Red Light Camera, anyone ever win? Can you take it to court? (insurance)

[CrookCounty]

Heres my story.

I was coming to the red light to make a right.
I stopped behind a car.
The guy turned
I started pulling up
Then i pushed on the brakes
While coming to a stop, i ran a little past the white line, and BAM, the thing flashes.
Now when i came to a complete stop the damn thing flashed again

I would of stopped before the line but the view was obstructed to hell by a bank


Now, can you take these things to court?

Their was a bank to the left, if you don't pull up a good 5 feet past the white line, it's impossible to see oncomming traffic. <-- any zoning laws i should be aware of?


At least a video clip showing my car is making it's way to me via the internet. Pro photography and video taping. Only a $100. 3 pics plus 1 10sec video.

I presume theres no hope for me anymore. But did anyone else deal with these things?

[chet everett]

I think that the things are NOT real judges, just administrative hearings. It is like a parking ticket, not a moving violation.

If it is a moving violation and do get a real judge I know that there are those who will tell everyone in normal traffic court what sorts of defenses are not acceptable for red light violations and those that will listen to any story.

I would fight it on principle -- these things are NOT making streets safer. The fact is people are now hoping on their brakes so suddenly that they are causing MORE bumper bashing. Insurance companies are going to raise hell with the companies that dreamed up these monsters that are causing them more claims.

[CrookCounty]

So this is a parking ticket?

What if i blow the red, at a different intersection, with a police office behind me.

Will he pull me over and give me a parking citation?

.....illinois at it's best

[chet everett]

I think it depends on the town, but many are doing these as NON-moving violations. Of course if a cop sees you blow the light that is always a MV, and counts against your insurance and driving record.

The reason that some towns are doing the camera tickets as non-mv is REVENUE, they would have to allow you to CROSS EXAMINE the witness in a MV (like you could do with a cop if you went to trial, where unless the cop is NUTS will destroy any civilian's defense...) and that would mean you would need to subpeona the manufacturer to get the whole chain of custody of evidence unless they are sworn law officers (which they are not) and technicians that service the camera would need badges to and that would be hugely expensive...

[linicx]

I is a possible "line of sight" defense. Take a picture of the bank that was in your line of sight.

[doll lady]

Hmmmmm I think you can fight it....Illinois law is that you can make a right turn at a stoplight. So even if it took your picture, you might have been turning right which is legal according to Illinois law. You stopped behind the car in front of you so you stopped at the light. I would definitely fight it....I think you will win. Wonder if you can ask the Attorney General, Lisa Madigan, to comment on this?