Comments on: San Francisco Red Light Camera Tickets

By: Roger J

Roger J — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:10:03 +0000

Really Hurting: You want to show me? I have never seen a camera ticket issued where the 2nd photo shows your car still behind the first white line. The 1st photo will show the vehicle behind the first white line. I just have not seen where both photos show the car behind the first white line. rlouisj@aol.com cite # and pin #

By: Really Hurting

Really Hurting — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:34:39 +0000

HI,

I just wanted everyone to know that the traffic cameras on Fell take pics/vid from from AND back.

I received one on the day that the haight/western addition had a major power outage and some of the signal lights were not working. I saw the flash go off before I even got to the crosswalk, but I received a ticket anyway. I imagine my best scenario is going to traffic school and getting it reduced, but it sucks because I didn’t cross the lines on red; even the video shows that. However, my ticket says two people reviewed it and found me guily

By: Roger J

Roger J — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:26:53 +0000

If you live in the East Bay – plan on attending the street protest TODAY (Saturday) starting in an hour or so. Corner of Mowry and Fremont Blvd. in Fremont. Signs provided. Festivities start at NOON and extend for who knows how long?

By: Roger J

Roger J — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:11:14 +0000

Jonathan….as far as I know. . front only.. Wait 2 weeks and see if mailman drops off a ticket.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:26:23 +0000

Hi, just wanted to double check that the red light traffic cameras in San Francisco only take photos from the front. I set off the one on Mission and Seventh street. I was riding a motorcycle with only rear plates. I wasn’t even speeding. I just miscalculated my ability to make the light. Please tell me I’m gonna be okay.

By: Roger J

Roger J — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:29:34 +0000

eliang3118 Once again. Some judges grant a slight accommodation to those who appear before the bench and plead guilty. All depends. Your ticket is from SF? There are other ways to either “beat” the ticket or lessen the pain. Most depend on one’s willingness to fight. Is community service an option?

By: eliang3118

eliang3118 — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:36:55 +0000

Hi Roger,

My dad just received a $480 ticket for failure to stop at red signal (VC21453A) when making a right turn. A video was available to view also. I’ve heard from people that you can go to court and plead guilty and the judge usually lowers the fine by a little bit. However, on the ticket, it doesnt give us the option of going to court to plead guilty. The court trial option is only for people who wish to contest the violate and plead Not Guilty. Can you please advise?

Thanks!

By: Roger J

Roger J — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:06:02 +0000

chamying SF – I assume your ticket was a photo enforced one. and Not from the police who were right there…correct? I sense you do not have time to investigate any possible defenses based on possible incorrect placement of signal lights and such. Nor do you have time to review the many other posts dealing with your questions. I don’t know of any “magic wand” solutions. There are very few postings which give information about the SF traffic court judges actual practices on lowering the mandatory minimum fine by perhaps $100 for a quick plea of guilty like some judges in other jurisdictions do. I generally see community service is offered to most especially if they are students or underemployed. Traffic School is not a problem if you plead guilty and have not attended in the last 18 months. All this can be done by Written Declaration. Lawyer Sherry Gendelman knows much more and may be worth a call. She seems to be successful on many camera tickets.

By: chamying SF

chamying SF — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:12:28 +0000

Hi Roger,

I received a red light ticket last sunday at the intersection of Clayton and Twin peaks in SF. It was rainy dark night, I was going straight on Clayton toward portola. I saw the green arrow light signal for right turn and thought it was my green light for going straight. I passed this red light right in front of the police!

What are options for lessening the fee? Can I request a trial plea guilty and ask for traffic school or community service to pay off the ticket? is it still $480 for a red light ticket? Thanks so much for your time and advice!

By: Roger J

Roger J — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:25:32 +0000

Protest Rally at Noon Saturday, Feb. 4th

The Red Light Camera Protest Group of Southern Alameda County will be holding a street corner protest at Mowry and Fremont Blvd. this Saturday at Noon. The group will focus the public’s attention to the fact that these camera programs are much more about revenue than safety and that overly aggressive enforcement is not reducing red light running.