Do photo radar speeding tickets go on your driving record? (Portland: DMV, car)

[TechmanOR]

I've never got a ticket and of all these things, I think I might get my first one soon in the mail because of a Beaverton Police photo radar speed enforcement trap.

I understand that "red light" camera laws vary from state to state and in some state, it's like a parking ticket and does not affect your record at all. I don't know how it works in Oregon.

If I do have to go to court, what records should I request to see, and what questions should I ask?

[Leisesturm]

Sorry you didn't get an answer to this. I don't know either but I would be Googling the Oregon DMV for the answers. At least here you can go to the 'Contact Us' page and get a phone number and actually have it answered by a human being. Don't try that in NYC.

H

[trafficradar]

I do not know either.

I do have a question on how it works in Missouri as well.

[hamellr]

The tickets do go on your record in Oregon if you plead guilty. If you plead no contest, it's by jurisdiction if it appears or not. If you go that route there is also a chance of a portion of your fine being given back to you, again depending on the Jurisdiction.

BTW, it's going to be hard to fight tickets from the Radar Vans. They're pretty accurate, and they constantly test them. You might be able to fight it if there is a second car in the picture they send, but that's going to depend on how the radar and camera was setup. All of that should be on record, but it's usually easier to plead no contest and go from there.

BTW - if you're interested in how the vans work and how accurate they are, the City of Beaverton had one out last year during their August shin-dig showing it off to the public. (Along with their riot truck and a police car.)

[seand442]

Out of sheer morbid curiosity, how was it a "trap"?

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by seand442

Out of sheer morbid curiosity, how was it a "trap"?

Because when you're going to fast, you don't see the sign 300 feet in front of the van warning you about it

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by seand442

Out of sheer morbid curiosity, how was it a "trap"?

Because he got caught?

[seand442]

QUOTE=hamellr;20481778]Because when you're going to fast, you don't see the sign 300 feet in front of the van warning you about it [/QUOTE

Originally Posted by Minervah

Because he got caught?

That was pretty much what I thought. Damn government taking over people's accelerators.

[Smiled]

I believe it's just as though an officer pulled you over and issued you a ticket. The tickets have to be approved by or issued in the presence of a sworn officer. Beaverton pays $15 an hour to retired cops to sit in the radar vans.

Our Legislature - looking to recover lost revenue - recently took away judges' discretion to lower fines. Appearing in court used to be a good way to get 1/2 off. Since that's now no longer an option, perhaps judges may err on the side of defendants when they show up in court, and simply dismiss the tix.

At least in Sherwood (Portland suburb) there is a Traffic Awareness Class option, which - IF it works the way California does - will keep this off your record.


Here is a story: I was running through Beaverton on my lunch hour when I saw a radar van, with the retired cop outside it, having a smoke. It was a 95-degree day. As I ran by, I asked, "Getting mighty hot in that cashbox, eh?" with a smile. The officer said, "What cashbox?" as I giggled and kept running.