re: Are Red Light tickets worth fighting?

I’m good about not getting them anymore. Fwiw, I always paid them and never gotten the boot. The wife on the other hand gets at least one camera ticket a week.

Yea. BR does not boot you if unpaid tickets. If this was the case I would not pay them either. Nola is ridiculous, she’s gotten camera tickets in a school zone, here’s the kicker she was speeding at 9pm on a Saturday. Huge money grab in nola. FU Mitch.

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Didn't fight just didn't pay. Nothing happened.

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This
They eventually turn it over to the company providing the camera service and you will get stupid letters from their law firm for about a year. Nothing happens. Even a Baton Rouge lawmaker said do not pay them.

Courtesy of Will Cover:

1. Real tickets will instruct you to contact the court to resolve matter in question while fake tickets (ATS and RedFlex) may tell you not to contact the court. Fake tickets are sent via regular US Postal Mail service, but appear to be "official," which they are not. Criminal citations are sent by registered or certified mail.

2. In Louisiana, RLC and speed camera citations are NOT a criminal offense. They are treated as CIVIL matter, partly because the OWNER of the vehicle is issued the citation (doesn't matter who is driving) and if contested, you won't be awarded the opportunity to go before a judge. Instead, you will have a hearing with an Administrative Adjudication officer (city appointed).

3. CIVIL offenses are NOT reported to the Louisiana DMV or your insurance company.

4. In Baton Rouge, city officials will NOT turn over your Social Security Number to a private company (ATS and RedFlex).

5. If unpaid fine goes on your credit report, simply dispute online with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Ask them to investigate and validate the debt owed. ATS and RedFlex must provide proof that you entered into an agreement for goods or services or signed promissory note.

6. If threatened with a collection notice or a harassing phone call, do the math. ATS and RedFlex send out thousands upon thousands citations each and every day. This is profitable for them to do, because many people are scared into thinking they have to pay (the media plays a large part in this) and because it's the "right thing to do." But think about the numbers ...

In Los Angeles alone, there are over 50 K red light camera tickets that remain unpaid. In Nassau County, the county has failed to collect on $10 million in unpaid red light camera fines. And in East Baton Rouge parish alone, almost half of the red light tickets for CITY PARISH vehicles have NOT been paid.

One Rule for the City of Baton Rouge. Another rule for the citizens of Baton Rouge.

What's the bottom line? If you think for one minute that a company such as ATS or RedFlex, both of whom are located out of state, are going to take the time, energy and resources (think out of state costs, attorney fees and court cost) to go after you in a court of law for a fine of less than $500.00, pay it.

But if you're like me and are willing to take the "risk," toss it and go on with your life, but for the love of God, please don't create one more post about red light or speed cameras!

FWIW. That intersection is No Right on Red but they only made it that way AFTER they installed the camera. Gotten two there and didn’t pay either. I like to write snarky responses on the bills and send them back.

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they are a "civil infraction" or something. That is why you can't take it to court or anything.

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This isn't so in all jurisdictions. In Maryland they have speed cameras everywhere and you can contest it in court although it is considered a civil matter. Virginia has red light cameras but I have no idea how that works b/c I've never been cited.

But just because something is a civil violation doesn't mean there are no penalties and no way to contest it.

Didn’t pay. They sent a few threatening letters from some out of state attorney. Nothing ever happened and it didn’t show up on my credit. I wouldn’t worry myself with it. I got my ticket in the same spot.