Originally Posted by jcyuhn

Do some research into the laws of your state. Here in Tejas, the loophole that was used to deploy these is that it's a civil infraction, not criminal. That means no points on your license, no insurance hit, no traffic school. Just pay the fine and that's the end of it.

I very much doubt there's any way you're going to beat the ticket. The trigger for the camera is an inductive loop in the pavement set at the white entry line to the intersection. The car must be moving to trigger the loop - no movement, no trigger. That the car is within the intersection in the photo would seem to be quite solid evidence that it was both moving and the violator of the red light.

A friend got one of these recently, I heard all about it at a cocktail party. (Over in the land of Gar, for you N. Texans.) Along with your picture in the mail, they include a weblink. It shows the _video_ of you driving through the light. Also includes your speed - the camera also has radar. It also shows to the tenth of a second how long the light had been red when your vehicle entered the intersection.

Long and short of it is that your friend is busted, big time. Best bet is to pay the fine and take traffic school, if necessary/possible.

- JimY