Traffic laws can help reduce the number of crashes that occur. They also provide police officers with a reason to temporarily detain drivers and to issue citations. People who allegedly violate traffic statutes either have to pay a fine or take the issue to court to prove that they did not actually break the law.
There are dozens of ways for people to violate traffic statutes without doing anything egregiously unsafe, like drunk driving. One of the most common traffic violations involves running a red light. The law requires that people abide by all signage and lights conducting traffic on public roads. If people encounter a red light and keep driving or do not stop when they could for a yellow light, a police officer might stop them and issue a citation for running a red light.
Tickets for running a red light result in a fine and possibly also court costs. The state also adds points to their driving record. How do drivers fight red light tickets?
By reframing the situation
Those facing tickets issued by an automated system may have unique defense options available. Drivers are likely only at risk of automated red light tickets if they travel to Wilmington. The City of Raleigh recently did away with its red light camera program.
Therefore, those accused of running a red light typically have had one-on-one encounters with police officers. There may be footage from worn cameras or dashboard cameras affirming that a driver actually ran the red light. Without video footage, there may be questions about whether the light was actually red or if the officer misunderstood the situation.
With video footage, it may be possible to change the narrative around the citation. Perhaps there was an unusual scenario that resulted in a driver behaving in a way they usually might not. Maybe there were unexpected issues with their vehicle that prevented them from stopping the way they intended. There are a variety of situations that can raise a reasonable doubt about what actually happened before a police officer issued a citation.
It is theoretically possible to fight red light tickets in a variety of different situations. Having help evaluating the state’s evidence can lead to a viable strategy when going to court in response to a ticket.