Red Light Camera

[fjrwalker]

I arrive home from work, today, check the mail and what do I find but a Notice of Infraction from the fine City of Lynnwood for a supposed red light violation. Except on the date and time listed I was at work here in Yakima and my bike was snug in my garage.

The picture on the notice was certainly not my bike, nor any other FJR, for that matter, although the license plate looks like mine (picture on notice is small and somewhat blurry, so hard to really tell).

Now I'm pissed. :angry2: I don't want to have to take time off work to go prove I didn't do the crime. So, I call the number for the Lynnwood Municipal Court and finally get a human on the line. She is quite pleasant and when I explain that I live and work in Yakima and couldn't have been in Lynnwood and the bike pictured is not mine, she quickly offers to cancel the violation and send a notice confirming the cancellation. Whew! :yahoo:

Happy again, assuming the notice arrives in a timely manner.

Perhaps a valuable lesson, for all, is to call and complain when confronted with one of these. They were very quick to cancel the violation based on a very brief explanation, with no real proof, so even if the ticket were deserved it would be worth a call to see what the response would be. :assassin:

 

[Patriot]

Photo Shield License Plate Cover

https://www.phantomplate.com/photoshieldmoto.html

I rationalize it here where I live because:

1) I commonly leave home in the middle of the night and the lump of metal sensors in the street don't work

2) They shortened the yellow light time

3) There are questions on the contracts to operate and the qualifications and motivations of those that make those legal decisions reading the film

I've had them on all vehicles for 3 years and have not had one comment from law enforcement

YMMV

 

[SacramentoMike]

Since those devices are illegal most everywhere--I believe, but definitely are here--just having one on would be a reason to pull you over and ticket you, if they wanted to. Why not ride through some nice mud and leave it on the bike to dry. Seems like you'd have more deniability doing that. Plus you KNOW a clean bike is a ghey bike.

Some of you LEO guys--please comment. Thx.

 

[Patriot]

Since those devices are illegal most everywhere--I believe, but definitely are here--just having one on would be a reason to pull you over and ticket you, if they wanted to. Why not ride through some nice mud and leave it on the bike to dry. Seems like you'd have more deniability doing that. Plus you KNOW a clean bike is a ghey bike.

Some of you LEO guys--please comment. Thx.

well, admittedly, being a Ride Captain for the Patriot Guard Riders,

it helps I'm on a first name basis with most all traffic law enforcement...

but again, that's only obvious riding the bike...and not the two cars

yes, I asked the State Police and local Parish (County) leadership of traffic division, and they say there is a ordinance on the books disallowing "anything" mounted over the "body" of the license plate...that being said, they say as long as the plate is not expired and is readable while following the vehicle, they look the other way

and worry about "more important" things

the offense here is "improper equipment", equivalent to a burned out tail light...minor...relatively cheap...and non moving

and there's no chance to "piss off" a camera...I have no evidence the "reader / evaluator" will care or there is some system to combat repeat offenders...

I / we are not that...I can't remember the last time I saw the "flash" attached to a camera as I crossed the white legal/illegal line painted across mid intersection

 

[escapefjrtist]

Good job Jim, especially since you weren't even in the zip code! Keeping this in mind should the opportunity ever present itself...

--G

 

[Ignacio]

the offense here is "improper equipment", equivalent to a burned out tail light...minor...relatively cheap...and non moving

In Washington State photo tickets are non-moving and similar costs to other tickets.

Since those devices are illegal most everywhere--I believe, but definitely are here

As usual, these things vary from state to state.

 

[mab864]

One of my co-worker's sons got two tickets in one day by not stopping at a red light in the middle of town that has one of these cameras. She showed me her son's picture and it was clear as a bell. It was clearly him, driving his car, with his license number clearly shown. It even listed his speed as he rolled though the intersection making a right hand turn at about 10 mph each time with no stop. Busted! But I have heard that three thing must be clearly shown. The face of the driver, the vehicle, and the license plate number. My question would be, can they see your face and clearly identify you with a full faced helmet and sun glasses on? Or maybe with a smoked lens on the visor. It could be anyone. Not sure how they could definitively say it's you without facial recognition.

 

[Patriot]

the offense here is "improper equipment", equivalent to a burned out tail light...minor...relatively cheap...and non moving

In Washington State photo tickets are non-moving and similar costs to other tickets.

I think I should clear up the two issues as I understand them here:

The ticket offense for running a red light camera intersection or speeding through it is the same as if a police officer wrote it

The difference is it's considered a civil offense and non-moving as far as not reported to your insurance company

The minor "improper equipment" is the ticket offense written by a police officer for having the Photo Shield License Plate Cover installed

 

[Patriot]

One of my co-worker's sons got two tickets in one day by not stopping at a red light in the middle of town that has one of these cameras. She showed me her son's picture and it was clear as a bell. It was clearly him, driving his car, with his license number clearly shown. It even listed his speed as he rolled though the intersection making a right hand turn at about 10 mph each time with no stop. Busted! But I have heard that three thing must be clearly shown. The face of the driver, the vehicle, and the license plate number. My question would be, can they see your face and clearly identify you with a full faced helmet and sun glasses on? Or maybe with a smoked lens on the visor. It could be anyone. Not sure how they could definitively say it's you without facial recognition.

Many / Most states do not have plates on the front of a vehicle...we do not

The guilty party is assumed to be the owner of the vehicle...they are responsible...just like parking tickets (again Civil is different than "misdemenor criminal/traffic").

