I'm talking about traffic camera tickets, of course. I gave my daughter the title to her car as soon as she turned 21 this year with instructions to immediately get it retitled to herself. She never did that. So, recently she got a ticket for running a red light in Washington, DC.
I should say I got a ticket for running a red light in Washington, DC. That's when it occurred to me that this system is patently unfair and seems pretty weak from a legal standpoint. I protested the ticket, sent an affidavit swearing that I was not the driver, etc. Their response was you didn't fill out the form correctly so you are guilty and must pay the ticket plus a 100% penalty for being late.
I hate to have to hire a lawyer to fight this, but feel I have no choice. Anybody else have any experience dealing with crap like this?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

With all due respect, it seems that you should have made sure the title was transferred when your daughter took possession of the car.

Paying a lawyer will no doubt be more expensive than paying the fine and penalty. No points on your record so you don't have to worry about that.

You might want to check with how the car is insured. If she has a wreck, you might be held liable since you are still owner of the car.

Just remember, if the system is unfair (I think it is unconstitutional), we have elected the politicians that pass laws to create such things. We have no one to blame but ourselves.

Here in backward South Carolina, speed cameras and photo red light tickets are illegal by state law.

__________________
"Life is tough...it's even tougher if you're stupid." John Wayne


Dave
Pawleys Island, SC

'79 300CD

I agree. Cut your losses. Pay up now. Then grip and work to unelect the politicians who do this stuff. Then come across the border, and help rid MD of all its nanny-state pols.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

Tom, just pay up and take the whole thing out of the daughter's hide... That is, the leather hide of her pocket book!

__________________
-Evan


Benz Fleet:
1968 UNIMOG 404.114
1998 E300
2008 E63


Non-Benz Fleet:
1992 Aerostar
1993 MR2
2000 F250

The red light ticket crap is just that - crap. They say it's a civil penalty against the owner of the car, not a moving violation penalty against the driver. It's a legal tactic that allows them to indescriminantly send out tickets without actual proof or the 'burden' of guilt. I just got me first one about a month ago, I was pissed, I wanted to fight it, I researched it, and then I paid it. The cards are stacked too high against you, as you found out.

Worst part about all this is that the city of Houston had a referendum, and 60% of the people voted against red-light cameras. So they turned them off. For the past six months. Now they're back on. READ: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/07/texas-federal-judge-again-blocks-defense-of-houston-anti-camera-vote/

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

The real kicker here is that they did NOT send me a ticket. They sent me a late notice of the afore-menioned ticket. This late notice carries a 100% penalty. So, this ticket is not $150, but $300.

The District of Columbia may be the physical location of the US government, but for all intents and purposes it is nothing more than a third world country. The police in the District couldn't find their asses with both hands and a mirror. They are incapable of solving murders and other violent crimes. All they do is harass taxpayers and honest citizens, particularly ones from outside of their jurisdiction.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

If you lease a car and get camera ticket, they send the ticket to the bank/true owner of the car then the bank send it to you always after due date. This way you have the pleasure of paying the penalty as well.

__________________
2010 ML350 Bluetec
2012 Mustang Convertible

I hear that in AZ, if you simply don't respond, nothing happens.

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You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

The last time "we" (meaning the wife!) used a mechanic we picked up a speeding ticket as he drove the car to get some coffee or something...

...yet another reason to be a DIY mechanic...

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

There was a scam going here in Australia a few years ago.
If you got a ticket, you went back through the death notices in the papers & found a departed individual. A quick search of details & send the declaration saying they were driving. I havent heard of it happening recently.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

I got a phot red light ticket because of the wife running a red light in Savannah. Heck, I was not even in the same town as the car and got the ticket. I sent the $ in.

__________________
Jim

Over here they have the red light camera set up as a speed camera as well. So if you put your foot down as you go across the intersection to clear it as it goes from green to yellow you get a speeding ticket instead.

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

Well, kind of sort of. The state has 90 days to physically serve you with the ticket. This doesn't count the citation in the mail. They actually go through the expense of using a process server. They deliver a summons (if they can catch you) and you have to go to court. Not exactly a well thought out plan on the part of the state legislators as the company maintaining the cameras gets 70% of all collected fines and they don't pay any of the expenses.

Of course, that is why we have the state legislature in Phoenix so's they're all in one place and we can keep an eye on them!

$300 only with 100% penalty? It is $560+ for the ticket alone in Riverside county, CA.

2 issues here.

1) You should make sure the car is registered to your daughter's name NOW. This is a warning shot, it could be worse.
2) The odd is against you to fight the ticket. I know you are pi$$ed but use your brain not your heart.

__________________
Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

Dee8go,

As a 31 year vetearn police officer and having worked a task force or two with the Metro DC Police, your characterization of them is not true and totally uncalled for. They work hard and do their best in that town that has become a cess pool in many parts.


You say you didn't get the original ticket but it could have been misplaced or your daughter might even have known it was coming and......

__________________
"Life is tough...it's even tougher if you're stupid." John Wayne


Dave
Pawleys Island, SC

'79 300CD