Originally Posted by 220S

Just a suggestion, but this is a fallacious argument in a court of law. The analogy is fighting a speeding ticket on the premise that you felt driving on an empty freeway at 100 mph was appropriate since the freeway was devoid of traffic. If the freeway has an established speed limit of 65, then that is the speed limit. There are no exceptions based on what you thought was appropriate at the time. The court cannot make an exception based on the circumstances you mentioned above.

Your best option to file a trial by declaration and sit it out until the LA Superior Courts decide to not follow through with any red light camera tickets in any jurisdiction, despite being in BH or elsewhere. The LA Weekly article mentions they are contacting cities outside of LA to find out their position on the issue. So just sit tight (extended by the trial by declaration.) The odds are in your favor.

Originally Posted by Hyperlite

Thanks for the info but if I remember correctly, when you file a trial by declaration you are required to send in the bail amount so considering the city of beverly hills said it plans on increasing the number of red light cameras I don't see how that would be a smart choice. LA county found that the tickets were unenforceable and voluntary but once you paid they were not required to refund.

The only way of fighting it I can think of that involves actually going to court would be trying to argue the fact that the third party company that controls the red light cameras has no jurisdiction and thus cannot issue tickets or something like that.

I'll probably have to end up paying the ticket and going to traffic school for 8hrs to keep that point off but I don't like when the law is used purely for the purpose of generating revenue.

Originally Posted by 220S

fwiw, the state legislature made a change in the traffic school laws and ticketing system that went into effect on July 1st of this year. Although you will get the points off and your insurance company won't see it (providing you don't get another ticket within 18 months), the infraction still stays on your record. It used to be it was actually dismissed and off your record (with the 18 month period), but not anymore. Instead it'll be "hidden." But the courts can still see the ticket. They said it was because some people were getting more than one ticket dismissed within the 18 months and it was a loophole. They wanted to regulate traffic schools (which are privately run) because some were breaking the rules.

"Beginning July 1, 2011, the courts will no longer “dismiss” in fractions after a driver attends Traffic Violator School (TVS). Instead, new state law (AB 2499) now requires that all offenses be recorded as “convictions,” which will create a detailed breakdown of a person’s driving history. In addition, the new law will bring court approved courses in traffic safety into the DMV Traffic Violator School licensing program and implement a number of recommendations included in a DMV study of traffic violator school issues over the next three years."

Originally Posted by lawguy

With all due respect, I just dont get this thread. Sucks getting pinched (I just got dinged for a silly speeding ticket last week, when I wasnt even aware I was speeding). But, if you rolled through the stop...you rolled through the stop. Whether during a crowded time or otherwise, I cant see a judge agreeing that its a silly rule. It is what it is.

Not trying to bash you, but if your free time is as valuable as mine, it seems like a lot of effort to fight in hopes of dismissal. Now, if you're going to court solely to get it amended & traffic school issued, that's an altogether different situation, which I truly recommend.

Originally Posted by lawguy

With all due respect, I just dont get this thread. Sucks getting pinched (I just got dinged for a silly speeding ticket last week, when I wasnt even aware I was speeding). But, if you rolled through the stop...you rolled through the stop. Whether during a crowded time or otherwise, I cant see a judge agreeing that its a silly rule. It is what it is.

Not trying to bash you, but if your free time is as valuable as mine, it seems like a lot of effort to fight in hopes of dismissal. Now, if you're going to court solely to get it amended & traffic school issued, that's an altogether different situation, which I truly recommend.

Originally Posted by Hyperlite

The main point is to shed light on how terrible red light cameras are in bh.

And because I wasn't very versed on going to court or what's going on with red light cameras and the laws on them in LA County I was hoping people would chime in as they did.

ie: 220S mentioning trial by declaration in case red light cameras phase out of bh, since after all I'm dealing with la superior court.

But I will probably end up just going to court to see if I can get the ticket fine lowered and traffic school.