No one likes getting a traffic ticket. Not surprisingly, California red light camera tickets remain extremely unpopular. And for good reason.
A motorist that runs a red light can present a real danger to other drivers and pedestrians. However, red light cameras do little to prevent such dangers. In fact, red light camera tickets actually increase accidents at intersections where they are deployed. That’s not all, according to an interview posted at Reason.com:
- Rolling right turns account for 75 percent of the tickets and the citations issued by red light camera.
- Accidents rarely occur from rolling right turns at red lights.
- Most of the remaining tickets are issued to drivers that enter the intersection a split second after the end of a yellow light. Such technical violations rarely result in accidents or present a real danger.
- The real danger comes from blatant red light runners who blow through an intersection long after the light has already turned green from the cross traffic. Such drivers are unlikely to be deterred by the presence of a red light camera.
So if you get a red light camera ticket, should you fight it? Almost certainly, yes. Here’s why:
- Tickets are expensive. A red light ticket costs nearly $500.
- Tickets put points on your record, which can result in a suspended license and an increase in your insurance premiums.
- Tickets are beatable. A red light camera ticket has major constitutional and evidentiary issues for the prosecution. Namely, the evidence is hearsay and often cannot be properly authenticated. That means that a skilled traffic attorney may be able to get your ticket dismissed.
It’s always wise to drive in a safe and courteous manner. That said, it isn’t fair for otherwise law abiding motorists to face such serious consequences for a technical violation that doesn’t put anyone in danger. If you receive a red light camera ticket, I encourage you to fight your ticket.