Doh! I just received a speeding ticket in the mail after
getting booked by an automated speeding camera while driving
through Maryland a couple of weeks ago. After doing some research
on automated speeding cameras I found that more and more states
(90%) are using fixed speeding camera's because they are much
cheaper (than a real officer) and a huge revenue raiser because
they operate 24x7. Unfortunately there is little chance for me to
get out of paying the ticket (it would cost more
to go to court in Maryland) and almost impossible to dispute the
radar's/camera's reliability and
accuracy.
Speed Camra's are electronic devices operated by police to enforce speed limits. Speed cameras, also known as photo radar, monitor the speeds of passing vehicles and are programmed to photograph vehicles traveling a set amount above the speed limit. Unlike other methods of traffic law enforcement, speed cameras do not require offending motorists to be pulled over. There are two methods for deploying speed cameras. Mobile speed cameras are accompanied by police and moved around among various locations; fixed cameras are unaccompanied and photograph vehicles speeding at specific roadway locations. The speeding camera vehicles use radar to track driver speeds and are capable of scanning multiple lanes of the highway at once.
Another thing to note is that if you are the owner of the
car, you get the ticket no matter who is driving. The tickets go to
the owner of the vehicle instead of the driver, unlike regular
speeding tickets manually issued by an officer. Many citizens have
complained about this "flaw" in ticket camera systems
across the country, but local authorities have decided that
it's acceptable to do this to avoid the hassle of tracking down
the actual violators. So think twice before lending your car to
friends and family who have a penchant for fast
driving.
There are however numerous websites that do provide tips
on how to beat speeding camera tickets. Some that
could possibly work include :
- Blurry or unclear
photo of the driver is the one which gets the most cases
dismissed. However some states allow a photo of the license plate
to establish that your car was speeding – which makes it harder to
use the bad picture excuse.
- States that use automated (fixed) speeding camera's
must post warning signs at each camera-equipped
intersection and "visible to traffic approaching from all
directions," or at all the main entrances to town
"including, at a minimum, freeways, bridges, and state highway
routes." As noted on HighwayRobbery.net, most cities elect to
post the intersections rather than the town entrances, and
occasionally some forget to post all four directions at the
intersection, especially when they have just made a new camera
installation. There must be four signs even if there is only one
camera monitoring one direction of traffic. This technicality may
get you off paying the speeding ticket, but surveying the area for
signs could take quite a bit of effort.
- Heavy
Traffic. Though speeding cameras can scan multiple cars
across multiple lanes, the older model ones do sometimes have
limitations which could be used to argue one's way out of a
ticket. However the only cases I read about that could use this old
model excuse was if their or nearby car's were changing lanes
(so had to accelerate), which may cause the older model
camera's to mix up cars.
- The funniest
(but could possibly work) were people wearing masks or buying
special reflecting paint for their license plates that result in
unclear pictures. This may be going to the extreme in my opinion,
but people do strange things to avoid getting
caught.
At the end of the day the best way to avoid a speeding ticket is not to speed. But it also pays to be aware of where speeding camera's are placed and by law states that use these devices have to let motorist know where they are located.
Have you got a speeding ticket via an
automated speeding camera? Did you find a way to get out of paying
the ticket?
About the Author: Working in corporate America, Andy
shares his thoughts on working life, money management and related
topics. You can see more articles like this at his personal finance
and investing blog :
www.savingtoinvest.com
