Red Light Camera Ticket

What If You Can't Stop on Red

Do the Red Light Cameras that more and more cities are putting in service really reduce preventable collisions, or are they just a money magnet for the cities and for the companies that install them?

Do the cameras really keep the community safe, or is it just a receipt for disaster causing more rear end accidents?

Cities say that red light running is a dangerous and costly problem. They cite that most people run red lights because they are in a hurry, when in fact they only save seconds. And that the red light runner also puts his life and the safety of others at risk. These cites say their objective is to change driver's behaviors to keep the community and our kids safe by reducing preventable collisions at red light intersections.

Owners of vehicles photographed running red lights at intersections where cameras are installed will receive a Notice of Violation and will be subject to a fine of $75 and up to $350 depending on where you receive the ticket, the west coast seem to have the higher fines.

Red light cameras are going up all over the U.S., and hundreds of motorists are getting citations in the mail each month for running red lights, but something that enforcement is not saying is that a significant number minor accidents increase as people slam on their brakes. This is consistent around the country when cameras are installed.

One company, Redflex, is helping to dole out about 4,000 traffic citations per day, or just under 1.5 million per year. The company's cut per ticket varies by city, but in its hometown, Scottsdale, Redflex pockets about $40 from each $180 red-light fine on average. Redflex has 600 cameras in 87 cities in six states. Roughly 200 more will be installed this year. It has 60 cameras in Chicago. More than 40 percent of all traffic cameras installed in the U.S. are Redflex. Redflex had $26 million in revenue last year, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing companies within an industry whose growth potential it believes is staggering. The industry could some day become a $3 billion juggernaut, Redflex recently told analysts.

This is typical of the revenue being made by these companies, and we are the ones footing the bill. I believe that red light and speed enforcement needs to be addressed but in most cases it's a little fuzzy about what is safety and what is just plain a money making scheme. Some cities are going as far as to cut the red light timing by as much as a second to give more tickets, and the public is at risk in these types of situations due to increased rear end collisions.

My advise is with red light camera locations growing at 25% a year, don't take a chance. Make sure you stop at the lights, there is enough time to do so in most cases, but if it appears that stopping may cause an accident be prepared to get a ticket. If you do under these circumstances have all the facts to take with you to court.

I know from experience as I got one of those letters in the mail recently, along with the typical $100.00 ticket that I am fighting in court the end of November. In the photo ticket that I received it was a clear morning in September at 8:30 am and it looks like midnight with no lights on. You can barely see my vehicle in the photo and you can't see the red light to tell what color it even was, they did however have a clear photo of my license plate. you can see the actual ticket I received and a photo of my plate at my web site below along with some tips on tickets.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Red-Light-Camera-Ticket