Caught on Camera......Is it worth contesting??

[Teeznutz]

I just got a traffic ticket in the mail for making a right turn at a red light in late DEC.

This occurred on Tyler road (across from Tyler Mall) in Riverside entering the 91 freeway entrance going westbound. "No Turn on Red" sign was barely visable due to lack of light.

My wife was in the vicinity on Thursday where this violation occurred and apparently, they took down the NO TURN ON RED sign.

Can I contest this ticket?

I've never came across these signs entering the freeway. I've come across 3 others who received the same ticket at the same location. Maybe a number of people contested this location and validity.

Your advice is much appreciated..........

[alex00]

You absolutely may contest the citation. However, faced with the photographic evidence of the violation, you might be fighting an uphill battle to win your case. The lighting of the signage will likely not be a valid defense. The regulatory signs (white with black borders) are reflective, and don't need additional lighting sources. If the sign was obscured by trees, or other signs, you might have a plausible defense. If the sign was extremely dirty or otherwise illegible due to disrepair, you may have another route. Unfortunately the burden of proof will be on you to show the sign was unreadable. If they took it down, it will be very hard to get photographic evidence of the condition at the time of your citation.

I also wouldn't rely on the "issuing officer" not showing for court. Generally the officers assigned to photo enforcement have their schedules set to always make the court date. Unlike the field officer that stops you, who may have a compelling reason not to show for court. I would personally pay the fine and request traffic school. Some jurisdictions will not allow you to take traffic school if you contest the ticket.

A former partner of mine was running the photo enforcement program for a local PD. The last time I talked to him about fighting photo tickets, he made the prospects of the violator winning in court seem pretty slim. I know this is probably not what you want to hear. Maybe things are different in Southern California, and an officer more local to you can chime in.

[desmark6]

The sign being blocked may be a defense, but if the video shows your vehicle turning without coming to a complete stop prior to the turn, then the sign would be a moot point since you do have to make a complete stop before making a right on red, when it isnt other wise forbidden.

Our red light guy never misses court, and his testimony is super simple since he lets the video clip do most of the talking for him.

[oldsmoboat]

Who sent you the ticket? Did it come from a police department or some private company?
If it didn't come for a police agency, google "snitch ticket".

[tyrist]

Usually to set off the red light cameras you have to be above a certain speed. So the evidence may very well show you made a right turn without stopping at all.

[inbox485]

I just got a traffic ticket in the mail for making a right turn at a red light in late DEC.

This occurred on Tyler road (across from Tyler Mall) in Riverside entering the 91 freeway entrance going westbound. "No Turn on Red" sign was barely visable due to lack of light.

My wife was in the vicinity on Thursday where this violation occurred and apparently, they took down the NO TURN ON RED sign.

Can I contest this ticket?

I've never came across these signs entering the freeway. I've come across 3 others who received the same ticket at the same location. Maybe a number of people contested this location and validity.

Your advice is much appreciated..........

You can play the paperwork game if you have more time than money. There are websites to point you in the right direction. You could also find out why the sign was taken down. If there is a paper trail that says the sign was taken down because of not being visible - there you go.

[E-120]

Fight it.

[dodge]

also fight via the mail as many times it's any easier win
you can file to contest via snail mail
however, don't admit that your wife made the turn as that will essentially be all they need to make the citation stick; as you'd be confessing

[SVT-40]

I just got a traffic ticket in the mail for making a right turn at a red light in late DEC.

This occurred on Tyler road (across from Tyler Mall) in Riverside entering the 91 freeway entrance going westbound. "No Turn on Red" sign was barely visable due to lack of light.

My wife was in the vicinity on Thursday where this violation occurred and apparently, they took down the NO TURN ON RED sign.

Can I contest this ticket?

I've never came across these signs entering the freeway. I've come across 3 others who received the same ticket at the same location. Maybe a number of people contested this location and validity.

Your advice is much appreciated..........

Your statement says it all. "No Turn on Red" sign was barely visible due to lack of light."

Barely visible means you could see it....

Plus the signs are made of reflective material.

So the sign was legally posted. It was visible and you made the turn in violation of the posted sign.

Basically you got caught red handed.

Just do the right thing and pay up.

It's as simple as this. Obey the traffic laws and you will not get citations.

[RangemasterP226]

So was it "barely visible" or not there at all????

