Red light cameras. They are seemingly all over New Jersey. Some become enraged when they receive a photo red light ticket. Some might say they are merely a means of creating an upsurge in municipality tills. The government insists they are to increase safety on New Jersey local roadways.
It is no secret that photo red light tickets have increased some towns’ revenues by more than a million dollars. According to a news article, the City of Linden is quite pleased with the way red light cameras work in their city. Earlier this year, they renewed their contract on the devices – for another five years. There are five of the cameras in various intersections throughout the city. The mayor touts the devices as increasing driver awareness. There is a good chance that Linden will not be able to make use of their renewal contract.
Many take issue with photo red light tickets. Some claim they do not allow enough time to proceed through yellow lights. One of the biggest issues is the way the tickets are issued. They are not given to the driver of the vehicle. Obviously, the camera cannot determine the identity of the motorist. Instead, they come in the mail directed to the car’s owner. Therefore, they are no different than a parking ticket for overtime at a meter or some other parking offense.
The red light cameras may become a non-issue in December. The red light camera program was initiated as a pilot in 2009. It is set to expire at the end of this year. Although several municipalities would like to see the program continued, it appears that Governor Christie will not approve the renewal application.
Unfortunately, it is often not cost-effective to retain legal counsel for a photo red light ticket. However, if you are interested in speaking with an attorney who understands NJ ticket law, please feel free to contact us.
