HELP!!!! Need info re: fighting a Photo Radar Speeding Ticket (Surprise: house, maintenance)

[observer53]

Originally Posted by bsteve14

i flipped off a photo radar doing under the limit, and actually ended up stopping just ahead of him, nothing wrong with my driving. he took a picture..but he can't do anything about that cn he?

I don't even understand what actually happened, from your description. I know it's your first post, but it helps to be really clear about what you are asking.

[Iggyaz]

El Mirage Red light and speed camera
If you didn't know El Mirage AZ had a contractor install a red light camera at Grand Ave and Primrose Lane. It is a 6 lane divided highway and the speed limit it 45mph which is a joke for a newly developed highway.

The equipement was installed in Aug 2011 just a few months ago and was well published in the local newspapers and TV.

Well yesterday I received a letter from El Mirage/ Contract company that I was driving " Speed geater than reasonable and prudent" 52 in a 45. They have some type of sensor in the pavement at the intersection that can do speed as well as red light runners. I didn't run a red light.

The fine is $232 which is outragious! The picture taken is me but I think I may fight the ticket.

I'm thinking about requesting all the equipment documents, maintenance documents, a list of downtimes and how they can prove the accuracy of the equipment. When was it last calibrated on the day I drove by.

Has anyone been to court in El Mirage and would I have any chance in getting my ticket dismissed on the defense of maintenance, non-calibration, etc?

Has this happened to you?
Did you pay the fine?
Did you go to school for $193
Or did you fight it? Did you win or lose?

Here is one of the pictures they sent me. I'm in the right hand lane and I think the other 2 got tickets for both speeding and red light running.

Thanks

[AZJ0SH]

Just throw it away and forget about it. If you try and fight it you're admitting fault.

The picture shows you're in the middle of the intersection when it turned yellow, legally you're in the clear unless they have those red lines around the intersection.

[Iggyaz]

Originally Posted by AZJ0SH

Just throw it away and forget about it. If you try and fight it you're admitting fault.

The picture shows you're in the middle of the intersection when it turned yellow, legally you're in the clear unless they have those red lines around the intersection.

The ticket is a speeding ticket not a red light ticket.
This intersection has both types.

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by Iggyaz

The ticket is a speeding ticket not a red light ticket.
This intersection has both types.

Since you were speeding, why not pay the fine you earned?

[AZJ0SH]

Originally Posted by Iggyaz

The ticket is a speeding ticket not a red light ticket.
This intersection has both types.

Sorry I misread that.

Originally Posted by Kimballette

Since you were speeding, why not pay the fine you earned?

52 in a 45 isn't excessive enough to deserve a $250 fine. You wouldn't get pulled over for doing 52 in a 45, so why should some machine decide you're speeding?

Arizona has prima facie speed limits, it's up to the officer to decide if your speed is reasonable and prudent.

[las vegas drunk]

Originally Posted by ReadyFreddy

So I'm all for as much electronic monitoring as they want to bring on. I sometimes think I'd be good with cameras every intersection and every mile, that spit out tickets for every clear infraction. What I don't really understand is with the size of these fines, why can't they hire more cops to investigate the crimes that need it?

The fines are so high because most people just throw the photo radar tickets in the trash and don't pay. The suckers who pay them have to cover everyone else.

[las vegas drunk]

Originally Posted by AZJ0SH

Sorry I misread that.



52 in a 45 isn't excessive enough to deserve a $250 fine. You wouldn't get pulled over for doing 52 in a 45, so why should some machine decide you're speeding?

Arizona has prima facie speed limits, it's up to the officer to decide if your speed is reasonable and prudent.

One thing I don't understand is I thought you have to be going 11 mph over to get a photo radar ticket. They must have changed it.

[las vegas drunk]

Originally Posted by AZJ0SH

Just throw it away and forget about it. If you try and fight it you're admitting fault.

I second that.

[observer53]

Originally Posted by AZJ0SH

Arizona has prima facie speed limits, it's up to the officer to decide if your speed is reasonable and prudent.

If it's a POSTED speed limit, that is the limit. Arizona Revised Statutes Section 28-703. Reasonable and prudent doesn't always control.

If you "throw it away and forget about it", be prepared to avoid a process server for the next few months. And, hope that El Mirage doesn't allow alternative service.