Red Light Cameras in L.A. County???

[Saigon]

Hey Guys,

Today got caught cold handed running red light cam in South Gate. I read in that back in July L.A. County got rid of the system but heard they are still issuing tickets from the private company that is responsible for the red light cam system. Driving 40 mph on a 35mph and when yellow showed up, it turned red after one second. Anyways, wanted to know if I have to pay it or not. Found info here:

http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2...era_ticket.php

Anyone here have the same issue? Thanks for any input in advanced.

[E90SLAM]

http://www.lasuperiorcourt.org/scroller/laredlight.htm

LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT ANNOUNCEMENT

July 29, 2011
The City of Los Angeles has decided to end its red light camera program on July 31, 2011. The City's action does not stop the processing of outstanding red-light citations. It does not eliminate penalties associated with red-light citations. It does not constitute grounds for a refund of any money paid on such a citation. Anyone issued a red-light citation must resolve it within the specified time limits or face certain penalties as prescribed by law.

29 de julio de 2011

La Ciudad de Los Ángeles ha decidido suspender a partir del 31 de julio de 2011 su programa de fotografías por pasarse el semáforo en rojo. A pesar de esta medida, la Ciudad no dejará de procesar las citaciones judiciales pendientes por pasarse el semáforo en rojo. Esta acción no elimina las penas relacionadas con esas citaciones ni constituye un fundamento para obtener el reembolso de ninguna cantidad que se haya pagado por dichas citaciones. Toda persona que haya recibido una citación por pasarse el semáforo en rojo deberá resolverla dentro de los períodos especificados o quedará sujeta a ciertas penas prescritas por ley.

[Maestro]

Here is my opinion on this. The government is refusing to enforce due to people putting up some serious legal battles and they do not want those challenges setting any sort of precedences tying the states hands on how they can enforce traffic laws, similar to CA speed trap law which sets the bar petty high on what police must do to win a ticket if you choose to fight it.

There solution was to say, you do not need to pay, however, the ticket is still on file, you get harassed in the mean time. Most people will just pay since they believe bad things will happen to them. So the government still gets the money, and if you fight they toss it out.

Why not just shut down the camera if you are not required to pay, simple, the city does not own and operated the camera there is a third party involved which the city has a contract. If they terminate the deal its going to cost them millions to make it go away. So the city simply says you do not have to pay, knowing full well the ticket will still sit on the books and go to collection and a large % of the people will just pay to stop the harassment. This way the city expends no money dealing with the tickets and the camera company continues to get their money.

Here is the down side if you decide not to be bothered by the harassment, and not pay. The ticket will stay on the books at the court and if you get a real ticket and want to fight that ticket, these RLC tickets will show up on your record with the court and they will make you pay them to resolve the matter with your current ticket. Do not think twice about the court not blackmailing you into paying these supposed illegal tickets. They will get their money no matter what.

One thing you can say the US government learned Boston tea party, they learn how to tax people in creative ways and make you pay or deal with larger consequences without firing a bullet.