Washington red light camera tickets
Posted Friday, May 12, 2017 by Andrew Charles Huff
In Washington, a red light camera ticket does not appear on your record and therefore does not result in any points. However, you may be subject to a maximum fine of $250.
Are they Worth Fighting?
Traffic cameras are now posted at numerous intersections and school-zones throughout the State. In 2005 Washington State authorized cities to install traffic cameras for the stated purpose of reducing red-light violations at dangerous intersections and speeding violations in school-zones. Since 2005 dozens of cities, including our largest cities of Seattle, Tacoma and Everett, have installed hundreds of these traffic cameras.
Issues with Contesting a Traffic-Camera Ticket
There are many problems with the way that Washington traffic-camera law works. First, the cameras only record the vehicle involved in the alleged infraction but do not record the driver. Fortunately for drivers there is still a way to assert their innocence. Drivers wrongfully accused of these violations can sign a “Declaration of Non-Responsibility” in which they deny that they were driving at the time of the alleged violation. Under Washington law, a court is required to dismiss the traffic ticket upon receipt of this document.
Another issue with our state’s traffic camera law is the law does not allow a driver accused of a traffic-camera violation to confront the witness against them in a court of law. In a criminal case, a defendant is constitutionally guaranteed the right to confront and question a witness who provides testimony against him. Unfortunately, in a traffic-camera ticket hearing, Washington drivers are not permitted to confront the witness against them. In many Washington cities, that witness actually works as a police officer in Arizona because the company who provides traffic cameras to Washington cities is located in Arizona. The Arizona police officer, while working as an employee of the Arizona company, reviews the traffic- camera recordings. After viewing a recording, the officer signs a written statement alleging that the vehicle in the recording committed a traffic infraction. That statement is later used by a Washington city as evidence against the alleged driver. Washington drivers who challenge their traffic-camera tickets will never get the chance to confront or question the police officer who signed the written statement. Does this sound remotely fair to Washington drivers?
