LX Forums Forum banner

Arlington, TX Red light Camera ticket questions

Ask A Cop 
14K views 9 replies 8 participants last post by  boggart 
#1 ·
Greetings,

I have some questions regarding red light cameras, and I would like clarification on how the law reads on these issues from you good folks that are more in the know than I.

I recently received a ticket for my vehicle running a red light on Cooper and S.E. Green Oaks in Arlington, TX. In reviewing the video, I thought the yellow seemed a bit short, and the video even states that the yellow light duration is 4.1 seconds. I looked up TxDOT regulations on this, and TxDOT recommends the timing for a 45 MPH road should be minimally 4.3 seconds at that particular speed. Is there any case there for the City of Arlington ignoring TxDOT regulations regarding this?

I would also like to know what is considered a vehicle having entered the intersection? Is it the whole car, the rear wheels in, front wheels in, nose of car?

Also, there is no visible means of verifying who was driving. How can a ticket be issued to someone when there is no visible evidence that person was driving the vehicle? If someone were to borrow my car with my permission, get drunk and get pulled over, is that person not at fault? Or does it still fall to the owner of the vehicle? Whether or not I was driving should be irrelevant as the burden of proof should be on the state, correct?

My understanding is that this is a civil violation, not criminal. As such, they cannot issue a warrant, nor can it go against my driving record, nor can a collection agency use and uncollected debt against a FICO score. This all seems like the red light cameras are merely on the honor system on whether you pay them or not. Are there other penalties I am not aware of?

My understanding also is as a civil penalty, I cannot go before a judge to plead my case, just a police official at the Arlington PD. That in itself seems like a conflict of interest, as the Police Department is funding their DWI patrols with the money gained from red light cameras in Arlington. It seems the likelihood of fair-and-impartial is seriously hindered here.

What really bothers me here is that the camera, or the officer behind the camera, has no understanding of the unique situation and offers no chance for any reasonable discretion. Were it me driving, and my pregnant wife in the car, the need to not "lock them up" to stop at the intersection and cause a potentially worse problem cannot be adequately factored in to the officer's discretion. Something seems just so wrong about that.

Based on the information, what are my possible actions of recourse? Are their dismissal options I am unaware of? What can I expect if I attempt to challenge this? What would happen if I simply didn't pay?

Thanks for your time.
 
See less See more
#3 ·
Thanks,

I was doing some research and it appears as though Dallas and many satellite suburbs are attempting to tag non-payers under the Texas Scofflaw, so that your registration may be blocked from renewal for non-payment. I am currently unclear as to whether or not Arlington has made the necessary arrangements with the state to push scofflaw penalties through.
 
#4 ·
Check the timing on other lights in the area both with and without cameras in 45 zones.

Changing the length of the yellow allows the business to collect a few more dollars.

The standard in some states for "in the intersection" is the front wheels crossing the stop line. With that standard in mind, were you more than 0.2 seconds into the red light? How long was the light red before you entered the intersection?
 
#5 ·
Greetings,

I recently received a ticket for my vehicle running a red light on Cooper and S.E. Green Oaks in Arlington, TX. In reviewing the video, I thought the yellow seemed a bit short, and the video even states that the yellow light duration is 4.1 seconds. I looked up TxDOT regulations on this, and TxDOT recommends the timing for a 45 MPH road should be minimally 4.3 seconds at that particular speed. Is there any case there for the City of Arlington ignoring TxDOT regulations regarding this?
Recommendations by TXDOT are simply recommendations. You were on a city street, so it's the city's call.

I would also like to know what is considered a vehicle having entered the intersection? Is it the whole car, the rear wheels in, front wheels in, nose of car?
If any part of the vehicle enters the intersection under green or yellow, then it is lawfully within the intersection.

Also, there is no visible means of verifying who was driving. How can a ticket be issued to someone when there is no visible evidence that person was driving the vehicle? If someone were to borrow my car with my permission, get drunk and get pulled over, is that person not at fault? Or does it still fall to the owner of the vehicle? Whether or not I was driving should be irrelevant as the burden of proof should be on the state, correct?
The violation is for a city ordinance, not state law. The ordinance says that the registered owner is responsible for the actions of the vehicle.

My understanding is that this is a civil violation, not criminal. As such, they cannot issue a warrant, nor can it go against my driving record, nor can a collection agency use and uncollected debt against a FICO score. This all seems like the red light cameras are merely on the honor system on whether you pay them or not. Are there other penalties I am not aware of?
If you fail to pay the civil penalty, the registrar may refuse to renew your vehicle registration if the ordinance violation was within the same county. Also, you'll get about 10 notices to pay in the mail.

My understanding also is as a civil penalty, I cannot go before a judge to plead my case, just a police official at the Arlington PD. That in itself seems like a conflict of interest, as the Police Department is funding their DWI patrols with the money gained from red light cameras in Arlington. It seems the likelihood of fair-and-impartial is seriously hindered here.
Each municipality has its own by-laws on contesting the citation. The letter should tell you how.

What really bothers me here is that the camera, or the officer behind the camera, has no understanding of the unique situation and offers no chance for any reasonable discretion. Were it me driving, and my pregnant wife in the car, the need to not "lock them up" to stop at the intersection and cause a potentially worse problem cannot be adequately factored in to the officer's discretion. Something seems just so wrong about that.
There is no officer behind the camera. Most of the video processing is done by a private firm. No real police are involved.

Based on the information, what are my possible actions of recourse? Are their dismissal options I am unaware of? What can I expect if I attempt to challenge this? What would happen if I simply didn't pay?

Thanks for your time.
There's usually a phone number you can call to appeal; however, they will want your fine payment up front before you can appeal, then they will return it if you are found not guilty. <I think that violates the 4th and 8th amendments, but what do I know...>

Like I said, if you don't pay, they can refuse to allow you to renew your registration and send you a few threatening letters. I am unaware of any further repercussions.

Good luck!
 
#8 ·
Well, after more research I'm just going to pay the fine. The way they have the system set up, I would have to speak with an officer first, then if he decided the fine was still warranted I could then appeal the ticket to an actual judge. Two days off work is way more lost money than the $75 fine.

Thank you all for the in depth advice, it helped me reaffirm what I had suspected would be the possible outcomes.
 
#9 ·
Green Manalishi pretty much covered all the bases here. I will add the cost or fine amount ($75) significantly cheaper with regards to "red light cameras," as opposed to a uniform officer witnessing the offense (traffic violation)! In my jurisdiction (Harris County, Texas). The cost for running a red light (traffic ticket) is: $155.00 plus court/clerk costs! The difference in cost is due to the fact that there is no "eye witness" ie (law enforcement officer) present to testify that you committed the offense.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top