Is it Possible to Challenge a Fine from a Traffic Camera?

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The following is a guest post. Enjoy!

If you pay even the slightest bit of attention to the news (or what information seems to pass as newsworthy these days), then you will surely have noticed the rather alarmingly prevalent trend which involves a high profile celebrity getting caught doing 90 down a quiet country road, yet receiving barely a lick of punishment, aside from the shame of being caught in the act.

And if you are at all like us, you’ll feel pretty outraged about it too! They have absolute mountains of cash going spare, yet they don’t receive the same old speeding fines and driver’s license points that we do – why is that?

Mixed in with that outrage is probably a bit of jealousy as well: how come we can’t get out of a speeding ticket? Is this amazing feat even possible for the average Joe?

The long and the short of it is simple – speeding cameras aren’t infallible. If you wake up one morning and notice the presence of a speeding ticket in your mailbox, don’t let it ruin your day! It might just be worth your time to try and challenge the decision.

Here’s some options you have if you want to challenge the ticket:

Prevention Is the Best Cure

Okay, so this might be too late for you this time, but it’s worth bearing in mind for next time – you probably won’t receive a speeding fine if you’re not caught speeding! The best thing is to never break the speed limit at all, but we understand: sometimes you’re running late for an important meeting or to pick the kids up from school, and speeding seems like the only option.

In this case, try getting a Sat-Nav device, like a TomTom. Many of these will have in-built speed camera detection software, letting you know when one’s coming up. Some of them can even detect radar guns! Just be careful because these are in fact illegal in some areas.

The Fortnight Favorite

This is the easiest way of getting out of your ticket, and the favorite method employed by celebrity lawyer “Mr Loophole” Nick Freeman. Look at the date you were caught speeding, then check today’s date – it has to be issued within 14 days of the incident, so if those two weeks are up before you receive it, you’re off scot-free.

Just write back to them and explain the situation; your ticket should be cancelled immediately.

Plausible Deniability

Another way of getting out of it is to claim that you’re unsure who was driving at the time. You need some decent reason why you’re not sure though, like moving house that day and having a number of family members driving the car back and forth on that stretch of road. You may have to go to court with this excuse, however, so get a speeding solicitor / lawyer on your side to try and avoid the fine.

A Faulty Camera

Do you think the speed camera was inaccurate? If so, this is worth a shot – request a calibration certificate of the one which caught you out. If the local authority cannot prove that it was properly maintained and was in good working order, your fine should be rescinded.

How about you all? Have you ever been issued/sent a speeding ticket or other traffic violation from one of these automatic traffic cameras?

If so, did you think about trying to appeal the decision?

Share your experiences by commenting below!

Jacob’s Thoughts – Listed below are my random thoughts as I was reading this article.

Personally, I have never been issued a speeding or other traffic violation/fine from one of these un-manned traffic cameras, although I have heard about people that have been caught by one. In those cases, I don’t believe they ever really thought to appeal the decision.

***Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwworks/4426610518/sizes/l/in/photostream/

About the Author Jacob A Irwin

Hi folks! My name is Jacob. I am the owner and operator of My Personal Finance Journey. I started this blog in January of 2010 and have enjoyed the journey ever since. Since finishing up graduate school in Virginia in 2014, I have been working in biopharmaceutical development in Colorado. You can read more about me and this site here. Please contact me if you have any questions!

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MyPerFinJourney says:

April 12, 2013 at 6:36 pm

That's tough! I can't believe the rates are 50% higher! Wow!

With me growing up in Arkansas, “close” to another car was like 6 car lengths apart! haha
My recent post Is it Possible to Challenge a Fine from a Traffic Camera?

myfijourney says:

April 12, 2013 at 5:22 pm

We have red light cameras here, which I hate. I am by no means an aggressive driver, but I'm always afraid that I'll wind up at the very end of the yellow light and then hit with some ridiculous fine. So I just stop earlier. I don't mind so much, but it always pisses off the person behind me (this is a very aggressive driving state). Unless they're going to pay my fine, they're just going to have to be inconvenienced.
My recent post A Primer on Margin Accounts

MyPerFinJourney says:

April 12, 2013 at 6:03 pm

Thanks for sharing myfijourney! Sorry to hear you live in an aggressive driving area! Are the insurance rates also more expensive in your area because of that as well?

I remember that's the way it was when I worked temporarily in NJ a couple years ago.
My recent post Is it Possible to Challenge a Fine from a Traffic Camera?

Reply
- myfijourney says:
  
  April 12, 2013 at 6:29 pm
  
  Insurance rates here are basically 50% more than I'm used to. And after living here for a few months, I understand why. People here all drive like maniacs. Someone is always 5 feet behind my car even if we're doing 65mph. And at least once a week someone tries to run me off the road rather than letting me merge.
  My recent post A Primer on Margin Accounts
  
  Reply

moneybeagle says:

April 12, 2013 at 6:49 pm

They are illegal here in the great state of Michigan, so I've never had to worry about them, though I've often been infuriated by people doing illegal things around me to the point where I've wished for them. I think if there was a large number of complaints about one in particular, they would look at it and perhaps throw out any tickets from that camera if in fact an issue was presented, but if you're the only person claiming a faulty camera, you're probably not going to have much luck.

MyPerFinJourney says:

April 14, 2013 at 2:37 am

Yeah that's a good point! I'm surprised that traffic cameras are outright illegal in any states. I would have thought that they would be in all metropolitan areas.
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Reply

Is it Possible to Challenge a Fine from a Traffic Camera?

Prevention Is the Best Cure

The Fortnight Favorite

Plausible Deniability

A Faulty Camera

About the Author Jacob A Irwin

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