Personal Injury Law

Red-Light Runners- Smile Your On Candid Camera

By Eddie Farah

Those who feel compelled to run red lights have a new challenge in Florida. This week a new technology will take images of red-light runners and automatically issue them a ticket.

The new technology began this week in Central Florida and will be set up at Orlando's seven deadliest intersections.

The LaserCraft cameras will be placed on poles about 12 feet high and take a still photo and video of violators as they approach the intersection. The technology is automatically alerted as to who is a violator by monitoring a vehicles's speed. The camera will trip on when it appears clear the vehicle is not going to stop.

The legal question presented is - How do you know if the ticket will be issued to the correct person? It will be sent to the person the car is registered to. Since the car's owner gets the ticket, you can make the argument it wasn't you in the car. But whoever was in the car will still have to pay the ticket.

If you really want to fight this further, you have to download a form at cityoforlando.net/orlandostops, then email that to Orlando's code-enforcement office where a hearing office will hear your case and make a decision.

The fine is $125 and a third ticket will result in a $250 fine, but the good news is that your insurance company will not be notified.

Eyes will be watching the red-light runners tool because every year about 100 people are killed in the state from the reckless action and more than 6,000 are injured. Ultimately the state may come up with a standard camera and technology that communities across the state can use.

Full post as published by Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer on September 03, 2008 (boomark / email).