Here is essential info about California's very difference red light camera tickets. First, the tickets cost $500.00. (Five hundred dollars.)
Now that I've got your attention...
We've had cameras here for almost two decades. At one time we had more than 100 cities with red light cameras. Now it's down to 43 cities, with recent closures being the large systems operated by Redflex in the Cities of Hayward, Oakland, Santa Ana, Inglewood, and Riverside - 82 cameras in those five cities. In many of those cities the police chiefs and/or mayors made on-the-record statements about the (lack of) efficacy of the cameras. If anyone would like to read those statements, do a search on red light camera candor and then search that Industry PR page for the word candor. But if you're too busy to go there and read what they said, I will summarize: The cameras made no measurable difference in the number of accidents or injuries.
For those readers who are in California or travel here, here is some semi-secret info about how to deal with our very special flavor of red light cameras. Here's what to do - first thing - if you get one of our tickets.
1. Check to see if it is a Snitch Ticket, the fake/phishing tickets California cops send out to bluff car owners into IDing the actual driver. Snitch Tickets say, at the top, Courtesy Notice-This is not a ticket, and you can ignore them! Skeptical? Search: Snitch Ticket. (Snitch Tickets are one of those "only in California" things.)
2. REAL camera tickets from ANY city (or sheriff) in LA County can be ignored, as the LA courts do not report ignored camera tickets to the DMV. Search: red light camera no consequence.
Here in California red light camera tickets cost $500.00.
We've had cameras here for almost two decades. At one time we had more than 100 cities with red light cameras. Now California is down to less than 50, with recent closures being the large systems operated by Redflex in the Cities of Hayward, Oakland, Santa Ana, Inglewood, and Riverside - 82 cameras in those five cities. In many of those cities the local authorities (chiefs, mayors) made on-the-record statements about the (lack of) efficacy of the cameras. If anyone would like to read those statements, do a search on red light camera candor and then search that Industry PR page for the word candor. But if you're too busy to go there and read what they said, I will summarize: The cameras made no measurable difference in the number of accidents or injuries.
For those readers who are in California or travel here, here is some semi-secret info about how to deal with our very special flavor of red light cameras. Here's what to do - first thing - if you get one of our tickets.
1. Check to see if it is a Snitch Ticket, the fake/phishing tickets cops send out to bluff car owners into IDing the actual driver. Snitch Tickets say, at the top, Courtesy Notice-This is not a ticket, and you can ignore them! Skeptical? Search: Snitch Ticket.
2. REAL camera tickets from ANY city (or sheriff) in LA County can be ignored, as the LA courts do not report ignored camera tickets to the DMV. Search: red light camera no consequence.
Do you visit California or live there? If so, here is info about California's red light camera tickets, which are bizarre-ly different from those in other states. (To start with, the fine is $500.)
A red light camera ticket from ANY city (or the MTA) in LA County can be ignored, as the LA courts have decided they will not report ignored camera tickets to the DMV. This was revealed in LA Times articles. Skeptical? Google: Red light camera no consequence.
Also, no matter where in California came from, check to see if it is a Snitch Ticket, the fake/phishing camera tickets California police send out to bluff car owners into ID'ing the actual driver. Snitch Tickets say, at the top, "Courtesy Notice-This is not a ticket," and you can ignore them, too! Skeptical? Google: Snitch Ticket.
For anyone who got a ticket in California, here's two ways many California red light cam tickets can be beat:
1. Check to see if it is a Snitch Ticket, the fake/phishing camera tickets California police send out to bluff car owners into ID'ing the actual driver. Snitch Tickets say, at the top, "Courtesy Notice-This is not a ticket," and you can ignore them! Skeptical? Google: Snitch Ticket.
2. Were you in the LA area? Even a REAL red light camera ticket from ANY city (or the sheriff) in LA County can be ignored, as the LA courts do not report ignored camera tickets to the DMV. This was revealed in LA Times articles in 2011. Skeptical? Google: Red light camera no consequence.
