to boycott all Arizona based businesses.

Safer Streets L.A., a grassroots organization dedicated towards improving motorist safety, believes there may be enough opposition from Police Commission Board Members to vote down the proposal and kill the Red Light Camera Program.

Safer Streets L.A. also questions the wisdom of the City of Los Angeles continuing to do business with a company that has recently been caught engaging in ethical lapses in their quest to sway public opinion in support of red light cameras. See the following:

Heraldnet
Spokesman
Highway Robbery
Againstallclods

The Board of Police Commissioners meeting will take place at 9:30am at the Police Administration Building 100 West 1st Street. LA, CA. Safer Streets L.A. studies regarding red-light cameras can be viewed and downloaded for free at Saferstreetsla.org/reports

Not all red light camera tickets are the same as there are different red light camera companies. Some are easier to read then others. If you have ever received a Red Light Photo Ticket in cities like West Hollywood and San Francisco you may have had difficulty trying to figure out what all those numbers mean at the top of your photograph.

Cities like West Hollywood or San Francisco use the technology of ACS camera systems and on these camera tickets there is a photo of the vehicle’s position when the light first turns red and a picture of the vehicles position when it is going through the intersection. There is a square block at the top center of each photograph. There are numbers and symbols listed on these square data blocks that translate into things like the speed of your vehicle at the time you passed through the intersection, the date of the violation, and the timing of the traffic signals.

If you are looking at the square data block on the first photograph, it is important to know that the first set of numbers is the time of day, the set of numbers to the left of this is the Date/Month/ Year. The next line of numbers reflects how long the light was yellow before the light turned red, and the last set of numbers to the left of this reflect how the long the light was red before the vehicle entered the intersection.

As for the data box on the second photograph, it is important to know that the first row of numbers here is also the time and date. The second and third rows are a little different though. The second row tells you how much time has passed in between Photograph One of the vehicle and Photograph Two, how long the light has been red between Photograph One and Two. On the third and final row, there is the violation counter (if there was only one person that ran a red light ahead of you then the violation counter will read 002), and the last set of numbers reflects the speed of your vehicle. If you plan on fighting your ticket then it definitely helps to understand what all those numbers mean.

Contributed by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets. If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

Do Cameras Shutting Down Have Any Affect on Your Current Red Light Photo Ticket?

It is rumored that the red light camera system for the city of San Bernardino (not the County of San Bernardino, just the City) is supposed to be shut down starting in June of this year. What you shouldn’t do is assume that any current red light ticket you have from the City of San Bernardino will just automatically “go away” once the red light camera system ends.

Even though there won’t be any more red light tickets issued in San Bernardino after June, be sure to take care of any outstanding tickets, because any tickets where the date of the violation is before June 1, should still be valid. For example the date of the violation may be May 31, even if you don’t get the courtesy notice till July, it’s still a valid ticket because the violation occurred before the city’s red light program ended. Remember that the program is only supposed to turn off cameras in the City of San Bernardino, so still be wary of the camera enforced intersections through San Bernardino County where the cameras are still turned on.

Contributed by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets. If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

Bicyclists and Red Light Cameras

Most bicyclists are not aware that the motor vehicle code applies to them since they are not technically driving a motor vehicle. “Motor vehicle” would normally not be expected to include a device moved exclusively by human power.

Bicyclists however can be cited for a red light ticket under the California Vehicle Code due to the fact that by statute every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division.

Although a bicyclist could technically be ticketed by Red Light Camera, there is the sheer fact that bicycles do not have a plate on them so the driver of the bicycle cannot be tracked.

State Assemblyman Michael Den Dekker in New York has introduced legislation that, poses the idea of requiring all bicycles to have a license plate, and placing cameras in the bike lanes, so that when a bicycle goes through a red light, they could be tracked down and issued a ticket essentially like registered owners of cars are tracked down and issued a ticket.

There doesn’t appear to be any similar pending legislation in California like that in New York, however bicyclists in California do face hefty fines if ticketed by an officer (though no demerit points to their motor vehicle driving record).

Contributed by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets.If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

Fines for Red Light Camera Tickets Going Up?

