Red Light Camera flashed at me in an intersection. What do I do? (Newport Beach: insurance, legally)

[yoyoma02]

I was driving this morning at about 9:30am and accidentally went through an intersection after the light had already turned red. The camera caught me and flashed.

It was the intersection off Olympic and Beverly Dr., in between West Hollywood and West LA.

I've read mixed reviews. Are those lights still valid? Do I have to pay this ticket? There are a bunch of articles about how those lights became invalid in LA county last year, but I'm not sure if I was technically in Beverly Hills or not...? Should I just not worry about it unless I get a ticket in the mail?

I have no problem paying it, if I have to, because I did enter the intersection after it was red. But, I really don't want to pay it if I don't have it.

Advice?

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by yoyoma02

Should I just not worry about it unless I get a ticket in the mail?

Advice?

There you go.

I was flashed in an intersection in OC. Never received anything about it.

[nick2006]

Originally Posted by yoyoma02

I was driving this morning at about 9:30am and accidentally went through an intersection after the light had already turned red. The camera caught me and flashed.

It was the intersection off Olympic and Beverly Dr., in between West Hollywood and West LA.

I've read mixed reviews. Are those lights still valid? Do I have to pay this ticket? There are a bunch of articles about how those lights became invalid in LA county last year, but I'm not sure if I was technically in Beverly Hills or not...? Should I just not worry about it unless I get a ticket in the mail?

I have no problem paying it, if I have to, because I did enter the intersection after it was red. But, I really don't want to pay it if I don't have it.

Advice?

i got flashed about 3 times in 10 years, and never got anything in the mail

[1200RT]

Few things:

1) City of LA voted to pull their red light camera program in 2011, not LA County.
2) Beverly and Olympic is City of Beverly Hills.

3) The only reason LA County is involved is because they have discretion on how aggressively to pursue those who don't pay the citations.

.....

In this case, there should be no confusion on the validity of the ticket, since its not City of LA and City of BH has a fully intact red light camera enforcement program. As you mentioned, I wouldn't worry too much about it until you actually get the ticket (which, I would imagine you will, if your violation was as obvious as you say).

The only thing really up for debate is if LA County will push the issue if you don't pay. Since you're saying you don't mind paying it, then you certainly should pay it for piece of mind.

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

There you go.

I was flashed in an intersection in OC. Never received anything about it.

Ditto. It was a major intersection in Newport Beach where the traffic was stuck in the intersection after the light turned yellow/red. Other cars were involved. Nothing ever became of it.

[readymade]

We got a red light ticket in the same area this past summer & we had to pay it. It was $497, just as an fyi. My husband (who was driving) also took an 8 hour driving class (which was MORE money) so it wouldn't be a strike on our insurance as well.

RIGHT after that, I read that they were discontinuing the practice and legally you didn't have to pay it. A friend of our got a red light ticket (in the same area) not too long before and tried to fight it in court. She said all kinds of people brought in charts & videos & photos & witnesses proving they either hadn't gone through the red light or that the yellow light had been shortened to an illegal amount of time (which is what happened to us. The yellow light lasted maybe a second or two and immediately went to red). But the bored judge just said (to all of them) "Too bad. Pay the ticket."
She didn't even bother arguing her case by the time it was her turn. Then she forgot to pay it and had to pay a $400 late fee. It was about $800 all together.

[Fontucky]

What a racket.

[yoyoma02]

So, if I get a ticket in the mail, should I pay it or ignore it?

[Fontucky]

I ignored a ticket one. Spent a day in jail. Not fun.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

I ignored a ticket one. Spent a day in jail. Not fun.

Scofflaw.