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Red Light Camera Tickets

South Florida Lawyer for Red Light Tickets

When Palm Beach County started its "Intersection Safety Program," it promised that the red light camera would reduce the number of red-light collisions and injuries associated with these crashes. Recent studies have shown that the opposite is true.

Also, Broward County and other municipalities across Florida have been caught improperly shortening the length of the yellow light in order to increase revenue from violations. Public outrage promises to undermine the cameras and the politicians that tried to bring in more money to the county and cities.

Did you receive a "Notice of Violation" for a red light violation or a Red Light Traffic Citation? Fight back by hiring an attorney to help you contest the ticket in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Breaking News: If you’ve received a red light camera ticket, the city may have broken state law in issuing your citation. A Florida Court of Appeals recently ruled a ticket was invalid because it was issued by a private company. Do not just pay your red light camera ticket. Call a lawyer at Meltzer & Bell, P.A. to discuss your options.

Red Light Ticket Attorneys in Palm Beach County

The attorneys at Meltzer & Bell, P.A. are experienced in fighting these citations issued throughout Palm Beach County and Broward County. We represent clients in each of cities such as West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Boynton Beach, Boca Raton, and Miramar.

At Meltzer & Bell, P.A., the “Traffic Stop,” our experienced traffic ticket attorneys offer a money back guarantee — no points, no school or your money back. Some restrictions apply, and court costs and fees may apply, in addition to the attorney fee.

Information Center for Red Light Cameras and Tickets

• Florida Statute 316.0083, The Red Light Camera Law
• Red Light Traffic Citation
• Hearing on a Red Light Traffic Citation
• Where Were the Red Light Cameras Installed in Palm Beach County?
• Where are Red Light Cameras Located in Broward County?
• How Do the Red Light Cameras Work?
• Red Light Camera Resources

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Florida Statute 316.0083, The Red Light Camera Law

Effective July 1, 2010, Florida Statute 316.0083 established a way for law enforcement officers in the county or city to use Red Light Cameras to cite individuals.

Palm Beach County and the cities in this county acted quickly to start using these cameras. After the alleged violation, the "Notice of Violation" is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle. The notice must be mailed within 30 days after the offense. Thereafter, the owner of the vehicle has 30 days to respond. The owner of the vehicle can respond in one of the following ways:

• The owner can pay the penalty of $158 directly to the Palm Beach County or municipal entity sending the notice;

• The owner can submit an affidavit to the Palm Beach County or municipal entity sending the notice claiming one of the following exemptions:

• Someone else was driving the vehicle at the time of the violation. The person must provide information to identify the driver in a notarized Affidavit of Non-Responsibility. Palm Beach County officials will then issuance of a Uniform Traffic Citation to the person named in the affidavit.

• The driver was trying to yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle or as part of a funeral procession.

• The driver passed through the intersection at the directions of law enforcement.

• The driver has already received a citation from a law enforcement officer for the infraction captured by the red light camera.

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Red Light Traffic Citation

If the payment or affidavit has not been submitted within the required 30 day period, then the original infraction will become a Red Light Traffic Citation. The owner of the vehicle will then receive the Red Light Traffic Citation by mail. Thereafter, the owner of the vehicle will 30 days to do one of the following:

• Hire an attorney to enter a "not guilty" plea on your behalf and request a court date to contest the citation;

• Do nothing after the citation is issued and after 30 days your license will be suspended and additional costs and fees can be assessed (not at all advised by our firm); or

• The owner can just pay the penalty of $264 directly to the Palm Beach County Office of the Clerk & Comptroller (also strongly not advised due to the negative insurance ramifications).

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Hearing on a Red Light Traffic Citation

At the court hearing on the Red Light Traffic Citation, your attorney can contest the violation. The maximum penalty allowed by law is $500, plus court costs of $106. If you are found "not guilty" on the citation then no fine or court costs are accessed.

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Where Were the Red Light Cameras Installed in Palm Beach County?

The authorities in Palm Beach County installed the red light cameras at the following intersections (not a fully inclusive list of intersections):

• Westbound Lake Worth Road at S. Military Trail;

• Southbound Powerline Road at W. Palmetto Park Road;

• Westbound Hypoluxo Road at Military Trail;

• Eastbound Hypoluxo Road at Military Trail;

• Westbound Atlantic Avenue at Jog Road;

• Eastbound Atlantic Ave at Jog Road;

• Westbound Lantana Road at Jog Road;

• Eastbound Lantana Road at Jog Road;

• Westbound W. Palmetto Park Road at Powerline Road; and

• Eastbound W. Palmetto Park Road at Powerline Road.

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Where are Red Light Cameras Located in Broward County?