Do you think the fines for red lights are already too high? According to the State of California Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule, the base fine amount for a Red Light Ticket is $400.00. However, if you have received a ticket you know that additional costs add up to about $497.  The base cost for the same type of ticket last year would have yielded $380.00. The $20.00 increase, added to the already high ticket fine for a red light camera, is just another reason that many California motorists are opting to their fight red light camera ticket instead of just paying it.

The cost of your actual ticket will of course be more than the base fine after added court fees. For example, a court security fee of $30.00 could be added and a conviction assessment of $35.00 could be added in addition to the base bail.

On top of the fine increase from last year there are certain counties in California (including Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno County just to name a few) that are allowed by law to impose a fine which is greater than the base fine amounts listed in the Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedule and thus the reason fines are almost $500. 

Blog contributed by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets.  If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

Safer Streets L.A. has raised the pertinent question of whether photo enforcement is a legitimate use of city and law enforcement resources considering the recent acknowledgement by the LAPD and LADOT that intersections have been made safer due to signal timing enhancements alone. Safer Streets L.A. and its supporters will be providing public comment as to why the contract should not be extended.

• Effect of Extending PRL Contract 3 Months
• Immediate cost of $ $901,539.00 (Vendor and LAPD/DOT)
• Overall Loss of $22,000 (after income from tickets many months later)
• Loss To Local Economy: $1,072,861.00+ (In ticket costs alone. Additional losses to the economy from higher insurance premiums.)
• Cost for 30 day warning period $0.00 (Vendor pays this cost. Need warning period if system moved to new locations anyway.)
• No Improvement in Safety (Accidents were eliminated by original engineering countermeasures, Cameras not put at most dangerous intersections)
• 75% of Tickets for Rolling Right Turns (97% at some intersection approaches)*
• Violations can be further reduced by lengthening yellow light .3 - .7 seconds at minimal cost

3 Month Projections for Contract Extension

Receipts due from Superior Court	$ 1,072,861.00
Reporters Salary Fund Deductions at 18%	$  (193,114.98)
Estimated Revenue from RLC Program	$   879,746.02
Vendor Costs	$   691,194.00
Labor (LADOT & LAPD Direct)	$   210,345.00
LADOT Infrastructure Cost Amortization	$                 -
Total costs	$   901,539.00
Net Income (Loss)	$    (21,792.98)

*Citation Data from LAPD
**Costs and revenue projections verified by Controller’s office.

The Safer Streets LA studies can be viewed and downloaded for free at www.saferstreetsla.org/reports. 

Unusual Practice Used by Sacramento Superior Court for Those Wanting to Contest a Red Light Camera Ticket in Writing

In California, anyone who receives a ticket for a traffic infraction can have the option to fight the ticket without going to court through a process called a Trial by Written Declaration. This is authorized by the California Vehicle Code, under section 40902 (a) (1). For those who receive a red light camera ticket, contesting the ticket through mail is a lot more appealing then showing up in person in court where there is an officer with a binder from the camera company who will testify on the workings of the red light camera.

When a person contacts a court to request a Trial by Declaration, the court will send you the necessary state approved forms for a Trial by Written Declaration (TR-205) and instructions. However if your red light camera ticket is filed with the Superior Court of Sacramento, this court tries to make it more difficult for you to contest your red light ticket with a Trial by Declaration.

The Sacramento Superior Court has a local form called a “Red Light Camera Statement of Identification” which states that “Without admitting guilt, I stipulate that I was the driver of the vehicle pictured in the automated enforcement photograph”. The form itself does not state anywhere that it is mandatory it be filled out, and in fact the court website even only states, “...please complete the Red Light Camera Statement of Identification” (notice the use of the word please instead of must). However, if you don’t complete this you could receive a notice of non compliance or ineligibility after filing your Trial by Declaration paperwork and be dropped from the courts Trial by Declaration Calendar.

If you are not allowed to proceed with a Trial by Declaration then your only option is a court trial (outside of just paying the fine and accepting the points going on your record). But what if it is not convenient for you to appear in court because of your work schedule or the distance you live from the court? What if you were not the driver, but do not know who the driver is or you do know who the driver is but don’t want to turn them in? Should you be prevented from using a Trial by Declaration simply because you cannot state under penalty of perjury that you were the driver?

