New York City has hundreds of thousands of red light cameras installed on various streets, all for the purpose of catching offenders and penalizing them for their violation. Unfortunately, many drivers feel that these tickets are invalid because the cameras might not tell the full story.
Even if you did receive a ticket in the mail for a red light violation caught on camera, there may be hope for your driving record. Paying your ticket is not the only way to make it go away – you do have the option to fight it, as well. Consulting with an attorney should be your first step in taking action.
What are my possible defenses to a red light violation?
While some states place liability on the driver, not on the vehicle owner, for a red light violation ticket, New York is much stricter. The registered owner of the vehicle is responsible for the ticket even if they weren’t behind the wheel when the camera took the photo. This means that a strong defense is even more imperative if you hope to avoid paying the ticket.
A clear photo may seem impossible to refute, but this is not always the case. If no one from the company that is responsible for the red light camera appears to testify, you can tell the judge that you object to the photo being used as evidence because no one can authenticate that it was taken. Without a photo, you cannot be convicted.
A blurry photo may increase your chances of a favorable outcome. Defend your innocence by stating that the evidence is not credible enough for a conviction and that the judge can’t determine whether it is your car or not.
Finally, you may be able to defend the reason you ran the red light in the first place. If you did so to avoid an accident or prevent injuries from occurring to others, the judge may revoke your ticket.
The strength of your defense depends on the attorney you retain. At Gannes & Musico, LLP, we are experienced New York City traffic ticket attorneys and are known for our aggressive approach to the charges our clients face. Call us today to learn how we may be able to help.