Red Light Camera ticket

[sovereignsaint]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Georgia

I recently received a citation from a red light camera. It shows the cars rear license plate. I ignored it. Since January 2009 in Georgia, the private firm who administers the ticketing is required to send out another notice by certified mail if no response is received. I was hoping they would not, but I just got notice it is at the post office waiting my signature.

Should I retrieve it or continue to ignore it? If I do retrieve it, I understand I can submit an affidavit stating I was not the driver of the car but I may be required to submit or state who was the driver and their address. Some refer to this ticket as a snitch ticket.

Am I required to submit the persons name and address or can I merely send in the affidavit stating I was not the driver? How should I proceed? Thank you for you help....

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by sovereignsaint

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Georgia

I recently received a citation from a red light camera. It shows the cars rear license plate. I ignored it. Since January 2009 in Georgia, the private firm who administers the ticketing is required to send out another notice by certified mail if no response is received. I was hoping they would not, but I just got notice it is at the post office waiting my signature.

Should I retrieve it or continue to ignore it? If I do retrieve it, I understand I can submit an affidavit stating I was not the driver of the car but I may be required to submit or state who was the driver and their address. Some refer to this ticket as a snitch ticket.

Am I required to submit the persons name and address or can I merely send in the affidavit stating I was not the driver? How should I proceed? Thank you for you help....

It is never wise to ignore legal matters...

[I_Got_Banned]

Originally Posted by Zigner

It is never wise to ignore legal matters...

Agreed... keep in mind that in addition to this being a legal matter, and assuming you continue to ignore it, it could also be reported on your credit report...

What statute were you cited in violation of and are you the registered owner of the vehicle?

[HighwayMan]

It's amazing how people think they can ignore problems and make them disappear. Especially legal problems.

[I_Got_Banned]

"Out of sight... out of mind'... Until it hits them in the face a few years down the line and then they'll say... "Hey what about the statute of limitations, its been a few years..."

[sovereignsaint]

Originally Posted by HighwayMan

It's amazing how people think they can ignore problems and make them disappear. Especially legal problems.

Originally Posted by I_Got_Banned

Agreed... keep in mind that in addition to this being a legal matter, and assuming you continue to ignore it, it could also be reported on your credit report...

What statute were you cited in violation of and are you the registered owner of the vehicle?

The statute is Ga State Code 40-6-20 and I am the registered owner but not the driver of the car at the time. However I don't wish to be a snitch nor should I be required to be.

[I_Got_Banned]

Originally Posted by sovereignsaint

However I don't wish to be a snitch nor should I be required to be.

Well, according to this, and with you being the registered owner of the vehicle, you are, in fact, required to either pay the fine or be a snitch (unless you filed a stolen vehicle report prior to the violation being committed):

Georgia Code - Motor Vehicles & Traffic - Title 40, Section 40-6-20

40-6-20(f)(3)(D) Liability under this subsection shall be determined based upon preponderance of the evidence. Prima-facie evidence that the vehicle described in the citation issued pursuant to this subsection was operated in violation of subsection (a) of this Code section, together with proof that the defendant was at the time of such violation the registered owner of the vehicle, shall permit the trier of fact in its discretion to infer that such owner of the vehicle was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation. Such an inference may be rebutted if the owner of the vehicle:

(i) Testifies under oath in open court that he or she was not the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation;
(ii) Presents to the court prior to the return date established on the citation a certified copy of a police report showing that the vehicle had been reported to the police as stolen prior to the time of the alleged violation; or
(iii) Submits to the court prior to the return date established on the citation a sworn notarized statement identifying the name of the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation.

Here's the link: [url=http://law.onecle.com/georgia/40/40-6-20.html]Georgia Code - Motor Vehicles & Traffic - Title 40, Section 40-6-20 - Georgia Attorney Resources - Georgia Laws[/url]

[I_Got_Banned]

let me also add that this violation is treated as a civil matter meaning it will not be reported to the driver's record.