[gravedigger]

I have a PC in my truck with a Hi-Def webcam mounted to the dash. I flip the camera on when I approach a camera intersection, and record myself going through it. I delete the video four months later.

I once came through a toll booth on the 73. I had a small trailer behind my tow truck, too small to be seen from the front. So the toll booth guy sees my truck coming, and "charges" me $3.00 for the truck before I arrive at the booth. I said, "I have a trailer behind me. Shouldn't it be more?" He agreed, and I paid the extra fee, but the RECEIPT he printed was for the $3.00 truck charge. I asked him if the extra axle was going to trigger the violation sensor. He said, "Go ahead, I'll fix it here." I asked for a receipt for the extra axle, but he said he couldn't print one.

I proceeded, and the alarm went off. He waived me through. I pulled over and saved the video to the hard drive, just in case.

Wouldn't you know it. A week later, this toll booth violation ticket arrives in the mail. BIG fine for not paying for the extra axle.

I burned a copy of the video with AUDIO, with the toll booth guy's face and voice, and the conversation to a CD and sent it back with the ticket. I never heard another word about it.

You know, those SD Card video cameras are CHEAP, and they are almost a necessity when dealing with "Big Brother." I always record any trip through a camera light, a "No right on red" intersection, and any toll booth or other spot where it might come back to bite me in the a** later on.

Everything up to the last sentence was fine. It was unnecessary

[WokMaster1]

Can you share a pix of your set up? Camera & how you mount it in your truck. Thanks.

I have a PC in my truck with a Hi-Def webcam mounted to the dash. I flip the camera on when I approach a camera intersection, and record myself going through it. I delete the video four months later.

I once came through a toll booth on the 73. I had a small trailer behind my tow truck, too small to be seen from the front. So the toll booth guy sees my truck coming, and "charges" me $3.00 for the truck before I arrive at the booth. I said, "I have a trailer behind me. Shouldn't it be more?" He agreed, and I paid the extra fee, but the RECEIPT he printed was for the $3.00 truck charge. I asked him if the extra axle was going to trigger the violation sensor. He said, "Go ahead, I'll fix it here." I asked for a receipt for the extra axle, but he said he couldn't print one.

I proceeded, and the alarm went off. He waived me through. I pulled over and saved the video to the hard drive, just in case.

Wouldn't you know it. A week later, this toll booth violation ticket arrives in the mail. BIG fine for not paying for the extra axle.

I burned a copy of the video with AUDIO, with the toll booth guy's face and voice, and the conversation to a CD and sent it back with the ticket. I never heard another word about it.

You know, those SD Card video cameras are CHEAP, and they are almost a necessity when dealing with "Big Brother." I always record any trip through a camera light, a "No right on red" intersection, and any toll booth or other spot where it might come back to bite me in the a** later on. It isn't "paranoid" when you are relying on gu'mint workers to have a brain!

[haodoken]

Isn't this in the wrong section of the forum? 2nd Amend. Politics and Laws would be a better place. Why would LE tell you it if you should fight a ticket or not.

[inbox485]

Isn't this in the wrong section of the forum? 2nd Amend. Politics and Laws would be a better place. Why would LE tell you it if you should fight a ticket or not.

If it was an honest mistake, and they honestly did not notice the sign until after they entered the intersection due to its placement and/or condition, why would it be unreasonable to ask LE how to resolve the issue without being fined and having a point on their record? Is fighting a ticket now to be considered anti-LEO?

[haodoken]

If it was an honest mistake, and they honestly did not notice the sign until after they entered the intersection due to its placement and/or condition, why would it be unreasonable to ask LE how to resolve the issue without being fined and having a point on their record? Is fighting a ticket now to be considered anti-LEO?

No, fighting a ticket is NOT considered anti-LEO. It is your right, but if you look at SOME of the posters who are advocating fighting the ticket, they aren't LEOs. So it would be best served in the 2A/Laws section of Calguns. In the end, even honest "mistakes" causes traffic collisions, tickets are meant to remind you about traffic laws and to prevent accidents. You have to be "on the ball" when driving. I have seen quite a few "mistakes" that have sent people to the ER in critical condition. If the original poster thinks they have a legitimate contestment to the ticket, then by all means they SHOULD go to court and explain to the judge their reasoning.