Speeding through a red light is no harmless traffic infraction. The traffic lights are there to prevent fatal accidents from occurring at intersections. At the same time, fines for running a red light can run upwards of a couple hundred dollars.
How Does a Red Light Camera Work?
The majority of red light camera tickets are issued by cameras stationed at intersections. Millions of red light cameras are situated across the country. While the municipalities may set different red light ticket fees, the red light cameras all work the same way.
Motion Sensors trigger the Red Light Camera
The red light cameras detect when the light turns red as it is connected to the traffic light. From there, the right light camera works as a motion detector for the intersection. A picture or video is recorded whenever movement is detected during a red light.
The Footage is Reviewed by Traffic or Law Enforcement
Typically, the captured images or videos are first reviewed by traffic enforcement or police department officials to determine whether a traffic violation occurred. No red light camera ticket goes unverified as personnel or law enforcement officers review them closely before a citation for red light running is issued and mailed.
If a violation is confirmed, a traffic citation is then mailed to the registered vehicle owner based on the license plate information captured in the images.
When issued by a red light camera or a police officer on duty, there’s no cost difference in the citation. Red light tickets are mailed with all the red-light camera and picture or video information, including the exact moment it was taken.
You can contest the Red Light Ticket in Court
It helps to review these closely again, as the red light camera could have made an error. Any discrepancies in the red light citation you find can be used in your favor if you fight the red light ticket in a court of law.
How Much Are Red Light Tickets?
The fine for speeding past a red light or stop sign averages between $50 to $500. However, the average ticket a red light violator takes home is around $135.
Let’s say that instead of passing straight through a red light, you took an illegal right turn while the light was red. Or, maybe you’ve ridden through a stop sign without acknowledging or seeing it. Those tickets are a $35 fine. The most expensive tickets are in Nevada and California.
A defensive traffic course that is required to take points off your driver’s license costs around the same amount. For one class, you can pay up to $40. It may not be worth it if you’ve been issued a minor traffic ticket.
Not paying a red light ticket over the allotted time may result in additional fines and a driver’s license suspension.
It’s important to remember that you are in total control of your vehicle, and running red lights is entirely preventable. Driving safely and more aware when coming to intersections is a sure way to prevent tickets at a red light. Red light cameras and tickets are in place because 22% of traffic violations occur at traffic lights.
You’ve been practicing it since you were a child crossing the street –stop and look both ways.
What is the Purpose of Red Light Cameras?
Red light cameras are critical in enforcing traffic laws and enhancing road safety. They are strategically installed at intersections to detect vehicles that violate red light signals.
The primary purpose of red light cameras is to reduce the frequency of red light running, thereby decreasing the potential for accidents, particularly side-impact collisions, which often result from such violations. Their presence encourages drivers to strictly adhere to traffic signals, contributing to overall road safety and protecting pedestrians and motorists.
What Happens When You Receive a Ticket for Running a Red Light?
You can be issued a red light ticket by either an officer on duty or a red light camera, in which the red light ticket is mailed to you. The worst consequences of a red light ticket are paying several hundreds of dollars in traffic violation fines plus a driver’s license suspension.
Since red light tickets are considered a traffic infraction, you can never go to jail for them. However, handling the red light violation fines upfront is always best to avoid more traffic fines and driving restrictions.
The cost of a ticket for running a red light can range from $50 to $500. Nevada is known for having $1,000 tickets. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) also adds points to your driver’s license.
If you’re unfamiliar, drivers license points and their value represent how you rank as a high-risk driver. Ideally, you want no points on your driver’s license, which will keep your car insurance rates low. Ignoring a red light ticket can cause the Department of Motor Vehicles or DMV to suspend your driving license.
Traffic schools or select driving classes are known to reduce or excuse red-light ticket charges.
What Should You Do When You Receive a Red Light Ticket?
The best way to handle a ticket for running a red light is to treat it like a bill –pay it as soon as possible before it’s due. However, there are other factors to recovering from a red light ticker, like drivers license points.
Here’s how to resolve red light tickets on all fronts:
- Paying the red light ticket - There are many ways to pay a red light ticket. You can pay your red light ticket by mailing a check or using a payment method to the courthouse, pay in person at the courthouse, or pay online or over the phone. Cash, credit cards, and checks are all acceptable forms of payment for red-light tickets.
- Red light ticket payment plan or schedule - If you cannot fully pay the red light ticket in one go, you can arrange a payment plan with the courthouse to pay off the citation over a given period.
- Take a course in traffic school - Outside of paying the red light ticket; you have points added to your driving record to think about. A driver’s license point can cause your car insurance rate to go up. Some traffic schools offer enrollment to remove your driver’s license points when you receive your certificate of completion. This works well for first-time offenders. Attending a traffic school may cost more than a red-light ticket. If your car insurance rates rise, it’s always a good deal.
- Fighting the red light ticket in court - You should only dispute the red light ticket if you think the red light ticket was issued unfairly or a red light camera wrongly took a picture or malfunctioned. Gather evidence for your case and enter a not-guilty plea. The judge may or may not excuse the ticket for 90 days based on how you present it.
How Does a Red Light Ticket Affect Your Car Insurance?
A ticket from a red light camera carries different consequences in each state. In a state like Alabama, you may be subject to a red light ticket of at least $100 and a maximum of three points on your driver’s license. Meanwhile, the red light ticket may cost $70 in states like Georgia, and no points are added to your driving license.
As previously mentioned, car insurance companies look at the number of points on a driver’s license to assess the amount of risk the driver may have. A high total of points on a driver’s license may indicate a risky driver, wherein the car insurers will charge higher car insurance premiums.
However, you may be lucky to live in a state like Alabama or Louisiana, where running red lights will not result in a mark on your driving history or points on your driving license. Thus, you won’t have to worry about any car insurance increases. If an increase in car insurance rates is the last thing you need, then ask the Department of Motor Vehicles or DMV for approved traffic classes to have the drivers license points removed.
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