The cities across Broward County feature dozens of red light cameras, most of which are placed at busy intersections. Some of the locations include:

Fort Lauderdale:

• US-1 and St Road 84

• Andrews Avenue and Oakland Park Boulevard

• Southbound at Northwest 31st Avenue and Northwest 62nd Street/West Cypress Creek Road

• Powerline Road and Sunrise Boulevard

• Eastbound at East Sunrise Boulevard and Northeast 15th Avenue

Pembroke Pines:

• Pines Boulevard and Southwest 129th Avenue

• University Drive and Pembroke Road

• Pines Boulevard and Dykes Road

• Northbound at Flamingo Road and Sheridan Street

• Eastbound at Johnson Street and Colony Point Drive

• Westbound at Pembroke Road and Southwest 129th Avenue

How Do the Red Light Cameras Work?

The red light camera system activates when motion is detected just prior to a vehicle crossing the stop bar AFTER the traffic signal has turned red. The red light cameras capture two images of an alleged violation. The first image is taken from the rear of the vehicle and it shows the vehicle at the white stop bar and the illuminated red light.

The second image is supposed to shows the vehicle in the middle of the intersection with the red light illuminated. An image of the license plate close-up is also taken. The pictures also note the date, time, and duration of the yellow and red light. The cameras also capture a 12-second digital video of the alleged violation, including the six seconds prior to the alleged violation and the six seconds after the alleged violation.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff‘s Office assigns a law enforcement officer to review each violation and make a determination about which vehicle owners should receive a citation.

The History of the Red Light Camera Program in Florida

In 2010, the Florida Legislature enacted Ch. 2010-80, L.O.F. which authorized DHSMV, counties, and municipalities to employ red light camera programs. As of December 2012, there were 77 local jurisdictions in Florida operating red light camera programs pursuant to adopted local ordinances.

If a red light camera captures an image of a driver running a red light, the visual information is reviewed by a traffic infraction enforcement officer.

Under Florida Statute Section 316.640(1)(b)3, a traffic infraction enforcement officer must successfully complete instruction in traffic enforcement procedures and court presentation through the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program as approved by the Division of Criminal Justice Standards and Training of the Department of Law Enforcement. or an equivalent program. The officer does not necessarily have to meet the uniform minimum standards established by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission for law enforcement officers or auxiliary law enforcement officers under s. 943.13, F.S.

After an alleged violation, Florida Statute 316.0083(1)(b) requires that the registered owner of the vehicle is sent a notice of violation (NOV) by first-class mail within 30 days of the alleged violation. It is important to note that the registered owner of the vehicle may not be the actual driver of the vehicle at the time of the offense.

The NOV must include a photograph or other recorded image of the violation, and must include a statement of the registered owner’s right to:

• review images or video of the violation; and
• to review the time, place of the violation. 

Along with the notice, a statement must be included that the photographic or electronic images or the streaming video evidence of the violation constitute a “rebuttable presumption against the owner of the vehicle.” As provided in Florida Statute 322.27(3)(d)6, the NOV carries a $158 fine, although no points may be assessed against the driver’s driver license and the NOV may not be used for the purpose of setting motor vehicle insurance rates.

If the registered owner of the vehicle does not pay the NOV within 30 days, the traffic infraction enforcement officer must issue a uniform traffic citation (UTC) to the registered owner. Then court costs and fees are added. Under Florida Statute Section 316.0083(1)(c), the UTC may carry a fine of $256 or higher.

The UTC must be mailed by certified mail, and must be issued no later than 60 days after the violation. The citation must also include the same type of statement explained above concerning the photographic or video evidence.

Under 316.0083(1)(e) and 318.18, the report of an officer and the images provided by the traffic infraction detector are admissible in court and provide a rebuttable presumption the vehicle was used to commit the violation.

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Red Light Camera Resources

Red Light Camera Tickets in Palm Beach County - Read more from the Palm Beach County Clerk's Office on red light camera violations issued throughout Palm Beach County, including the answers to frequently asked questions.

www.ViolationInfo.com - To view video and images of your alleged red light violation then log on to www.ViolationInfo.com and enter the Notice Number and the PIN Number located at the top right of your Notice of Violation.

Company for Red Light Cameras in Palm Beach County - The Intersection Safety program in Palm Beach County entered into a contract with a company named American Traffic Solutions Inc. (ATS) in Tempe, AZ. The selection of this company was criticized because the program takes money out of our local community and sends it to this out-of-state company.

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Finding a Red Light Camera Attorney in Fort Lauderdale

If you receive a Notice of Infraction for a red light violation or a red light traffic infraction, then contact Meltzer & Bell, P.A.. We represent clients on red light camera cases throughout the cities of South Florida with confidence and determination. Don't just accept the ticket and its consequences. Let us use our extensive experience to fight on your behalf.

Call Meltzer & Bell, P.A. today at (561) 557-8686 to schedule your initial consultation.

This article was last updated on Friday, November 3, 2016.