Fighting a Red Light Camera Traffic Ticket

About half the states allow the use of automated camera systems to ticket drivers who run red lights. If you live or drive in one of these states, you might find yourself getting a notice of a red light violation. Red light camera laws vary by state, but here are some of the basics and how you might go about fighting a ticket (it's a little different than fighting a normal stoplight ticket).

How Red Light Camera Tickets Are Issued

Red light camera systems work by triggering a camera or multiple cameras as a vehicle passes over a sensor in the intersection when the light is red. The cameras take pictures that normally show the vehicle's license plate and the driver. Many camera systems also take video footage of the vehicle driving through the red light.

Red light cameras are fairly accurate, but sometimes are falsely triggered. To weed out errors, an officer or technician generally reviews the photos and videos before any tickets go out. If the reviewer determines there was a red light violation, the registered owner of the vehicle will receive a ticket in the mail.

Red Light Camera Defenses

The starting point for fighting a red light camera ticket is to view the photos and videos. The ticket the vehicle owner receives in the mail will normally include the photos and a web address to view videos. It's also important to read the state law about red light cameras—the available defenses depend on what the law says.

The Vehicle Owner Wasn't Driving the Vehicle

Probably the most common red light camera defense relates to who was driving the vehicle when the violation occurred. In most of the states, the driver—not the vehicle owner—is liable for the violation. However, the owner is liable for a red light camera ticket in some states—even if the owner wasn't driving. Many states allow owners who receive tickets to submit an affidavit swearing that he or she wasn't driving when the violations occurred. Generally, submitting this affidavit will result in the dismissal of the ticket.

The Photos and Videos Don't Show a Violation

Generally, the existence of the photos and video puts to rest any argument that no red light violation occurred. But red light camera systems and reviewers occasionally make mistakes. So, drivers can sometimes use the photos and videos to their advantage in getting a red light ticket dismissed.

Basically, the photos and videos must show the vehicle crossing the limit line or entering the intersection after the light turned red. Otherwise, there's no proof that the driver actually violated the law.

Technical Defenses

The laws of some states require signs that tell drivers that red light cameras are in use at an intersection. Generally, these types of requirements specify what the signs must say and where, in relation to the intersection, they must be located. Drivers who are cited for violations at intersections that don't have the required signage might have a good defense to the ticket.

Penalties for a Red Light Camera Ticket

In some states, red light camera tickets carry the same penalties as any other red light violation. Generally, these penalties include fines in the range of $75 to $400 and demerit points being assessed to the driver's record.

But most states, for whatever reason, penalize red light camera violations less severely than traditional stoplight tickets issued by an officer. Camera violation fines are usually much lower than a normal red light violation. In many states, camera tickets don't result in demerit points, but points can be assessed to your license in some states, like California.