Traffic light cameras situated at busy junctions play an important role in ensuring that roads are safe. But, when a person ignores the red light, it may be difficult to find out if he or she is been caught. Traffic light cameras are very useful in detecting cars that pass via lights after they must have turned red by using ground loops or sensors.

The moment the traffic light turns red, the system becomes active and the camera begins to record any car that ignores the instruction. It is an automatic offense if any part of your vehicle goes beyond the line after the light turns red. It is thus imperative to ask this question “do all traffic lights have cameras.”

Do all traffic lights have cameras?

Traffic lights do not have cameras. But, you will find cameras mounted close to the traffic light at busier points. The majority of intersections that have traffic lights will not have any camera. The cost of cameras, maintenance and installation make it only reasonable to install them at busy where there is a high volume of traffic. They usually help in improving the traffic at such high volume traffic points. But, they may not be as effective there as they would be in intersections with lower vehicular movement.

It is also important to point out that against popular conspiracy beliefs, not all cameras that are network connected sends the feeds from the cameras to a room full of detectives who watch you. But, some of the cameras do feed their contents to a source for the primary purpose of controlling the traffic during periods such as the work rush time. Furthermore, the traffic camera feeds are never recorded in real-time.

What Makes Traffic Light Cameras Important?

We install Traffic cameras for the primary reason of securing you. They are usually found in areas considered as high risk in nature. Such areas include places where accidents occur due to people ignoring the traffic lights. You may also find such cameras at crossings and junctions on top of the traffic lights. The main aim of this is to assist in monitoring congestion and traffic as it is on roads.

How Can I Know If A Traffic Light Camera Has Caught Me?

The chances of knowing that the traffic camera has caught you are quite low with the exception that you observe its flash. But, note that traffic cameras do not always flashlight. This, thus, makes it quite difficult to know if caught in the act or escaped.

What Happens When A Traffic Camera Catches You?

You get registered when caught by the camera for violating the traffic rules, within a stipulated period. More often than not, the notice issued will make available a field to plead guilty and pay a fine instead of heading to court. There is also a provision for you to appeal a notice if you feel there is some justification for your actions. `

How Do Traffic Camera Lights Work?

Cameras, sensors, and photo-sensor get installed at intersections after which they are linked with the installed traffic light setup. A ticket gets issued the moment a motorist enters the intersection after the light turns to red. But, “after’ is subject to your state jurisdiction and it can be a third of a second in some instances. There are but several considerations before one can talk about beating the traffic.

How Is Traffic Light Violations Captured On Camera?

The camera will capture two photoshoots. The first shot occurs when your car crosses the intersection. The second shot occurs when your car lies in the middle of the intersection. The second shot is usually delayed by about 0.5 seconds and is usually taken to prove that the car did not go into the road. The date, time, time interval between the photos and car speed as well as the violation number is on the second photo. The two photos also or show that the intersection light was red when the violation occurred.

Is There A Need For Identifying The Driver?

There is no need for identifying the driver. The reason for this is that violating cars and not the drivers get the tickets.

What Birthed The Idea Of Traffic Cameras?

The primary mandate behind this innovation was to enforce safety and traffic laws on the road. There is also the school of thought that is yet another ploy for revenue generation. There are also findings that this technology did not lead to any significant improvement in road safety

Tips For Avoiding Traffic Light Camera Tickets

It’s quite obvious that traffic light cameras are becoming a part of our everyday experience. They are gaining traction over large territories in cities scattered around the country. The direct implication of more cameras around is more tickets. Knowing how the whole process works and how to beat the camera tickets are some of the survival skills motorists ought to learn in the modern era.

Here are a few tips that should guide you towards avoiding the financial burdens that come with a ticket:

1. It may be an error

Several times, tickets get sent to people meaning that they are sent to you even though they were for someone else. Hence, when you get such mail, the first thing you should do is to confirm certain things. These include the addressee’s address, name, and any other relevant detail as contained in the ticket to ensure that it was not sent in error. You should also check to confirm if you did not cross the intersection on the time and day. Also, if you are not the only one who drives in your household, you should check in with them to confirm if someone else did.

2. Snitch Tickets

You read that right! There are situations where the local police would send snitch tickets to car owners with the hope that they would pay. This is why when you get a ticket, you shouldn’t be in a hurry to pay, verify to see if it is not a scam. One way to do this is by checking the citation to see if it contains the address, name and open hours of the court. If it does not contain this, it is maybe a fake. Also, if your citation indicates that you shouldn’t contact the court, it may be a fake.

3. Stolen license plates

In the case of a stolen vehicle used during a traffic light violation, you are not responsible for such. By adopting this approach, it will raise the need for an inquiry into the real identity of the person behind the wheels.

4. Stolen car

In a situation of a stolen car by someone no matter how small the time, you are not responsible. Using this defense strategy would need the examination of the citation photos to be sure that it was not you. If you prove this in court, you win.

5. Certification need

Red light camera equipment is expected to pass certain strict regulatory requirements. This means that they must be tested and calibrated to ensure that they follow the existing laws of the land. It would interest you to note that many of these cameras do not pass the requisite tests. It is, thus, a wise move to request for the test results. In a case where it fails to meet the calibration test, you can file for a dismissal of the case.

6. Short yellow light time

There are certain requirements for the smallest time for amber or yellow light duration between the red and green phases. When the time for the yellow light is too short, it leads to a rather premature timing for the red light phase to begin. This, in turn, leads to a rather unfair citation for cars caught. You should be aware that there are people who enjoy irregular yellow light timing. For instance, the companies that sell the cameras get as much as 50 percent of the generated revenue. Thus, you should consider requesting the test result of the yellow light duration and if you can establish an alteration. You can get the case dismissed like this.

7. Lack of supporting photos

There are many instances where the authorities send out such tickets without an accompanying image to support the claim. It is your right to request for the supposed photos to prove your case.

Conclusion

Do all traffic lights have cameras? We have answered this question. But, you must know the necessary tips to avoid such pitfalls. Many have paid fines for traffic offenses they didn’t commit, hence the need to digest the tips we have taken out time to explain here.

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