California Drivers: Pay or Ignore Red Light Tickets? Experts Weigh In
A question on everyone's mind in the Golden State is whether drivers who receive red light tickets should pay them or just ignore them. The answer, however, is not a straightforward one.
Kris Kahrs, a North Hollywood resident, was shocked when she received a $486 ticket from a red-light camera after being caught running a red light. She paid $179 to fight the ticket through Ticket Snipers, a company that claims to successfully challenge thousands of camera tickets every year.
According to Jorian Goes, founder of Ticket Snipers, there are several problems with electronically issued violations, including calibration issues with sensors and cameras, as well as a lack of human witness and first-person testimony. "They have calibration issues... and then there is a non-uniformed declarant that looks over the footage," Goes said.
Jay Beeber from the National Motorists Association explained that in California, the state and courts do not have a mechanism to force people to answer their tickets or pay them if they don't respond. "The only thing they can do is send it to a collection agency, which has no power over you," he said.
Beeber also pointed out that credit reporting agencies cannot report unpaid traffic ticket debt, making it difficult for cities and counties to use fines as revenue generators. However, some lawmakers have been using traffic violations as a way to boost state revenue, with hidden fees often tacked onto citations.
Red light camera tickets are often for minor infractions, such as "Mickey Mouse" violations - fractions of a second or slow-rolling right turns that few can even see with the naked eye. Beeber noted that these types of violations make up a small fraction of total red-light camera ticket issues.
The Los Angeles Superior Court confirmed that if a litigant fails to appear in court or take any action, the case will proceed to collections. However, it is worth noting that local court policies may vary outside of Los Angeles County, and some jurisdictions may refer unpaid traffic tickets to the State Franchise Tax Board.
In response to growing criticism, California recently passed a new law giving cities and counties the option to classify red light camera tickets as civil rather than criminal offenses. This change would make it easier for cities to enforce these violations without having to prove a crime was committed. However, owners of cars caught running red lights on camera would still have to pay $100.
Ultimately, whether drivers should pay or ignore their red light tickets depends on individual circumstances and local court policies. While ignoring the ticket may seem like an easy way out, it's essential to be aware that responding to a citation will change one's status in the system, and failing to appear in court can result in further penalties.
In conclusion, while some experts advocate paying or fighting red light tickets, others recommend ignoring them due to the lack of enforcement mechanisms. As California lawmakers continue to grapple with how to address traffic violations as revenue generators, it remains unclear whether drivers should prioritize payment, appeal, or simply accept the fine and move on.
A question on everyone's mind in the Golden State is whether drivers who receive red light tickets should pay them or just ignore them. The answer, however, is not a straightforward one.
Kris Kahrs, a North Hollywood resident, was shocked when she received a $486 ticket from a red-light camera after being caught running a red light. She paid $179 to fight the ticket through Ticket Snipers, a company that claims to successfully challenge thousands of camera tickets every year.
According to Jorian Goes, founder of Ticket Snipers, there are several problems with electronically issued violations, including calibration issues with sensors and cameras, as well as a lack of human witness and first-person testimony. "They have calibration issues... and then there is a non-uniformed declarant that looks over the footage," Goes said.
Jay Beeber from the National Motorists Association explained that in California, the state and courts do not have a mechanism to force people to answer their tickets or pay them if they don't respond. "The only thing they can do is send it to a collection agency, which has no power over you," he said.
Beeber also pointed out that credit reporting agencies cannot report unpaid traffic ticket debt, making it difficult for cities and counties to use fines as revenue generators. However, some lawmakers have been using traffic violations as a way to boost state revenue, with hidden fees often tacked onto citations.
Red light camera tickets are often for minor infractions, such as "Mickey Mouse" violations - fractions of a second or slow-rolling right turns that few can even see with the naked eye. Beeber noted that these types of violations make up a small fraction of total red-light camera ticket issues.
The Los Angeles Superior Court confirmed that if a litigant fails to appear in court or take any action, the case will proceed to collections. However, it is worth noting that local court policies may vary outside of Los Angeles County, and some jurisdictions may refer unpaid traffic tickets to the State Franchise Tax Board.
In response to growing criticism, California recently passed a new law giving cities and counties the option to classify red light camera tickets as civil rather than criminal offenses. This change would make it easier for cities to enforce these violations without having to prove a crime was committed. However, owners of cars caught running red lights on camera would still have to pay $100.
Ultimately, whether drivers should pay or ignore their red light tickets depends on individual circumstances and local court policies. While ignoring the ticket may seem like an easy way out, it's essential to be aware that responding to a citation will change one's status in the system, and failing to appear in court can result in further penalties.
In conclusion, while some experts advocate paying or fighting red light tickets, others recommend ignoring them due to the lack of enforcement mechanisms. As California lawmakers continue to grapple with how to address traffic violations as revenue generators, it remains unclear whether drivers should prioritize payment, appeal, or simply accept the fine and move on.
I think it's kinda messed up that we gotta pay or ignore these red light tickets, ya know? Like, what if we don't have enough cash to fight 'em or pay 'em off? 
We should be able to just move forward without all this drama. And it's wild how some lawmakers are using fines as a way to boost revenue... 
It feels like they're more interested in getting that dough than keeping our roads safe. Anyway, I think the new law that lets cities classify these tickets as civil offenses is a step in the right direction... maybe we can finally get some clarity on this whole thing! 
Maybe they should just raise awareness more about how red light cameras work and make sure we're all aware of the fine print... 
Red light cameras are a total mess! I mean, who wants to get fined for running a red light when they're only like 2 seconds late? 
It's not fair to people who genuinely don't see the light, especially in areas with lots of pedestrians or construction. And have you seen those fines? $486?! That's crazy! 
. if they cant prove it was u who committed the crime, then why should u have to pay? maybe they should focus on making roads safer instead of nickel and diming people for minor infractions like slow-rolling turns 
. And then when you try to fight it or pay it, it can be super hard because there's no real mechanism in place to make people respond.
.
. So what's the solution? I don't know... maybe we need to get our lawmakers to figure out some way to make this system fairer for everyone 
.
I think it's kinda funny that people are even debating whether to pay or ignore those red light tickets 
Are cities gonna start fining ppl for breathing too hard on the sidewalk? 
Just kidding ( sorta) 
. Maybe we can find some other ways to fund our cities that don't involve exploiting drivers 
What kind of system is this, where you get fined without even knowing what's going on? It's like they're trying to rob us blind 
.
its time to rethink our traffic laws & focus on public safety instead of lining city coffers 
and followin the rules 
.