Red Light Tickets in California are Expensive
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Running a red traffic light in California would seem like a simple issue.
However, there aren’t always police officers there to see you do it, and it might have been by accident, or you just overestimated the time you had before yellow turned to red. But the biggest fear for California drivers is the infamous red-light camera that captures red light runners.
They’ve been the topic of debate for decades, with some cities enforcing red-light camera tickets and others doing away with them altogether. They’re not always reliable, and this type of traffic citation can be easily dismissed if you know enough about them. Keep reading for a basic guide on what to do if you run a red light by accident.
What Running A Red Light in California Means
Running a red traffic signal is just as illegal in California as anywhere else in the country and world.
Drivers are obligated to come to a full stop before, or right at, the painted line indicating where vehicles must stop when the red lights are on. Sometimes there are no limit lines, which means the car is required to stop approximately where the intersection begins. Even if you don’t cross the intersection completely while the light is red, rolling over the line can get you a moving violation ticket.
Are Red-Light Cameras Still Legal In California?
On top of that, red-light cameras are legal under California Vehicle Cod3 21455.5, regulating Offenses Relating to Traffic Devices. “The limit line, the intersection, or a place designated in Section 21455, where a driver is required to stop, may be equipped with an automated traffic enforcement system.”
How Do Red Light Cameras Work
But if cities choose to implement them, there are requirements the law says red-light cameras must meet. It states that the government agency installing the cameras must also maintain them and keep them in working order to check if drivers are red light running.
And, crucially, signage alerting drivers that red-light cameras are installed at that intersection must be clearly visible. The photos taken by a red light camera are private but can be reviewed by the ticketed person.
Red light cameras are installed at busy intersections where transit authorities have determined they can be the most useful. They sense when a car goes through the intersection at a red light, taking several pictures in seconds. The two main photos it tries to capture are one for the back license plate and one of the driver through the windshield or side window. Red light cameras are much more sophisticated than your average security camera, so don’t underestimate them.
The red light camera violation ticket is then mailed to the car owner’s home based on the address registered to the car. Also, the ticket will only be valid if the camera captures the driver’s face through the windshield or any of the front side windows. Otherwise, the ticket is not valid.
Do They Really Reduce Street Light Crashes at Intersections?
Reports from organizations such as The Cochrane Collaboration, a well-known public health organization, have conducted studies on the effectiveness of red light camera programs. They analyzed ten controlled before and after studies and found that these programs are quite efficient at reducing several crash types, especially fatal crashes. The use of red light cameras can reduce fatal accidents and those resulting in major injuries, by up to 29%.
However, it is important to exercise caution when using red light cameras. Some reports suggest that they may increase the risk of rear-end crashes. Despite this concern, many states continue to use red light cameras because rear-end crashes are generally less severe than other types of crashes, such as front-into-side crashes.
A study conducted by the Federal Highway Administration also yielded similar results. The study compared the performance of red light cameras in seven different cities and found that they can decrease the risk of street light accidents by up to 25%. Like the previously mentioned studies, it also found that red light cameras are most effective in reducing right-angle crashes.
Overall, they do seem to do a good job at deterring aggressive drivers or negligent drivers from speeding through a traffic signal at intersections, thus reducing street light accidents and crash rates.
The Cost Of Running A Red Light In California
A red light violation would cost you anywhere from $250 to $450-500. The base fine for rolling through a red light is $100, but that increases because of additional court costs in different counties.
Going right through a solid or flashing red light can end up costing you a cool $500. On top of that, a red-light ticket will add one point to your driving record, which will then be used by your insurance company to raise your rates. Insurance companies take a look at your driving record for any new traffic violations every year when it comes to renewing your coverage, so act fast.
If it involves a reckless driving offense and maybe even property damages or accident victims, the points added could be more. Remember that if you accumulate too many points in California, your license is suspended.
Defense Against Any Red Light Ticket
If you were given a red light ticket for a moving violation by a police officer, there are several possible ways to defend yourself in front of the judge and avoid serious consequences. You could argue it was an accident and you did not see the painted limit line or that it was simply not there, making the actual limit difficult to ascertain. You can also take pictures of the intersection and prove you were within reasonable boundaries so you can fight against traffic tickets.
Another defense is to argue that the red light or stop sign is obstructed by a low-hanging branch, another sign, or because of the weather. Again, photographs can be a big help in these cases. One of our Ticket Snipers consultants and experienced attorneys can help you with the best defense in these situations. You must always have your driver’s license and registration with you at all times.
How To Defend Against a Red-Light Camera Ticket
It’s even easier to fight a red-light camera ticket because you can use a lot of the same defenses, and there’s no police officer there to contradict you. An experienced attorney in traffic law can help you with any of these defenses quickly.
Ignore it (Not recommended)
Red-light camera tickets are mailed, so there’s very little the court can do to prove you did get a ticket. It’s not recommended, but you could, in theory, simply say you never got it or saw it at your address. It’s dishonest, and you risk being caught in the lie and facing even worse consequences.
Not Pay If It’s A Fake Ticket
However, there’s the possibility that the camera cannot get a clear picture of the driver. The court will be forced to send what is commonly known as a fake ticket, which is just a document that reads “Courtesy Notice: This Is Not A Ticket.” Many people pay the fine believing they’ve been caught running the red light, but if you read it carefully and realize you’ve simply been given this courtesy notice, you can avoid paying anything.
Plead “not guilty”
Enter a “not guilty” plea. This can be done online or appear in person at the arraignment and do it. Show the judge all the evidence you’ve collected and calmly explain why you think you should not have been cited or is incorrect, unlawful, or just unfair. A traffic attorney can greatly increase your odds of having a ticket dismissed this way.
Make sure you were the at-fault driver
Prove you weren’t actually driving the vehicle. If you weren’t driving, then you don’t have to pay the fines. But, the law dictates that you submit the contact information of the person who was driving the vehicle instead if you’re the registered owner.
Review photos of yourself
One way to check to see if you were the driver is to ask law enforcement to see the photos yourself. Check your citation for instructions on how to see them. If it’s not clear who the driver is, then the ticket is invalid.
Make sure signage is clearly visible
Check the intersection location to see if the signs are correctly placed within 200 feet of every road, if there’s anything obstructing the view of the red light, stop signs, or if the limit lines aren’t painted correctly.
Yellow light time defense
Make sure the yellow light lasts as long as it should after changing from a green light,, which is three seconds. If it doesn’t last at least that time, you can have your case dismissed.
If all those tips aren’t enough, then contact us at Ticket Snipers if you have any questions about running the red light by accident and how to defend your vehicle against red light violations, parking tickets, or any type of traffic violation We are available 24/7 if you’d like to chat with one of our trained consultants about traffic ticket defense.