red light violation but out of state (Chicago: insurance, credit report) - Illinois (IL) - City-Data Forum

milmember · 03-09-2011, 02:10 PM

I am a Florida resident but live in Maryland (I'm in the military). I was in Chicago over Christmas and apparently my car got flashed by a red-light camera. Over 2 months later, I got the ticket in the mail.

I have multiple reasons why this ticket is total crap (I wasn't driving, it was raining and slushy, short yellow-light duration, a car stopped in the intersection in front of us and otherwise we would have made it through the intersection before the light turned red, and untimely notification about the ticket). But beyond all of that, what happens if I don't pay this ticket? What can Chicago do to me as a resident of Florida (with a Florida license) living in Maryland (with the car registered in Maryland)?

From what I can tell, this is a "non-moving" violation, which doesn't make sense, but as such it can't affect my insurance or license. They can't affect my registration since the car is registered in Maryland. And for all they know, I never got the violation notice.

What happens if I just ignore this? The violation says that "any unpaid fine constitutes a debt due and owing to the City." How does that affect an out-of-stater?

Thank you in advance for the help!

ofcjim40 · 03-09-2011, 03:17 PM

1) None of your defense points are a valid defense.

2) Eventually they will go after you for an unpaid debt, use a collection company, and if unpaid or if you don't properly contest, etc. this will go on your Credit Report as an unpaid debt and effect your FICO.

That's about the long and short of it.

milmember · 03-09-2011, 05:01 PM

Thanks. I didn't realize they could go the FICO route. I've never even had a parking ticket before this, so this is all new to me. We don't have red-light cameras where I live either, although we do have a few speed cameras popping up (my girlfriend sent me a copy of the speeding ticket I got [she was driving a car registered to me] even though I was deployed to Iraq at the time, but that was funnier and only 40 bucks).

As far as my defenses, I agree that they won't care. But I think that if a cop saw what happened in person, he would NOT have pulled us over, much less given me (as the passenger) a fine. It seems like they worked really hard to figure out a way to make this legal. If an officer pulls someone over for running a red light, that would be a moving violation, and the driver would be responsible. The registrant has nothing to do with it. But to avoid that issue completely, they made it a non-moving violation, and fine the registrant regardless of who was driving. I don't like this trend. And if they really wanted to make the roads safer, how about making the yellow light longer than 3 seconds? That's seems pretty short.

I guess I'll just wait a couple of days to let my anger settle down, and then bend over and take it and pay the fine. I don't feel like asking the driver (future father-in-law) to pay it. That relationship is already complicated enough . . .

Thanks again!

chicagojlo · 03-09-2011, 05:36 PM

How exactly do you propose they identify drivers other than by looking up the registered owner of the vehicle?! If you don't want to pay other people's fines don't allow them to drive your car. And learn the local driving laws next time you're in a new city.

ofcjim40 · 03-09-2011, 06:25 PM

Believe me, the Police aren't fans of the cameras either. This is all politicians doing. Just as an FYI, all intersections with Red Light Cameras have signs warning of them. Keep your eyes peeled for the sign and use extra caution around it. That's about the best advice I can give.

DaPerpKazoo · 03-09-2011, 06:57 PM

In some states it is illegal. Try contacting someone on the Florida end of things to see what's up.

jlawrence01 · 03-09-2011, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaPerpKazoo

In some states it is illegal. Try contacting someone on the Florida end of things to see what's up.

That is irrelevant. The offense occurred in Illinois, not Florida.

Brahern02 · 03-09-2011, 09:07 PM

If you got the ticket, just pay it. They are not worth fighting. The ticket automatically goes to the registered owner of the vehicle, doesn't matter who was driving. You are responsible. I know it sucks, but I would just pay the fine and move on with your life.

jdiddy · 03-09-2011, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagojlo

How exactly do you propose they identify drivers other than by looking up the registered owner of the vehicle?! If you don't want to pay other people's fines don't allow them to drive your car. And learn the local driving laws next time you're in a new city.

Give the guy a break. He's right, its highly unlikely a cop would've pulled him over in that situation. That's why they've been so controversial everywhere they've been deployed.

To the OP, you can try and contest it, but it will likely just be a waste of your time. Unless you want to risk them taking it to collection, just pay the ticket.

CoolSocks · 03-09-2011, 09:51 PM

There was a camera located at the stoplight right in front of the office I was working at this past summer. I didn't notice the camera until I got two tickets in the mail two days apart

After that I was very careful. I was also an out of state resident, but since they had my picture and I was clearly guilty of turning right on red which wasn't allowed (in Michigan most are) I decided it would be pointless to attempt to contest it.

Whether you decide to contest or pay the ticket is your own choice, just don't let it go unpaid because it will bite you in the butt. Since the ticket is $100+, it's probably handled a little differently than a $20 parking ticket. I wouldn't chance it.