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Red Light Camera Right Turn Violation

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  • 08-04-2012, 01:05 PM
    littlerobot
    Red Light Camera Right Turn Violation
    My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: California
    Hello, so in 2008 I made a right turn on a yellow yield arrow and it turned red as I crossed the intersection. The camera took my picture and gave me $400 ticket which I could not pay. I went to court for arraignment and plead not guilty. I never paid the bail or returned to the court after that. I'm glad I didn't pay because I saw this on the citys website recently "Due to a series of court cases on the State level over the legality of red light camera enforcement, the City of Glendale has voluntarily decided to terminate the program. Although state law continues to allow municipalities the use of cameras to enforce red light violations, as of February 24th, 2012, the Glendale Police Department will no longer issue citations to violators captured on these cameras."
    Fast-forward to today and I recently received a letter from the LA county court asking for $1000 and they are suspending my license. I am Confused as to why it took 3 years for them to contact me. And also don't know if I should have to pay this ticket since the legality of this issue has been disputed on a state level. I am not sure what my next step is. I certainly don't want my license suspended.
  • 08-04-2012, 04:54 PM
    That Guy
    Re: Red Light Camera Right Turn Violation
    The decision that the city of Glendale has made is far from being a legal decision; instead it is purely... uhm... political!!! You'll notice that the message posted on the website states:

    Quote:

    Quoting The City Of Glendale
    View Post
    ... as of February 24th, 2012, the Glendale Police Department will no longer issue citations to violators captured on these cameras

    … that does not mean that they are "no longer prosecuting cases on citations which have already been issued" simply because once a citation is filed in court, the city of Glendale and/or the Glendale Police Department no longer have jurisdiction over the citation; instead it is up to the court to put into affect the appropriate state laws which dictate how a matter should be handled. And with yours being a traffic citation that was issued and filed according to state law, there in nothing prohibiting the court from pursuing the case until the matter is completed.

    You might also remember that the City of Los Angeles had decided to terminate its own Red Light Camera program, which actually occurred much earlier than Glendale's decision.

    Subsequently, the Los Angeles Superior Court decided to post the following message on its website in response (you'll find that message on the General Information Page on the L. A. Superior Court website):

    Quote:

    Quoting L. A. S. C. Traffic - General Information Page
    July 29, 2011: The City of Los Angeles has decided to end its red light camera program on July 31, 2011. The City's action does not stop the processing of outstanding red-light citations. It does not eliminate penalties associated with red-light citations. It does not constitute grounds for a refund of any money paid on such a citation. Anyone issued a red-light citation must resolve it within the specified time limits or face certain penalties as prescribed by law.


    Quote:

    Quoting littlerobot
    View Post
    I am Confused as to why it took 3 years for them to contact me.

    It doesn't change the fact that you are liable for the citation. This is even compounded by the fact that you went to court and entered a plea.

    Quote:

    Quoting littlerobot
    View Post
    And also don't know if I should have to pay this ticket since the legality of this issue has been disputed on a state level.

    Precisely my point... Fact is, the case that influenced their decision was not heard nor did it reach the "state level". It was initially appealed to the Los Angeles County Appellate division, they upheld the conviction, and the defendant/appellant decided to take it up to the next level which is "District court; there, and while it contradicted its own previous decisions, and subsequently came out with decisions which would negate the outcome of that one case, it actually reversed the trial court conviction and overruled the LA County appellate division opinion. So again, the case never made it to the "state level", it was questionably decided at the district level.

    But, in an attempt to justify a decision that they could not otherwise explain, they stick that term into a description where it neither not fits nor belongs, and hope that people would buy it... Well, it obviously works!

    Of course they could care less how you interpret it, how it may impact your decision and what the court can and will likely do if you fail to comply. You can trust that no one from Glendale will come to your defense when your license is suspended.

    Quote:

    Quoting littlerobot
    View Post
    I am not sure what my next step is.

    You'd be well advised to contact the court (you may have to go to the actual courthouse) request a court date and appear as required. You might get the judge to give you a break on the fine amount but you certainly are nowhere near a position to assume the citation is invalid or that a dismissal is a viable option!


    Quote:

    Quoting littlerobot
    View Post
    I certainly don't want my license suspended.

    Then you'll have to contact the court within the time period you were given in the letter.
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