Photo radar on Phoenix city street - still running? (Scottsdale: school, live in) - Arizona (AZ) - City-Data Forum

sgfernandez · 08-06-2010, 05:08 AM

Last night, I was driving eastbound on Camelback road passing by 12th street in Phoenix, near all the car dealerships. There is some kind of photo radar at that intersection, not sure if it's a red light camera or a regular traffic camera, and I believe I was driving 5 or 6 over the 35mph speed limit. I ended up being flashed. I was passing through while the light was on yellow, not sure if that has anything to do with it. I know that all photo radar ended on state freeways, but does the same go for city streets? If so, why was I flashed? Finally, if I do receive a ticket in the mail, is it true that if you discard it, as well as ignore or evade people trying to serve you the ticket in person, it is deemed invalid after 6 months?

I'm kind of paranoid about this, and frankly I don't feel like I deserved that ticket, since I very rarely go over the speed limit unlike many drivers out there, and I was not going much over the limit at that specific moment either. I am mostly confused because the photo radar thing apparently ended last month, and I don't know whether or not that includes the cameras that are on the various city streets.

Thank you for any help in advance! I am new to this forum!

PS - I have never had a speeding or traffic ticket before!

Ponderosa · 08-06-2010, 07:15 AM

City radars and red light cams are still on. The freeway cams have been turned off. The cities don't give the same 11 mph cushion that the freeway cams did. Some cities use "alternative service" to collect the tickets, and hiding from the process server may not work. Also city tickets are not point-free tickets. It will go on your record unless you go to traffic school.

RCR · 08-06-2010, 10:17 AM

If you don't feel you deserve the ticket, own up to it and go to court and fight it. I am sure the judge will be on your side....

sgfernandez · 08-06-2010, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCR

If you don't feel you deserve the ticket, own up to it and go to court and fight it. I am sure the judge will be on your side....

Haha, is that sarcasm? Or do you mean that judges are sick of hearing about photo radar tickets and just want to get it over with?

And it happened in Phoenix, and I live in Tempe... do either of those cities do alternative service?

las vegas drunk · 08-06-2010, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgfernandez

Haha, is that sarcasm? Or do you mean that judges are sick of hearing about photo radar tickets and just want to get it over with?

And it happened in Phoenix, and I live in Tempe... do either of those cities do alternative service?

Scottsdale is the only city that does alternate service. All other tickets can go right into the trash can where they belong.

jgunn72 · 08-06-2010, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

City radars and red light cams are still on. The freeway cams have been turned off. The cities don't give the same 11 mph cushion that the freeway cams did. Some cities use "alternative service" to collect the tickets, and hiding from the process server may not work. Also city tickets are not point-free tickets. It will go on your record unless you go to traffic school.

Most cities are 11MPH still with the exception of school zones. And just register your car in your wifes name, and hers in your name and send the ticket back with a blown up picture of you and say you were not driving. End of story, end of ticket.

RCR · 08-07-2010, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgfernandez

Haha, is that sarcasm? Or do you mean that judges are sick of hearing about photo radar tickets and just want to get it over with?

And it happened in Phoenix, and I live in Tempe... do either of those cities do alternative service?

Yes a little sarcasm directed at the comment that you don't feel you deserve the ticket. It just struck me as funny and I equate it to there being no guilty people in jail.

I mean being a little over the limit is kind of like being a little pregnant.....

I am not sure about Phoenix but I know in Chandler they have an officer assigned to go to court for photo radar tickets and the judge there rarely if ever lets people off. I imagine your best bet is going to be traffic school, which since it was cut to 4 hours is far less painful than it used to be.

Pretzelogik · 08-07-2010, 10:29 AM

Here is what bugs me. With all the loons driving drunk, on drugs, texting etc. I often find it more important to watch out for my fellow drivers rather than keep my eyes glued to the speedo constantly. Therefore occasional over-speed occurs. Bravo Foxtrot Delta!

AndroidAZ · 08-07-2010, 12:14 PM

The photo radar is for one thing only - revenue. They hope people are fooled by the "safety" marketing.

Clearly AZ was not getting enough revenue from the freeway cameras, and thus they are shut down. Has nothing to do with safety.

BigRob69 · 08-08-2010, 04:15 PM

I used to get flashed on freeways for going just a few miles over the speed limit. I never got a ticket though and it's probably because I wasn't doing more than the aloud 11 mph over the limit.

Some people do consider going through an intersection fast during a yellow as blowing a red light and that could be why you got flashed. I personally don't think those cams are meant to catch speeders though. If the yellow was about to change to red then yes you got flashed for blowing a red light. If a green just turned to yellow then you should still be safe from a flashing. Unless your a celebrity like Tila Tequila, then you'd probably get in trouble for it by police. She was able blow a red light, in full view of police, after getting a ticket for driving on the wrong side of a road!