Here in California a red light camera ticket needs to be filed in the name of the actual driver of the car, so the red light camera companies print up Snitch Tickets, fake/phishing camera tickets, which they mail out to bluff registered owners into ID'ing the actual driver of the car. Over 30 California cities use the fake tickets, and in many cities the fakes are more than half of everything the city mails out. The fake tickets have not been filed with the court, so they don?t say ?Notice to Appear,? don?t have the court?s address and phone # on them, and usually say (in small letters), "Courtesy Notice - This is not a ticket." Since they have not been filed with the court, they have zero legal weight. You can, and should, ignore a Snitch Ticket. Unbelievable? Google: Snitch Ticket.
In California there is a NO COST way that about half of all tickets could be avoided.
Everyone living in California, or visiting, needs to know about Snitch Tickets, which are fake/phishing red light camera tickets sent out by the police in an effort to fool the registered owner into identifying the actual driver of the car. (Over 30 CA cities use them, and in some they are more than half of everything the city mails out.) Snitch tickets have not been filed with the court, so they don?t say ?Notice to Appear,? don?t have the court?s address and phone # on them, and usually say, on the back (in small letters), ?Do not contact the court about this notice.? Since they have not been filed with the court, they have no legal weight whatsoever. You can, and should, ignore a Snitch Ticket. If in doubt, Google the term.
Also, a REAL camera ticket from ANY city in Los Angeles County can be ignored, as the LA courts do not report ignored tickets to the DMV. (This was revealed in multiple LA Times articles last summer. It is applicable ONLY to cities in LA county.)
The cameras (indirectly) block emergency vehicles - because cars stopped at a camera hesitate to get out of the way! Other side effects: Rearenders, $$$ sent to Oz, AZ or Goldman-Sachs, where it won't come back, and tourists and shoppers driven away.
Worse, a false expectation of safety, because cameras can't stop the real late runners, who cause the accidents. (If cameras worked, camera sellers wouldn't have the crash videos they supply to the media.)
Want safety, no side effects?
To cut car/pedestrian accidents, train your kids not to step out just 'cuz the walk sign came on.
To cut nuisance running (a fraction of a second late), lengthen the yellows. It's cheap to do so can be done all over town.
The dangerous real late (multiple seconds) runs won't be stopped by the mere presence of a camera, because the runner won't know (a lost tourist) or won't remember (a distracted or impaired "local") that there's a camera up ahead. They're not doing it on purpose! To cut the real late runs, improve the visual cues that say, "Intersection ahead." Florida's DOT found that better pavement markings (paint!) cut running by up to 74%. Make the signal lights bigger, add backboards, and put the poles on the NEAR side of the corner. Put brighter bulbs in the street lights at intersections. Put up lighted name signs for the cross streets.
Who needs cameras and their side effects?
Everywhere but LA, ticketing is gonna increase. Why?
A bill in Sacramento - if not vetoed - will allow cities to reduce posted speeds by 5 mph, even on streets with a great safety record. The lower limits will allow them to shorten yellows. The shortening permitted by a 5 mph decrease in the speed will increase red light cam ticketing by at least 50%. (Four of the sponsoring cities have cameras.) Worse, the shortening will increase severe accidents by 30 to 40%. (Source: "Development of Guidelines for Treating Red-Light Running," Texas Transp. Inst. pg 2-20.)
It is AB 529, and it is going to Gov. Brown for signature - or veto.
Defeat AB 529! Phone Brown, at 916 445-2841, or email him via the form at gov.ca.gov , and ask him to veto. Also phone the AAA, and your union or professional association.
To the anti-car people and cities thinking of supporting this bill for the money more tickets will bring: Remember that this bill will increase severe accidents, a lot. For money.
Aside from dreams of revenue, why do politicians OK the cameras?
1. They think we like the cameras!
Last month a blog exposed Astroturf Lobbying in the red light cam Industry. (To read it, Google Rynski and Astroturf.) Astroturf Lobbying is when a PR firm manufactures a fake grassroots movement via comments posted on news articles like this one. The politicians read newspapers and the web, just like anyone else. They see the pro-camera comments, assume they represent genuine public support, and so they vote to install cameras.
2. Politicians - and their extended family - are immune to the tickets.
In California 1.5 million privately-owned cars have plate numbers protected from easy look up, effectively invisible to agencies trying to process red light camera violations. Such "protected plate" lists exist in other states, too. (In CA the list includes local politicians, bureaucrats, retired cops, other govt. employees, and their families and ADULT children! Unbelievable? Read Cal. Veh. Code 1808.4.) Someone should check to see who and how many are 'protected,' in each state.