Different rules and again, part of my rationale and also hanging on the Constitutional Law that seems to be: it takes an sworn officer of the state to personally acuse you of a "criminal" offense...somebody has to see you and, if at trial, testify against you. I guess I don't like a standing, if there is one, that the "evaluator" of the picture/video is the accuser who has no standing in the situation.

There is a provision (ready for this), that if you get a notorized affadavid from the driver law breaker who was driving your vehicle, and they can be prosecuted, you can use that to prove your innocence. I love that part... !!!

 

[Ignacio]

But I have heard that three thing must be clearly shown. The face of the driver, the vehicle, and the license plate number.

Once again, that's a difference between states. Each state of different as exampled here.

In Washington State it's like a parking ticket and doesn't require a face to pursue. In fact, it is specifically ILLEGAL in Washington to take a picture of the driver or passengers from an automated camera! (RCW 46.63.170 (d))

There are likely other ways to get out of them, Start here.*I believe most of the law has been in effect for some time and minor parts change in July 2011.

 

[Patriot]

In fact, it is ILLEGAL in Washington to take a picture of the driver or passengers in the vehicle from an automated camera! (RCW 46.63.170 (d))

sounds like there are Politicians who don't want their picture taken with certain passengers in the vehicle

<admittedly watch too much TV>

 

[Ignacio]

i

sounds like there are Politicians who don't want their picture taken with certain passengers in the vehicle

<admittedly watch too much TV>

Actually, I think it was a case of a Nancy Schmoe opening a ticket of hir husband Joe Schmoe and Nancy NotSchmoeOffToTheHotelToSmokeJoe'sSchmoe that made for the law.

 

[Patriot]

Nancy NotSchmoeOffToTheHotelToSmokeJoe'sSchmoe

:yahoo: best laugh of the day...thanx :yahoo:

 

[Bounce]

Photo Shield License Plate Cover

texas passed a law about all things that cover tags. even frames can get you stopped if they obscure any part of the text of the plate(s). they did that 2 years before the first cameras were installed.

clear shot of the car and the plate(s) is needed but not the driver's face. i know... we got one in the mail for my wife. it had a link to the video. the whole pole was red before she even showed up at the intersection and made a right after simply slowing (not stopping). $75 BAM! the whole time she's wailing, "RIGHT TURN ON RED! RIGHT TURN ON RED!". she claims she never knew about the "after stop" part so i'm glad she learned this way instead of by killing a rider.

 

[Bugnatr]

Wow, I just got a notice last week for a failure to pay the toll of $1.50, the fine was $56.50 or $110.00 if not paid in 30 days.

Problem was it was from Irvine, Ca. which is only 450 miles from where I live and it had a plate # I do not own. Called the number on the letter and the guy was cool. He looked up the photo and said he could not make out anything - it was just a blurr. How the heck they correlated it to me is beyond computer science.

Anyway they just nullified the fine and all was good. But what a racket, skip a buck-fifty and the fine is 36 times the toll. Our poor states are making a killing on traffic fines :angry:

 

[Patriot]

Photo Shield License Plate Cover

texas passed a law about all things that cover tags. even frames can get you stopped if they obscure any part of the text of the plate(s). they did that 2 years before the first cameras were installed.

nowadays, there are lotsa mounts of things that "plug in" to a hitch receiver...many hide the plate in their function

ice chests and all kinds of motorized wheelchairs are common

I would hope they are overlooked unless there's something else up

 

[Patriot]

Wow, I just got a notice last week for a failure to pay the toll of $1.50, the fine was $56.50 or $110.00 if not paid in 30 days.

Problem was it was from Irvine, Ca. which is only 450 miles from where I live and it had a plate # I do not own. Called the number on the letter and the guy was cool. He looked up the photo and said he could not make out anything - it was just a blurr. How the heck they correlated it to me is beyond computer science.

Anyway they just nullified the fine and all was good. But what a racket, skip a buck-fifty and the fine is 36 times the toll. Our poor states are making a killing on traffic fines :angry:

we've got a bridge out in the middle of nowhere which is the only route to "Grand Isle" and the Grand Isle State Park - Louisiana Beach on the Gulf of Mexico. New bridge paid for with Hurricane Readiness and Evacuation $$$'s, but tolls to pay the State required 10%.

Well, there are no toll booths. You stop at an approved Kiosk before or after using the bridge and punch in your personal info including Lic Plate #.

The bridge's cameras record every vehicle using it. Then some data system matches up the purchased tickets with the license plate shown on the cameras.

I believe you are good if ticket purchased within 2 days before and 2 days after. Credit Cards cheerfully accepted. Recently added purchases online from your internet device. I don't live particularly close to there and have only used it once - recently led a bike ride down there. Stopped for a snack/drink at the convenience store at the foot of the bridge and did the purchase there. Needed direction from the cashier to quickly figure out the somewhat complicated menus. Oil Field vehicles have Toll Tags which simplifies all that.

https://www.bridgesidecabinsandmarina.net/id22.html

 

[rickcorwn]

A few years ago Minneapolis set up red light cameras. After much legal wrangling the courts declared them illegal. They took them all down and refunded everyone's money.

 

[Crash Cash]

Wow, I just got a notice last week for a failure to pay the toll of $1.50, the fine was $56.50 or $110.00 if not paid in 30 days.

Problem was it was from Irvine, Ca. which is only 450 miles from where I live and it had a plate # I do not own.

Ha, I got the same notice for a tag number I DO own, except it was on a Georgia F-150, instead of a Florida FJR-1300. They dropped it.