With this unusual practice, the court is essentially saying that in order to avoid being dropped from the Trial by Declaration calendar, you must at least stipulate to one of the elements of the crime (identity – being the driver) which is an element that is supposed to be proved by the police department issuing the ticket, or your case will not be adjudicated (at least not by Trial by Declaration to which you have a right to contest your ticket by under 40902 (a) (1)). This unusual (dare say unfair or unjust) practice has been in use for some time and those who are concerned about the matter might consider writing to or calling the head judge in Sacramento or the head office for all California courts in San Francisco.

Article contributed by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets. If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

Automated Traffic Enforcement of Seatbelt Law

Unlike Arizona, California drivers cannot be ticketed for not wearing a seatbelt if their vehicle is photographed going through a red light. In Arizona for example if a driver is cited for the primary violation of running a red light or speeding, they can also be cited for a secondary violation like a seatbelt ticket or a ticket for expired registration. Californians are still only ticketed the old fashioned way, by an officer, for a seatbelt or expired registration ticket. It's a good thing too, because a red light camera ticket yields upwards of $400.00 plus a point or more on your driving record. To be ticketed for a seatbelt ticket in addition to the red light ticket would yield another $100 plus, as well as a point on your driving record. Drivers should always practice safe driving habits which would include wearing a seatbelt, but for now California drivers can rest easy as they will not be ticketed for a seatbelt ticket by a camera.

Contributed by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets.If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

Improper Right or Left Turn on Green Light Can Result in Camera Ticket

Although there has been talk in California about allowing traffic camera enforcement to be used for speeding, it is not yet allowed. What is allowed is red light camera enforcement of course, but also the automated enforcement of certain turns made at an intersection.

The California Vehicle Code section (40518) authorizing the use of a mailed notice to appear does include violations of 22101 recorded by an automated enforcement system and California Vehicle Code section 22101 does cover violations such as right or left hand turns that are prohibited by signs, disobeying traffic control devices, and other turning movements regulated by signs or marked traffic lanes.

That’s right, you enter the intersection legally on a green light, but you might be making an illegal or improper turn. For that you could still get a surprise ticket mailed to you with a picture of you making that turn and for that you may get a hefty fine.

Contributed by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets. If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

If You’re Caught on Camera for a Red Light Violation and You Were also on the Phone Can You Get a Ticket for Both?

If you’ve ever found yourself traveling through an intersection or turning at an intersection and being blinded by the flashing lights of the Automated Traffic Enforcement System at the same time as when you were on the phone, you may be worried that you will get a ticket for the cell phone violation as well as the red light violation. Well the good news is that so far, the vehicle section that authorizes a Notice to Appear to be mailed instead of handed to you by an officer, does not include the vehicle code section for cell phone use or texting while driving. So while you should always adhere to safe driving practices, you can rest assured that red light camera enforcement systems are not yet being used to also ticket drivers for cell phone violations. In any event, if an officer sees you on the phone, look out because with increased fines in California, the base fine (fine before other added court fees) for a cell phone violation used to be $20+ and it is now $80+. See the Cell Phone Ticket Laws in other states.

Contributed by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets. If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

Will More Cities Follow Victorville’s Lead and Start Dismissing Cases? At least three red light camera tickets issued in the city of Victorville have been thrown out by judges in San Bernardino Superior Court.

The city of Victorville has contracted with Redflex, an Arizona based, red light camera manufacturer, but as a result of court decisions proclaiming photographic evidence generated from the Redflex camera system as inadmissible evidence, the city is trying to get out of the contract. There are only 10 cameras left turned on in Victorville (out of the original 16) however if court decisions keep going the way they are going, Redflex may have to let Victorville out of its contract and Victorville could turn off the remaining 10 cameras making many citizens happy. In fact, according to the VVDailyPress.com, Victorville’s contract with Redflex allows Victorville to get out of the contract if “any court having jurisdiction over city rules...that results from the Redflex System of photo enforcement are inadmissible in evidence”.