An article (headline: "Special License Plates Shield Officials from Traffic Tickets") pointed out that "in California there are nearly one million PRIVATE vehicles having 'confidential' license plate numbers that are protected from easy or efficient look up, thus are effectively invisible to agencies attempting to process parking, toll, and red light camera violations." (OC Register, California, 4-4-08.) In 2009 the Register revisited the subject and reported that the legislature was extending the "confidential" treatment to even more people! Such "protected plate" lists exist in most states, including Florida, and many are bloated, like California's. (In California the list includes politicians - even local ones - judges, bureaucrats, and many other govt. employees. And their families! Plus such oddities as veterinarians and museum guards.) Any reporter writing about the cameras should investigate to see how many, and who, are on the list in their locality.
AZ has dumped them, but CA is so desparate for money that it may set up the same thing! But much bigger. (On the bright side, it will be green as it will recycle the equipment no longer needed in Arizona.) If you are in CA and don't want speed cams, call your state legislators, and the govinator. Real soon. It could all be decided in June.
Of course, legislators (in most states) don't have to worry much about camera tickets. Here's the dirty little secret: An April 2008 Orange County Register (Santa Ana, California) article pointed out that in California there are nearly one million private vehicles having "confidential" license plate numbers that are protected from easy or efficient look up, thus are effectively invisible to agencies attempting to process parking, toll, and red light camera violations. These exempt vehicles belong to politicians, bureaucrats, "government insiders," and their families. In 2009 the Register reported that the legislature was extending the "confidential" treatment to even more people! Such "protected plate" lists exist in most states, and in many of those will be inflated, like in California. In each state having cameras, some reporter should check it out.
Drivers who live in California or are visiting need to know about Snitch Tickets, which are fake/phishing red light camera tickets sent out by some CA police departments to bluff the registered owner into ID'ing the actual driver of the car. (Local cities using them are Daly City, Elk Grove, Emeryville, Fairfield, Marysville, Millbrae, Modesto, Newark, Redding, Rocklin, San Leandro, San Mateo, Stockton and Union City.) Snitch Tickets haven't been filed with the court so they don't say "Notice to Appear," don't have the court's address, and say (on the back, in small letters), "Do not contact the court." Since they have NOT been filed with the court, they have no legal weight. You can ignore a Snitch Ticket. But if you reply, the police will use the info you provide to issue a real ticket, for approx. $500! If in doubt about Snitch Tickets, Google the term.
For those who live in California, or might visit, here is a special note about California camera tickets. (As in many fields of endeavor, we do it differently. Not better, just differently.)
Here they cost about $500! And a point on your license. Because our tickets put a point on your license, the police have to identify the actual driver before they can file the ticket at court. Since the photo of the plates leads only to the registered owner ("RO"), and he/she often was not the person driving the car, about 40 California police depts. mail out Snitch Tickets, which are fake/phishing red light camera tickets sent out to fool the RO into ID'ing the actual driver of the car. Snitch Tickets haven't been filed with the court, so are recognizable because they don't say "Notice to Appear," don't have the court's address, and say (on the back, in small letters), "Do not contact the court." Since they have NOT been filed with the court, they have no legal weight. You can ignore a Snitch Ticket. If in doubt, Google the term.
If you live in California or ever visit, you need to know how to deal with Snitch Tickets, fake/phishing red light camera tickets sent out by some California police departments to bluff the registered owner into ID'ing the actual driver of the car. (Unlike most other states, where camera tickets are "owner responsibility," California's camera tickets are "driver responsibility.") Corona is one of the 30+ California cities using Snitch Tickets. Snitch Tickets haven't been filed with the court so they don't say "Notice to Appear," don't have the court's address, and say (on the back, in small letters), "Do not contact the court." Since they have NOT been filed with the court, they have no legal weight. You can ignore a Snitch Ticket. If in doubt, Google the term.
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Here's the source docs
Love this article, but if you're someone who needs to see proof, the source docs are on the Fremont page at highwayrobbery [dot] net.
If you're going to San Francisco (or elsewhere in CA)...
Here is essential info about California's very difference red light camera tickets. First, the tickets cost $500.00. (Five hundred dollars.)
