With New York expanding the red light camera program, a new industry for beating the red light camera tickets has been created. Please note that covering or coating a license plate is illegal in New York. However, according to the New York Post, roughly 31% of New York red light camera tickets are un-readable, it is safe to assume that this product is being widely used by some motorists.
The good news is that a red light camera ticket does not carry points and involves only a $50 fine. Contrast this to a red light ticket issued by a police officer which carries 3 points and a $280 fine plus $80 surcharge for a first offense.
The video below is a new report discussing different ways to avoid a red light camera ticket:
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MY WIFE BEEN DRIVING FOR 42 YEARS NOW , WE BEING LEAVING IN QUEENS MORE THEN 50 YEARS AND IN ALL THAT TIME MY WIFE NEVER DRIVE OUT OF QUEENS IF ITS MORE THEN 5, 10 MILES WEE GO WITH MY CAR ME DRIVING , NETHER ME OR MY WIFE EVER HAVE BEEN TO SYRACUSE NEW YORK, BUT ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO RECEIVED A SUMMENS FOR SPEEDING TROUGH AN EZPASS AND NO EZEE TAG , IN THE PHOTO THEY SEND US IT SHOWING MY WIFE CAR PLATE THE CAR WAS A PONTIAC WIFE’S CAR WAS BMW , PONTIAC WAS WHITE WIFE’S CAR WAS BLACK , YOU TALKING ABOUT A MIX UP , NO I CALLED IT A F…..UP IT TAKE THE DMV 1 YEAR TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENS , THE FINDING WAS SOME GUY CUT 2 PLATES JUST RIGHT WHERE MADE A ONE PERFECT PLATE THAT JUST SO RESEMBLED MY WIFE CAR PLATE NUMBER , AT THE END WE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE CAR WAS SPOTTED AT ANOTHER EZPASS AN WAS FINALLY ARRESTED . AND OUR END WAS CLEARED .
Hi Sal,
Thanks for sharing this horrible story. Glad it has worked out.
Matthew Weiss
Hello. This happened on an intersection going in an outlet shopping center. I made a right while it just turned red and I received a red light ticket. I stopped before the line but did not stay for 3 seconds before turning. I did not see the “No Turn On Red” sign anywhere. Can I fight this ticket?
Erick,
You can fight any ticket … but that doesn’t mean you will win. In New York, you must come to complete stop before making a right on red.
Matthew Weiss
Is it possible and how would I dispute a school zone camera violation when there is another vehicle in the photo?
Cyn Stolz,
It is near-impossible to beat a speed camera ticket. Sorry.
With that said, do not let me discourage you from trying. Good luck!
Matthew Weiss
I’ve managed to fight and win 2 previous school zone camera speeding tickets. Will see if I’m able to be successful with this one.
I just received a red light violation for Rockaway Blvd. I live over 400 miles away in Upstate NY and have not been, nor has my vehicle been, anywhere near NYC, especially since the pandemic. The town where I live is spelled wrong on the notice so my guess is that it is a scam. What can I do?
Angela D,
Sounds like they mis-read the license plate number, a valid and strong defense.
Good luck!
Matthew Weiss
I’ve been charged with a photo school zn speed violation in richmond county (staten island). The violation came as a failure to respond to previous notice (which I did not recieive). I reviewed the violation and found two discrepancies, 1 Street name is incorrect and 2 There is no image attached to my violation. I disputed the violations online based on “no such location and no photo evidence”. The hearing is complete and I have been found guilty. Should I not require photo evidence and should the street name appear exactly as posted on the signage?
Joseph,
Sounds like you have some good arguments. I would appeal.
Good luck!
Matthew Weiss
My father received a red light ticket from Nassau County, my daughter (his granddaughter was driving the car). The car is registered in Idaho. Where I live in CO the law states that these tickets are only enforceable if the defendant is served. Is that the case with NY law as well? My daughter was in NY temporarily and she does not reside in state. Does Nassau County or the vendor have the ability to enforce this ticket or seek third party collection? Thanks!
Brian,
I believe that Nassau County can enforce this ticket.
Matthew Weiss
I got photographed today on Woodhaven and Yellowstone in Queens. My dash cam video clearly shows the light never turned red…it’s yellow all the way as I pass through it. Can I fight it with the dash cam video ? Thanks in advance.
Adrian,
Yes, you can submit your dash cam video as evidence to fight this red light camera ticket.