A common factor in a lot of these Redflex camera ticket cases that have been dismissed is that no one from the Arizona based Redflex company attends the trials, the company instead sends a written statement as to how its systems work and an officer from the issuing city testifies on his training about how the system works and the photographic evidence presented. Many judges are refusing to consider this a proper way to authenticate the evidence (photos and videos). There is at least one published court case that discusses this same issue, People v. Khaled.

This leaves us to beg the question, will more and more judges follow the same lead these San Bernardino Superior court judges have taken and will more and more cities take Victorville’s lead in ending the use of these controversial camera enforcement systems?

Contributed by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets.  If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

The first step to fighting any traffic infraction is to look up the vehicle code section you were cited with. The second step is to pick apart that vehicle code section in order to find out what the elements of the infraction are. If any of the elements necessary to be present in order to find someone guilty of the infraction are missing in your situation then you’re well on your way to getting your ticket dismissed.

Now a red light camera ticket will have the violation code listed as California Vehicle Code (CVC) section 21453. You can go online to legalinfo.ca.gov to look it up. However there is more involved to fighting a red light camera ticket.

You not only need to look up that code section which you were actually cited for, but you also need to look up a few additional code sections, like what vehicle code section authorizes red light camera enforcement. Once you know what sections actually lay out the rules or requirements for the operation of red light cameras, you can write down those and then check to see if any of the rules were violated or requirements not followed in your case. Check out CVC§21453, CVC§ 21455.5, CVC§21455.6, CVC§ 21455.7, CVC§40518, if any rules listed in these code sections were violated, or requirements not followed, then you have ammunition in court for getting the ticket dismissed.

Article submitted by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets.  If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

If you’re the registered owner of a vehicle and are being asked to identify the driver pictured on a red light photo ticket you are faced with several dilemmas.

Scenario One: Know the driver but don’t want to turn them in.

Filling out the affidavit may mean turning in a friend, family member, or even your own spouse. Say the driver was your spouse, but your spouse has more points on their license then you. It may make more sense to leave the ticket in your name. Deciding on whether or not to leave a ticket in your name and choosing not turn in the driver’s name is up to you and legally you cannot be forced to identify the driver. See California Vehicle Code Section 21455.5(c) stating there is no requirement that the defendant bear any burden of proof in defending herself against a charge for violating California Vehicle Code Sec. 21453(a).

Scenario Two: Not sure who the driver is.

On the other end of the spectrum you may very well not know who the driver is. Maybe you own a business and the car is used as a company car. Maybe you have a large family and multiple persons had access to the car. Perhaps the valet could have driven your car without you knowing it, or your car mechanic. In this situation you will not be able to complete an affidavit of non liability truthfully even if you want to because there’s no way to be exactly sure who was driving your car at that exact moment in time. Many courts will be understanding especially if the picture clearly does not look like you or there is a gender mismatch, but you stand an even better chance if can back up your statement with proof. For example, find someone that is willing to testify as your witness that the car is driven by multiple drivers and it would be impossible to tell who was driving the car at that exact time.

Scenario Three: I can’t tell if it was me or someone else driving.

The picture may be too blurry for you to be able to identify the driver. In this situation it would be really difficult for you to complete an affidavit of non liability because you would be taking a wild guess since you can’t make out figure that is supposed to be a close up of the driver. If the picture is too blurry for you to make out the driver, there’s a good chance the judge won’t be able to either and you may be home free. If the picture of the driver is too blurry, the other side won’t be able to prove that it was you driving. See California Penal Code Section 1096 stating that, in a criminal proceeding, the burden of proving the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is upon the state. - blog submitted by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets.

If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at
(800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

What LA Courts are Doing if You Don’t Pay Your Red Light Camera Ticket

Pursuant to a recent LA Times article about camera tickets, word has gotten around that LA courts don’t report to the DMV if a person fails to respond to a Camera Ticket. Some people are saying what’s the point of fighting it then?

Well, if the registered owner fails to respond, the court will send a notice stating additional $300 will be imposed if not paid within 10 days. After that the registered owner’s name is sent to collections. So although the DMV won’t be notified to suspend the driver’s license, a collections agency will be harassing them and could have a major negative impact on their credit score.