Now that I've got your attention...
We've had cameras here for almost two decades. At one time we had more than 100 cities with red light cameras. Now it's down to 43 cities, with recent closures being the large systems operated by Redflex in the Cities of Hayward, Oakland, Santa Ana, Inglewood, and Riverside - 82 cameras in those five cities. In many of those cities the police chiefs and/or mayors made on-the-record statements about the (lack of) efficacy of the cameras. If anyone would like to read those statements, do a search on red light camera candor and then search that Industry PR page for the word candor. But if you're too busy to go there and read what they said, I will summarize: The cameras made no measurable difference in the number of accidents or injuries.
For those readers who are in California or travel here, here is some semi-secret info about how to deal with our very special flavor of red light cameras. Here's what to do - first thing - if you get one of our tickets.
1. Check to see if it is a Snitch Ticket, the fake/phishing tickets California cops send out to bluff car owners into IDing the actual driver. Snitch Tickets say, at the top, Courtesy Notice-This is not a ticket, and you can ignore them! Skeptical? Search: Snitch Ticket. (Snitch Tickets are one of those "only in California" things.)
2. REAL camera tickets from ANY city (or sheriff) in LA County can be ignored, as the LA courts do not report ignored camera tickets to the DMV. Search: red light camera no consequence.
Look to California for the future: Tickets are $500.00
Here in California red light camera tickets cost $500.00.
We've had cameras here for almost two decades. At one time we had more than 100 cities with red light cameras. Now California is down to less than 50, with recent closures being the large systems operated by Redflex in the Cities of Hayward, Oakland, Santa Ana, Inglewood, and Riverside - 82 cameras in those five cities. In many of those cities the local authorities (chiefs, mayors) made on-the-record statements about the (lack of) efficacy of the cameras. If anyone would like to read those statements, do a search on red light camera candor and then search that Industry PR page for the word candor. But if you're too busy to go there and read what they said, I will summarize: The cameras made no measurable difference in the number of accidents or injuries.
For those readers who are in California or travel here, here is some semi-secret info about how to deal with our very special flavor of red light cameras. Here's what to do - first thing - if you get one of our tickets.
1. Check to see if it is a Snitch Ticket, the fake/phishing tickets cops send out to bluff car owners into IDing the actual driver. Snitch Tickets say, at the top, Courtesy Notice-This is not a ticket, and you can ignore them! Skeptical? Search: Snitch Ticket.
2. REAL camera tickets from ANY city (or sheriff) in LA County can be ignored, as the LA courts do not report ignored camera tickets to the DMV. Search: red light camera no consequence.
If you drive in California...
Do you visit California or live there? If so, here is info about California's red light camera tickets, which are bizarre-ly different from those in other states. (To start with, the fine is $500.)
A red light camera ticket from ANY city (or the MTA) in LA County can be ignored, as the LA courts have decided they will not report ignored camera tickets to the DMV. This was revealed in LA Times articles. Skeptical? Google: Red light camera no consequence.
Also, no matter where in California came from, check to see if it is a Snitch Ticket, the fake/phishing camera tickets California police send out to bluff car owners into ID'ing the actual driver. Snitch Tickets say, at the top, "Courtesy Notice-This is not a ticket," and you can ignore them, too! Skeptical? Google: Snitch Ticket.
California tickets - many can be ignored
For anyone who got a ticket in California, here's two ways many California red light cam tickets can be beat:
1. Check to see if it is a Snitch Ticket, the fake/phishing camera tickets California police send out to bluff car owners into ID'ing the actual driver. Snitch Tickets say, at the top, "Courtesy Notice-This is not a ticket," and you can ignore them! Skeptical? Google: Snitch Ticket.
2. Were you in the LA area? Even a REAL red light camera ticket from ANY city (or the sheriff) in LA County can be ignored, as the LA courts do not report ignored camera tickets to the DMV. This was revealed in LA Times articles in 2011. Skeptical? Google: Red light camera no consequence.