Good luck!
Matthew Weiss
Hello.
I stopped at a red light and then made right on red (allowed with full stop) and I got a red light ticket. I stopped before the line but did not stay for 3 seconds. I do not see the 3 second rule anywhere. Can I fight this ticket?
Britt,
I doubt that you’ll win. You cannot make a right on red until stopping completely (i.e., no rolling stops).
Sorry.
Matthew Weiss
I heard that NYS sets down that a red light camera fine cannot be more than 50 dollars and that additional administrative fees, etc cannot be more than 25 dollars. Where would I be able to find out if this is true? Nassau County fines red light camera offenders 50 dollars + 45 dollars (driver responsibility fee) and 55 dollars as a Public safety fee. So the total fees amount to twice the amount of the fine.
Larry,
As far as I know, no one has successfully challenged Nassau’s administrative fee.
Matthew Weiss
Nassau County states in writing, that all red light camera intersections are clearly marked. NYS does not require municipalities to post signs informing motorists of a red light intersections. Nassau county though does have many intersections not marked with signage. Being that Nassau county in writing states all red light intersections have these signs, can I object to any affidavit being submitted by Nassau County as Prima Facie evidence on the grounds of questionable testimony (cannot trust Nassau County with telling the truth). Also If a Nassau County technician affirms a statement without it being notarized, Can I object to it being submitted as Prima Facia evidence?
Larry A,
You can argue the lack of signage renders your ticket defective but I haven’t heard this argument being successful.
Good luck!
Matthew Weiss
The fee is now $150- BASE- no late fees. Rape
let you council man know that you will vote against anyone who is in favor of more cameras
Hello, I know in the city the red light camera does not snap a picture until .3 seconds after the light has been red. Is the same case in Nassau County as well?
Mike,
I never heard that “rule’ and doubt it’s true in NYC or Nassau.
Matthew Weiss
Hi Matthew,
I read in the law that the county is not allowed to penalize you beyond the $50 violation and that all other fees charged (driver responsibility and public safety fee) are unlawful. Is this true? Am I interpreting this correctly and if so, do I request a hearing? I think $150 is exorbitant and it seems like extortion to me.
Melissa,
I have not read this information With that said, this is very interesting question which I, myself, have often asked myself.
Matthew Weiss
Hello. I am moving out of New York within the next couple of months and my wife received a couple of red light tickets recently. I had intended to contest them, but the court date is set for after I leave the state. My question to you is: What does NYS actually do if red light camera tickets are not paid? Furthermore, what can NYS do to an out-of-state driver for failure to pay these fines? I really have no interest in compensating Xerox $30 for each ticket they issue so any way I can avoid paying these ludicrous fines is preferable to me.
Thank you.
Rodney,
Answers below in bold:
What does NYS actually do if red light camera tickets are not paid? They find you guilty by default and impose extra fees. They can also impair your credit rating and possibly affect your right to drive.
Furthermore, what can NYS do to an out-of-state driver for failure to pay these fines? See above.
Therefore, I have to recommend that you pay them.
Matthew Weiss
HI
In some states, Florida is one, where the appeals court ruled camera tickets, sent out by a third party company, was thrown out, because it wasn’t examined and sent out by police. Ohio courts have thrown out camera tickets as well.. Plus how about some common sense: A “defendant” has the right to face his accuser in a court of law, and has the right to cross examine his accuser. Whether a cop saw the photo or not, Number 1: The cop wasn’t there, at the scene, and being a witness to the picture doesn’t cut it. Number 2: You can not cross examine the camera. A camera is a piece of electronic equipment and as such, may not function correctly. BUT YOU MUST UNDERSTAND, THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE, OR ABOUT SAFETY AT ALL. IT’S ABOUT A CLEVER NEW WAY TO RAPE THE LITTLE PEOPLE, INTO MORE CASH DONATIONS, TO MUNICIPALITIES AND THE COMPANY THAT MADE THE CAMERA—-THEY GET A PIECE OF THE ACTION TOO. The “defendant” is denied the right to cross examine the accuser—the camera. No due process means no jurisdiction. No jurisdiction, and the janitor or the mail man, may as well prosecute the case. Which means NO right what-so-ever.
John Mack,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about red light cameras. Having spoken to 100s of motorists about, I know that you are not alone in your feelings.
Matthew Weiss
NYS only a police office can write a ticket.
These red light cameras are monitored by technicians. So what are the questions?
