So last night, for the very first time in my life, I got caught running a yellow light by a red light camera. Damn, I hate that. Have you ever gotten one, and if so, what happened? I was driving a car that I just bought yesterday, so the temporary tag was on it. The guy I bought it from says that often they can’t see the details of that tag, so it’ll probably be thrown away. I hope so. I don’t usually run yellow or red lights, but I was unfamiliar with the car and didn’t want to slam on the brakes. Not an excuse, I know it’s bad, mmkay, just sayin’.
I have been told that if you don’t answer the door to the process server, they can’t do anything to you, and eventually the ticket goes away. I even know someone that didn’t answer the door, never got served, and a year or so later was stopped for something else, and that old ticket never came up. Would they consider handing a paper to my 12 year-old serving me, or does it have to be me at the door for it to count?
IANAL and all that, but I seriously doubt they would just stop trying if a process server could not find you once. I wouldn’t put it past them to issue a warrant for your arrest if they felt you were really trying to avoid being served. If not that, possibly license suspensions,etc. etc., and I can’t imagine you’d have a good time when you have to renew your license at the RMV.
Yes, I’ve never heard of anyone being served a moving violation. They send the ticket to whoever the plates are registered to. If they can’t find the info based on temporary plates, I don’t know what happens.
If you entered the intersection while it was still yellow, you might be okay. I’ve finally got nailed for truly running a red, but I’ve never gotten a ticket for the times when I entered the intersection on a yellow and it flashed.
Went like this: I did the deed, forgot about it, 6 weeks later received a ticket with a picture of me in my car entering the intersection against the red light. I returned the ticket as instructed along with a check for $75 and went on with my life.
I just found this article that explains that under AZ law, traffic tickets must be issued by a police office or process server. So they can mail it to you, but you’re not required to respond. And then they have 120 days to get you served. So I guess that answers that part of my question, and gives me something to cheer Arizona about. Way to go, AZ!
Maybe. I have heard that tickets are thrown out if you entered the intersection before it turned red, so obviously the cameras can take pictures erroneously.
So…create a corporation (is that free?) and register your car under the name of that corporation, and use a PO box (is that free?) as an address for the corporation. Or…surely there must be another way to thwart red light/speed cameras that doesn’t cost anything? Like, maybe somehow if you could not get their attention in the first place and take your lumps when you screw up? Seriously, how much speeding and light violating would you have to do to make up for the time you’re going to spend on the corporation paperwork, visitng your PO box, and earning wages to fund the whole venture? And while you’re out there violating like a MF, you’re also going to be lucky you don’t kill yourself or someone else. people are 'tarded.
Just pay the fine and move on; the last thing you want is the chance of them creating more problems for you to deal with.
If they can’t get you at home, they might well serve you at work - wouldn’t it be lovely to have a cop/warrant server get you right in front of your boss or other people you’d rather not get served in front of?
(Had this happen 4 years after a minor fender-bender I caused; the other party finally decided to sue for $10K, pain and suffering, etc. My insurance co’s lawyer had it dismissed. I’d worked at the same job and lived at the same house for that whole time, but for some reason instead of finding me at home, which is easy, they went to my workplace and got me in front of a waiting room full of patients. Thanks a fucking lot for making me look like a process-dodging criminal, whoever made that decision.)
Chicago-area here - we got mailed a red light ticket for the most common violation: in right-on-red, not stopping before the line. Wheels went over the line, we looked to confirm it was clear, and went. We paid the fine.
Sorry. I woke up this morning a year older than when I went to bed and I’m in a bit of a shitty mood. And no, I’m not your real dad but you’ll do as I say as long as you’re living under my roof, missy!
My husband got one. In Washington the law says they are to be placed only at the intersection of two arterials. The street where he got snapped had 5 streets. He sent a letter stating the law and got off. He thought it was because of the street,but since then we’ve talked to several people who’ve been snapped and who also wrote mitigation explanations and all of them got off or had their fines decreased. It’s certainly worth a stamp to try.
A couple of months ago, I got a ticket in the mail for running a red light. I didn’t remember doing anything like that, but the picture was clearly my car (distinctive license plate combined with a cracked rear bumper). I recognized the intersection right away, but realized that I hadn’t been there in a very long time. So, I went to check the date of the infraction and found that it was at the very end of last year. Huh, don’t remember heading that way in late December.
Then, I remember that I wasn’t even in the state on that date! But, my car was. My dad was the one driving it. So, the ticket is rightfully his. I presented it to him with much glee. Since it doesn’t affect your driving record in any way (here in GA), he just paid it in my name.
He thought about fighting it, since GA outlawed them as of Jan. 1 of this year (making him one of the last people to get one), but he decided against it.
In your case, I would just pay it, assuming they find you, which I’m not sure they will.
I would advise not trying to put your head in the sand and hope this goes away. Wail until you actually get a ticket. That ticket will have various options including paying straight up or having a court date. They may also include a driver’s class option or an informal meeting with a magistrate. If your record is clean, you should be successful in getting the ticket rewritten to a no-point infraction. That’s your goal and the most an attorney could hope for.
Depending on how much this means to you, and attorney might find a technicality to challenge the camera on and be better able to negotiate a plea than you acting on your own. It’s a total pain. I’ve been there myself. An action plan is always better than running away.
I presented it to him with much glee. Since it doesn’t affect your driving record in any way (here in GA), he just paid it in my name.