Here's what the companies do in California
Here in California a red light camera ticket needs to be filed in the name of the actual driver of the car, so the red light camera companies print up Snitch Tickets, fake/phishing camera tickets, which they mail out to bluff registered owners into ID'ing the actual driver of the car. Over 30 California cities use the fake tickets, and in many cities the fakes are more than half of everything the city mails out. The fake tickets have not been filed with the court, so they don?t say ?Notice to Appear,? don?t have the court?s address and phone # on them, and usually say (in small letters), "Courtesy Notice - This is not a ticket." Since they have not been filed with the court, they have zero legal weight. You can, and should, ignore a Snitch Ticket. Unbelievable? Google: Snitch Ticket.
If you visit California or live there
In California there is a NO COST way that about half of all tickets could be avoided.
Everyone living in California, or visiting, needs to know about Snitch Tickets, which are fake/phishing red light camera tickets sent out by the police in an effort to fool the registered owner into identifying the actual driver of the car. (Over 30 CA cities use them, and in some they are more than half of everything the city mails out.) Snitch tickets have not been filed with the court, so they don?t say ?Notice to Appear,? don?t have the court?s address and phone # on them, and usually say, on the back (in small letters), ?Do not contact the court about this notice.? Since they have not been filed with the court, they have no legal weight whatsoever. You can, and should, ignore a Snitch Ticket. If in doubt, Google the term.
Also, a REAL camera ticket from ANY city in Los Angeles County can be ignored, as the LA courts do not report ignored tickets to the DMV. (This was revealed in multiple LA Times articles last summer. It is applicable ONLY to cities in LA county.)
Who needs cameras?
The cameras (indirectly) block emergency vehicles - because cars stopped at a camera hesitate to get out of the way! Other side effects: Rearenders, $$$ sent to Oz, AZ or Goldman-Sachs, where it won't come back, and tourists and shoppers driven away.
Worse, a false expectation of safety, because cameras can't stop the real late runners, who cause the accidents. (If cameras worked, camera sellers wouldn't have the crash videos they supply to the media.)
Want safety, no side effects?
To cut car/pedestrian accidents, train your kids not to step out just 'cuz the walk sign came on.
To cut nuisance running (a fraction of a second late), lengthen the yellows. It's cheap to do so can be done all over town.
The dangerous real late (multiple seconds) runs won't be stopped by the mere presence of a camera, because the runner won't know (a lost tourist) or won't remember (a distracted or impaired "local") that there's a camera up ahead. They're not doing it on purpose! To cut the real late runs, improve the visual cues that say, "Intersection ahead." Florida's DOT found that better pavement markings (paint!) cut running by up to 74%. Make the signal lights bigger, add backboards, and put the poles on the NEAR side of the corner. Put brighter bulbs in the street lights at intersections. Put up lighted name signs for the cross streets.
Who needs cameras and their side effects?
The Big Picture
Everywhere but LA, ticketing is gonna increase. Why?
A bill in Sacramento - if not vetoed - will allow cities to reduce posted speeds by 5 mph, even on streets with a great safety record. The lower limits will allow them to shorten yellows. The shortening permitted by a 5 mph decrease in the speed will increase red light cam ticketing by at least 50%. (Four of the sponsoring cities have cameras.) Worse, the shortening will increase severe accidents by 30 to 40%. (Source: "Development of Guidelines for Treating Red-Light Running," Texas Transp. Inst. pg 2-20.)
It is AB 529, and it is going to Gov. Brown for signature - or veto.
Defeat AB 529! Phone Brown, at 916 445-2841, or email him via the form at gov.ca.gov , and ask him to veto. Also phone the AAA, and your union or professional association.
To the anti-car people and cities thinking of supporting this bill for the money more tickets will bring: Remember that this bill will increase severe accidents, a lot. For money.
Why do politicians OK the cameras?
Aside from dreams of revenue, why do politicians OK the cameras?
1. They think we like the cameras!
Last month a blog exposed Astroturf Lobbying in the red light cam Industry. (To read it, Google Rynski and Astroturf.) Astroturf Lobbying is when a PR firm manufactures a fake grassroots movement via comments posted on news articles like this one. The politicians read newspapers and the web, just like anyone else. They see the pro-camera comments, assume they represent genuine public support, and so they vote to install cameras.
2. Politicians - and their extended family - are immune to the tickets.
In California 1.5 million privately-owned cars have plate numbers protected from easy look up, effectively invisible to agencies trying to process red light camera violations. Such "protected plate" lists exist in other states, too. (In CA the list includes local politicians, bureaucrats, retired cops, other govt. employees, and their families and ADULT children! Unbelievable? Read Cal. Veh. Code 1808.4.) Someone should check to see who and how many are 'protected,' in each state.
