TexasCHLforum.com

nitrogen wrote:When I lived in Arizona, the judiciary there helped neuter the speed and red light cameras.
They said that the photo had to positively identify you before a ticket could be issued. If you could not be positively identified, then you could not be compelled (4th amendment rights) to name who was driving at the time.

Also, speed camera and red light cameras would not count as moving violations.

As well, when you get the notifications in the mail, you could "ignore" them, as there was no proof you received them. The PD would either have to send them certified mail, or serve you. Which I know for a fact that at least Scottsdale PD rarely did, at least in the case of my father.

I'd be interested to know if Texas feels similarly about this.

Video and photos aren't the evidence they used to be. After all, I saw Forrest Gump shake John Kennedy's hand. (I used that line in court once and the judge was laughing so hard he couldn't breath. He also overruled my objection.)

Chas.

CHL/LEO wrote:. . . Oh yeah, Speeding Cameras are just around the corner.

You're right; this is going to cause quite a stir, even in Austin. I recall years ago being told by a lawyer that specialized in traffic tickets in Houston (and me makes a ton of money too) telling me that state law mandates speed limits to be set by measuring the average speed of traffic, then applying a certain percentage. As I recall, he even gave me the section of the Code, but that was at least 15 years ago. Does anyone know if this is still true and, if so, where is it in the Transportation Code? If this is still the law, I'm going to be busy sending out Open Records Requests for the required studies.

Chas.

[rant]Red-light cameras are a scam designed solely to produce revenue. The Mayor and the HPD Lt. in charge of the program are blatant liars when they say otherwise. When the issue was being debated by Council Members, KHOU Ch. 11 TV did a few news spots on the subject. One included a meeting with the female Lt. (I can't recall her name) during which he called her attention to a Texas A&M study that proved the same or better results could be achieved by making the yellow light 2 seconds longer -- 2 seconds!! She was clearly shocked by the study, had never heard of it, much less studied it. Her response -- "Well, we're using the cameras; it's all about safety." That's a lie; it's all about money.

If cameras truly are purely for safety rather than money, then the Legislature should change the law on red-light cameras and send all of the money from fines to the State to be used purely for education. Since extending the yellow light by 2 seconds wouldn't generate any money, but would achieve at least as good of an increase in safety, then surely the city wouldn't mind helping educate our children, if they chose not to use that method. After all, it's about safety, not money, right? Yeah, sure it is!!

People sometimes ask why I would commute 50 miles round-trip to downtown Houston from Friendswood, just to keep from living in Houston. My response, "you just answered your own question."
[/rant]

Chas.

Supposedly, there is a video that they check to see if you entered the intersection on the yellow light. If so, t hey don't send the ticket. (Yeah, right.)

Chas.