As a driver, you should be able to know that running a red light is a crime punishable under the law. It doesn’t matter whether you ran the red light by accident or not.
When you run a red light, you risk your life and the lives of other road users, you could end up causing a collision that can take someone’s life. So, while I was driving home from work, I accidentally ran a red light will I get a ticket?
Yes, you will get a ticket for accidentally running a red light if you get pulled over by a police officer or a red light camera captures your vehicle running the red light. A ticket will be processed within 14 to 30 days and sent to your mail.
I Accidentally Ran a Red Light Will I Get a Ticket?
Yes, you will get a ticket for running a red light by accident provided there’s evidence of the action. It’s either a red light camera captured your vehicle violating the rule or a police officer pulled you over. However, if there is no camera and no police officer pulls you over, you are likely not to get any ticket.
The fact that the incident happened by mistake does not make it OK and forgivable. Some actions are forgivable but running a red light is not.
Imagine if another vehicle crashed into your car when you ran the light, if it led to the death of the driver, it is your mistake that killed him and such mistakes are not forgivable.
The essence of the punishment is to ensure the incident never happens again. Moreover, you are supposed to be a good driver.
A good driver is always conscious of the road and everything around it. Running a red light by mistake is something you should not do as a good driver.
It is however understandable that sometimes, you see the light number coming to an end and you think you can be able to pass the light before it turns to yellow and then red.
Sometimes, you might be caught in the moment and you end up running the red light. If that is your case, a ticket will be sent to your mail to deter you from making such mistakes again.
Also, it is important to note that running a red light comes with a point in your driving record. So, you are not just getting a ticket, you are also getting a point on your record which can lead to the suspension of your driver’s license if the point is accumulated to a certain number.
Factors that Determine Getting a Ticket for Running a Red Light
Here are the factors that determine whether you will get a ticket for accidentally running a red light or not:
1. If You Actually Ran the Red Light
Sometimes, people may think they ran a red light but in reality, their car has already passed before the light turned to red. The fact that you added accidentally to it means that you are not sure whether you ran the light or not, except you are sure.
For example, some traffic lights display a countdown to when the light will turn red or green. You might be approaching there while it’s in its lowest number to change, you may drive fast to pass the light before it changes.
Now, you might think that you ran the red light simply because the light turned red when you looked, without knowing that you did not.
Therefore, if indeed you accidentally ran a red light, you will get a ticket in your mail. But if you were able to pass before the light turned red, you would not get a ticket.
2. A Red Light Camera Must be Installed
Before a ticket is sent to your mail for accidentally running a red light, evidence of the incident must be present. A red light camera has to be installed in the location where the incident happened. The camera has to capture your vehicle violating the rule.
If there’s no camera in the location where you ran the red light or the camera did not capture the incident, you will not receive a ticket.
3. A Police Officer Must Pull You Over
If you accidentally ran a red light and a police officer pulls you over, then you are obviously getting a ticket irrespective of the fact that it wasn’t a deliberate action. What you do with the ticket afterward depends on you.
You can either decide to accept your mistake and pay the fines or fight the ticket. If for example, you ran a red light while trying to avoid an accident or another car crashing into yours. You can fight the ticket on the base and if your lawyer is good, he can get the ticket dismissed.
4. The Law Must Permit Red Light Camera Tickets
The laws of your state of residence play a huge role when it comes to getting a ticket from a red light camera. If you live in a country or state where giving a ticket based on red light cameras is not permitted, you will not get the ticket except if a police officer witnessed the incident.
If the state of residence permits issuing tickets from red light cameras, then you will obviously get the ticket provided the camera captured the incident when it happened.
For example, in California, red light cameras are legal under California Cod3 21455.5, regulating offenses relating to traffic devices. Therefore, if you are in California and run a red light, you are obviously getting a ticket provided the camera captured the incident because the state law permits that.
5. The Camera Must Capture the Driver’s Face
While red light cameras are used in giving tickets for traffic light violations, the light has to capture the driver while in action.
This may vary depending on your state of residence but in California, the camera must capture the driver either through the front side door windows or through the windshield.
If the camera fails to capture the driver, you can fight the ticket claiming you are not the one. You can also fight the ticket if the camera captures a blurry picture that does not clearly show your face and car. But you should be mindful to avoid lying and causing more problems for yourself.
In California, a red light ticket issued from a red light camera images has to capture the driver else the ticket is not valid.
The camera can however capture more than four photos but the four main pictures it should capture are the back of the car with the license plate number, and a picture of the driver through the driver’s door or windshield.
In Florida, the camera can capture 2 pictures with a 12-second video that will be used as evidence against you.
Once these camera requirements are met, the ticket will be processed and mailed to the address of the registered owner of the said vehicle.
6. The Camera Must be in Good Condition
The red light camera must be maintained and in good condition to be able to correctly capture a car running a red light. When the camera is not maintained, it might take false pictures leaving people with tickets they did not deserve.
In California, the government mandates the agency installing the cameras to maintain them and keep them in working order. They are also mandated to install signage alerting road users that there are red light cameras in that location.
7. If Someone Reports the Incident to the Police
If while you accidentally ran the red light, you nearly caused a crash, the affected driver can get a dash cam video footage of the incident and report it to the police. With such video evidence, you may end up getting a ticket without being pulled over by the police.
How Much is Ticket for Running a Red Light
A red light ticket could cost between $250 – $500 depending on your state of residence and the nature of the incident. The cost of the ticket will however go up if you become a repeat offender within within a short period of time.
How to Get a Red Light Ticket Dismissed
You can get a red light ticket dismissed by hiring a lawyer and pleading not guilty as charged.
You can argue that:
- Your brakes were having an issue which made you run the light by accident
- The pictures captured by the camera are not clear enough to indicate your face (especially if you are in California)
- You ran the red light to avoid an accident or prevent a vehicle from crashing into yours
- The red light camera is faulty or not properly maintained hence capturing the wrong images
The first step in getting a red-light ticket dismissed is hiring a lawyer. The lawyer should be able to give you all the necessary legal advice you need.
After reviewing your evidence, the lawyer should be able to tell you if the battle is worth fighting or whether you should just pay the fines to avoid wasting everybody’s time. Your reasons should be reasonable enough to have a red-light ticket dismissed.
Does Red Light Camera Ticket Go on Your Record?
No, the red light camera ticket does not go on your record except if you have been captured by the camera running the lights over and over again. If you are a repeat offender, you can be punished with a point on your driving record.
You cannot get a point on your driving record for running a red light for the first time. However, you can get the point if you are a repeat offender.
Conclusion
You can get a ticket for accidentally running a red light provided you are caught in the act. It’s either you are pulled over and issued a ticket or the ticket is sent to your mail after the red light camera captured your vehicle running the lights.
You can decide to pay the fines or fight the ticket. However, fighting the ticket means you have a reasonable reason to do so otherwise, it will be a waste of time and funds. In all, avoid running the red light to avoid causing a crash that may end someone’s life.