Politicians, bureaucrats are immune from these tickets
An article (headline: "Special License Plates Shield Officials from Traffic Tickets") pointed out that "in California there are nearly one million PRIVATE vehicles having 'confidential' license plate numbers that are protected from easy or efficient look up, thus are effectively invisible to agencies attempting to process parking, toll, and red light camera violations." (OC Register, California, 4-4-08.) In 2009 the Register revisited the subject and reported that the legislature was extending the "confidential" treatment to even more people! Such "protected plate" lists exist in most states, including Florida, and many are bloated, like California's. (In California the list includes politicians - even local ones - judges, bureaucrats, and many other govt. employees. And their families! Plus such oddities as veterinarians and museum guards.) Any reporter writing about the cameras should investigate to see how many, and who, are on the list in their locality.
Politicians are effectively exempt from these tickets
AZ has dumped them, but CA is so desparate for money that it may set up the same thing! But much bigger. (On the bright side, it will be green as it will recycle the equipment no longer needed in Arizona.) If you are in CA and don't want speed cams, call your state legislators, and the govinator. Real soon. It could all be decided in June.
Of course, legislators (in most states) don't have to worry much about camera tickets. Here's the dirty little secret: An April 2008 Orange County Register (Santa Ana, California) article pointed out that in California there are nearly one million private vehicles having "confidential" license plate numbers that are protected from easy or efficient look up, thus are effectively invisible to agencies attempting to process parking, toll, and red light camera violations. These exempt vehicles belong to politicians, bureaucrats, "government insiders," and their families. In 2009 the Register reported that the legislature was extending the "confidential" treatment to even more people! Such "protected plate" lists exist in most states, and in many of those will be inflated, like in California. In each state having cameras, some reporter should check it out.
Police in Calif. send out fake camera tickets
Drivers who live in California or are visiting need to know about Snitch Tickets, which are fake/phishing red light camera tickets sent out by some CA police departments to bluff the registered owner into ID'ing the actual driver of the car. (Local cities using them are Daly City, Elk Grove, Emeryville, Fairfield, Marysville, Millbrae, Modesto, Newark, Redding, Rocklin, San Leandro, San Mateo, Stockton and Union City.) Snitch Tickets haven't been filed with the court so they don't say "Notice to Appear," don't have the court's address, and say (on the back, in small letters), "Do not contact the court." Since they have NOT been filed with the court, they have no legal weight. You can ignore a Snitch Ticket. But if you reply, the police will use the info you provide to issue a real ticket, for approx. $500! If in doubt about Snitch Tickets, Google the term.
How we do you in California
For those who live in California, or might visit, here is a special note about California camera tickets. (As in many fields of endeavor, we do it differently. Not better, just differently.)
Here they cost about $500! And a point on your license. Because our tickets put a point on your license, the police have to identify the actual driver before they can file the ticket at court. Since the photo of the plates leads only to the registered owner ("RO"), and he/she often was not the person driving the car, about 40 California police depts. mail out Snitch Tickets, which are fake/phishing red light camera tickets sent out to fool the RO into ID'ing the actual driver of the car. Snitch Tickets haven't been filed with the court, so are recognizable because they don't say "Notice to Appear," don't have the court's address, and say (on the back, in small letters), "Do not contact the court." Since they have NOT been filed with the court, they have no legal weight. You can ignore a Snitch Ticket. If in doubt, Google the term.
Here's another California secret
If you live in California or ever visit, you need to know how to deal with Snitch Tickets, fake/phishing red light camera tickets sent out by some California police departments to bluff the registered owner into ID'ing the actual driver of the car. (Unlike most other states, where camera tickets are "owner responsibility," California's camera tickets are "driver responsibility.") Corona is one of the 30+ California cities using Snitch Tickets. Snitch Tickets haven't been filed with the court so they don't say "Notice to Appear," don't have the court's address, and say (on the back, in small letters), "Do not contact the court." Since they have NOT been filed with the court, they have no legal weight. You can ignore a Snitch Ticket. If in doubt, Google the term.