Got a ticket, from a private company.

[RKS]

It was a white van parked on the side of the road. The 'picture ticket' is sent to the registered owner. It is not reported to the BMV so no points or insurance hits since only a LEO can issue real citations. The private company teams up with a host city to use their letterhead to make it seem official and gives them a cut of the money. It's closer to a revenue scam than safety enforcement.

Since the car is registered under my wife's name she quickly threw me under the bus and I was asked to pay. I decided to fight it for shits and giggles and sent a discovery request to the city/photonotice. The 'hearing' was a farce but continued because no discovery was provided as requested. Once/If I get my discovery I will ask for a little more information prior to the hearing and ask the radar operator to appear and testify. I'm determined to get my moneys' worth.

OTOH This might be a great business opportunity.

 

[DaTT]

I had a similar plan to bust people using handheld devices.

But keep us posted nonetheless.

 

[halik]

Aren't you an Esq.? Should be interesting.

 

[basslover1]

Happened to a buddy of mine, and he never paid it. The ticket came from a company in Minnesota, and was payable to a company in Arizona, we live in FL.

That was two years ago at least and nothing ever happened.

 

[RKS]

The only thing they can usually do is put it on your credit report. I don't handle traffic matters but I can research enough to be a pain. If some how it turns into a 'real' citation I can argue that it was not issued by a LEO.

I think if enough people fought these things municipalities would do away with them.themed

 

[marvdmartian]

Since it was a fake ticket, pay it with fake money! I'm thinking some Monopoly bills would be the way to go! :whiste:

 

[olds]

I got a snitch ticket about 6 years ago. I just threw it away and never heard another word.

 

[jlee]

Last I heard, photo tickets were not valid in AZ unless they were served in hand by a law enforcement officer. Might be the same where you are..

 

[KentState]

Seems a quick buck is more important to most municipalities than following the letter of the law. They know most people won't challenge it so there is very little risk vs the reward.

 

[Pacfanweb]

No way I'd pay that.

 

[dawp]

I got a couple of red light tkts from a truck my gf was driving. I just throw them away as they never showed who was driving at the time. they will never get a dime out of me.

 

[phucheneh]

I was gonna say 'if you don't pay it, all they can do to you is ban you from their property.'

But...wait...ticket from private company on public property? What the fuck?

Let me go lock my door in case my city hires Blackwater to come kick it down.

 

[waggy]

i think it's wrong to have private company's handing out tickets. I am against red light cameras because of it. they put them in spots that will earn the most tickets not teh safest. There have even been reports of them turning down the time on the yellow light to get more people.

though the government is not any more trustworthy.

 

[manimal]

Someone should start a class action against all the municipalities that do this for one million dollars!

 

[rh71]

i wouldn't pay it either but seriously guys, stop running reds. These days everytime the light just turns green I still have to delay a couple seconds in case some yahoo decides to run a red.

Speeding is ok.

 

[RKS]

I usually don't speed too much but this area is setup perfectly as a speed-trap. It's a divided highway that drops from 65 to 50 to 35 within a relatively short distance. One of my arguments will be for photonotice to prove where I was in relation to the changed limit. After some research I think I can show that the legislative intent is to allow for a 500' buffer to safely reduce speed and I don't know if I was given that.

 

[jagec]

i wouldn't pay it either but seriously guys, stop running reds. These days everytime the light just turns green I still have to delay a couple seconds in case some yahoo decides to run a red.

Speeding is ok.

In Los Angeles, officials estimate that 80% of red light camera tickets go not to those running through intersections but to drivers making rolling right turns, a Times review has found.

Granted, some peoples' idea of a "rolling" right turn can be a little...fast.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

I got a photo speeding ticket in July. Didn't pay it. Last week I got a default payment/collections notice from the city and county. Last night, I got the boot for an unpaid ticket.


Pay your fucking tickets.


Same situation in CO, the tickets don't hold any legal bind since they aren't issued by a cop. However, if you fail to respond to their request (you can say it wasn't you and they drop it) they will transfer it to the city, who will send you to collections, and boot your car.

 

[Pantoot]

Last I heard, photo tickets were not valid in AZ unless they were served in hand by a law enforcement officer. Might be the same where you are..

Be careful with this though. Quick story time.

My wife got a photo ticket when she was in Tucson a while ago. When it came in the mail I threw it away, since everyone knows mail doesn't constitute valid service.
Fast forward a few months and we get a notice that she was found guilty in summary judgement and that her license would be suspended unless we paid $300 or so. She called the court in Tucson, and they said that "someone called the court to reschedule the hearing" so that qualified as service. Of course that wasn't true, but to contest you must appeal. Notice of appeal must be filed within 14 days of the summary judgement. We weren't notified of the summary judgement until 21 days after the judgement occurred.

So...either pay or warrant for arrest and suspended license.
It's a rigged game.

 

[hanoverphist]

my brother has racked up so many cam tickets in paradise valley that they actually knew i was his brother when i went to contest mine. he has never paid or responded to any of them, and to this day hasnt seen any consequence for it.


tucson is messed up anyway, they are trying to pay for that gawdawful freeway crap they have been subjecting people to for about 3 years now.

 

[Doppel]

Snitch Tickets, eh?

I have just figured out my next iPhone app. Mount your iPhone on the windshield and using its GPS and some basic logic to figure out the delta between your speed and a moving shape and the app will grab shots of cars that are speeding and all you need do is mount it. Team up with your city and you can get a $15 check for every verifiable speeder you send their way. Mo need for big brother because everybody is selling each other out.

 

[boomhower]

The consequences of not paying are going to vary from state to state. Some are just civil and the worst they can do is trash your credit. Others it can affect your license. There are also more than one type of photo ticket. Some are like the OP, where it's basically contracted. Others, like here, there is an LEO in the van operating it so they view it the same as getting pulled over. Just make sure you know what you are getting into before ignoring it.