LA Superior Court may be one of the only counties, if not the only county, having this policy and it has this policy because in the court’s opinion, since the registered owner may not necessarily be the driver it is not fair to suspend the registered owner’s license without knowing they were the driver.

Keep in mind that the LA Times article is only specific to registered owners whose name appears on the ticket. So you will be taking a gamble if you are not the registered owner and your name was turned in by the registered owner and yet you still choose to ignore the ticket.

Also in choosing to ignore ticket and let collections come after them, all persons are taking a gamble that the court doesn’t choose to change their policy at that time. It is a policy the court has elected to make, they were not mandated to do so, so really it could change at any time without notice.

blog submitted by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets. If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

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Do You Still Have to Pay Your LA Red Light Camera Ticket?

Illegal Right Turn & Rolling Right Tickets Defined

The difference between the two types of tickets is huge!   If you made a right hand turn at a red light and were caught by a camera, chances are that the ticket you received in the mail states you violated CVC§21453(a) even though they could have (some argue should have) cited you for CVC§21453(b). For some cities, like Los Angeles, CA most of the revenue is generated by illegal right turns, in fact an LA Times article from December last year reported that according to the Los Angeles Police Department, an estimated 8 in 10 photo tickets were issued for right turns.  Do you wonder police department’s are now issuing tickets under Vehicle code section CVC§21453 (a) regardless of whether or not the motorist was turning right?

Here are both of these sections:

21453 Circular Red or Red Arrow

(a) A driver facing a steady circular red signal alone shall stop at a marked limit line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection, and shall remain stopped until an indication to proceed is shown, except as provided in subdivision (b).

(b) Except when a sign is in place prohibiting a turn, a driver, after stopping as required by subdivision (a), facing a steady circular red signal, may turn right, or turn left from a one-way street onto a one-way street. A driver making that turn shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to any vehicle that has approached or is approaching so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard to the driver, and shall continue to yield the right-of-way to that vehicle until the driver can proceed with reasonable safety.

Now, here’s the distinction:

The first section (a) says nothing about right turns, and is basically used for those who go straight through a red light.

The second section (b) essentially says you can turn after stopping if there is no sign prohibiting a turn on red.

So if you made a “California rolling stop” why wouldn’t you be cited for the second section (b) instead of (a) you might ask...

Check out this “Traffic Infraction Penalty Schedule” (from the January 2010 Edition Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedules, California Rules of Court, Rule 4,102):

Section: 21453 (a, c)
Offense: “Red” Signal- Vehicular Responsibilities
Total Bail/Fee (Keep in mind the so called “Total Bail” is before certain additional court or other fees that is added and there are 30 counties in CA authorized by law to exceed the total bail/fee):$380.00

Section: 21453 (b)
Offense: “Red” Signal- Vehicular Responsibilities With Right Turn
Total Bail/Fee (Keep in mind the so called “Total Bail” is before certain additional court or other fees that is added and there are 30 counties in CA authorized by law to exceed the total bail/fee):$146.00

Article contributed by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets. If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

Technically yes according to the law!  Did you know speed traps are illegal in California?

California Vehicle Code defines a speed trap (in section 40802) as a section of a highway “measured as to distance and with boundaries marked, designated, or otherwise determined in order that the speed of a vehicle may be calculated by securing the time it takes the vehicle to travel the known distance”.

So, automated red light camera system systems are technically illegal speed traps as defined in California law because of the sensors placed in the ground used to measure speed. Could this be a contributing factor to why class action lawsuits are finally being launched against major camera companies or why cities such as El Monte, Fresno, Moreno Valley, Union City and earlier this year, Costa Mesa, have shut down their camera systems? 

Automated enforcement systems were designed to record an incident that occurs during the red phase of the light.  However, do wonder how do red light cameras work?   A vehicle triggers the system by passing over a measured distance in the roadway (two sets of inductive loops are cut into the pavement). These sensors record the time it takes for the vehicle to cross the distance between the sensors and calculates the speed of the vehicle based upon the distance and the elapsed time for the vehicle to cross it. If the vehicle is over the set threshold then the system activates. Thus the calculated speed of the vehicle is used to trigger the camera (which records and stores information for use in later issuing a ticket for the prosecution of a red light violation).

Article contributed by Ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets.  If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.