These are not moving violations these are however, a scam to create revenue for your county or town.
Can you avoid paying a red light camera ticket based on the fact that the camera cannot ID you as the driver?
Mike,
No, you cannot avoid a red light camera ticket based on the fact that the camera cannot ID you as the driver. The ticket is issued to the registered owner of the vehicle and, like a parking ticket, the owner is responsible for it (regardless of who was driving).
Matthew Weiss
Hey Matthew,
Is there a valid defense for photos in absence of video? I read 1111-b and it seems 2 cameras meet the requirement, but obviously doesn’t allow for a full understanding of the event. To wit, there is a police officer waving us through (not visible on camera) so many must have been issued citations. What do we do?
Jay,
Unless you have a way to prove that the police officer waved you through, I doubt that you can beat this red light camera ticket.
Matthew Weiss
I am told the tickets that are being sent by Suffolk county are not being sent by certified mail. With that said, how can the county prove that I received the fine? And if they can’t prove I received the fine, how can they enforce failure to pay increase penalties and license suspension? Sounds like I’m guilty till proven innocent.
Artie,
I assume you mean by “receive the fine” that you are referring to receiving a bill for the fine. If so, first class mailing of the fine amount to your address on file with DMV is deemed adequate.
Matthew Weiss
I have a question. This is for NYC. I’m to understand that the yellow light is timed. What is the time for the yellow light based on? Is there a set standard? Is it based on the old NYC 30 mph, or the new NYC 25 mph? Is seems to me that yellow light timing has stayed the same, yet as I drive the new speed limit I am more likely to get a ticket going through a light. To me it seems they found a great way to be able to catch people running a red light, by lowering the speed limit.
Chuck,
First, the new, lowered 25 mph does not make it more limey to get a red light ticket. Second, the average yellow light should be 3 seconds.
Matthew Weiss
Hello,
My mother was driving my car in 2014 and was caught by one of those Red Light Cameras in Suffolk County. The following year I received one myself. I paid the one I received and forgot to pay the other ticket as I pled not guilty to kill time to come up with the money. Life happened, and on March 14th, I received a Judgment for failure to pay. I paid right away but now I have a judgment against me, I am planning on applying to law school and I hate the fact that my name is listed in Suffolk County no less for an $80 Judgment for something so ridiculous. Is there anything I can do to get that removed?
Ariel,
You can pay whatever is still owed, if anything, and then have a Satisfaction of Judgment filed.
Matthew Weiss
Matthew, thank you for your reply. That’s what I figured but I am outraged by the fact that neither the Nassau County Police nor the company that owns and views the cameras ever viewed the photographs or video before issuing the ticket. Again, clear as day, my car is fully stopped at the light. The only two options I’m being given is pay the fine, or lose a days wages and pay a fee for a court hearing. That being said… my final question to you in all seriousness is can I bring a copy of my paycheck to the hearing and request from the judge that in addition to the ticket being dismissed that
1) I be reimbursed for a day’s lost wages (for having to go to court) due to failure by the Nassau County police department to review the evidence before issuing the ticket?
and…
2) Any court fees I am required to pay either be dismissed as well or that “my accuser” be ordered to pay them?
Mike C,
The judge at the Nassau County Traffic Violations & Parking Agency will NEVER award you lost wages for your time fighting your case. Nor will he or she waive court fees or order your “accuser” to pay them.
Matthew Weiss
I received a ticket out of the blue for running a red light in Nassau County. However, I went online to view the images and video of the supposed violation and all images and video CLEARLY show my car is stopped at the red light behind the white line with my break lights on. I do not cross the intersection. My car isn’t even moving! Clearly, no authorities viewed the images & video and this ticket was issued to me in error. The problem though, is that there does not appear to be any way to dispute the ticket other then going to court? Do I really have to take time off from work to sit in a court room when this ticket is plain as day a mistake? Is there any way to have my ticket reviewed without having to go to court?
Mike C,
Yes, sadly, the only way to dispute this ticket is by going to court. Sorry.
Matthew Weiss
I think I may have gotten a red light ticket today. I made a right on red. The light had just turned red and because of the rain I could not come to a complete stop. My car started to fishtail so I post and rolled through to avoid an accident. Should I try to fight this?
Bobbie,
I doubt that you can beat such a ticket (it is issued). You need to slow down in the rain to keep safely control over your vehicle.
Matthew Weiss