Topic: Photo Radar Ticket

[Black Hatch]

You can believe me or not but ever since I got a speeding ticket in the RX-8 three years ago, I had vowed to myself that I would not speed more than 10 kph over. 10 kph to keep up with the flow of traffic.

But I got mailed a photo radar ticket showing that I was going 19 kph over.
After some thinking back to that day, I remembered that several vehicles to my right of me were going much faster than I was.
Basically I think the photo radar tagged someone beside me but because I was the "nearest", it took a picture of my vehicle.
Its $120 ticket.
I am thinking of fighting it and using the defense used in this article.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/alberta/2011/01/06/16792301.html

That and that I have had no new traffic infractions since that time.

"The practise is if you have more than one vehicle in the photo frame, the Crown is not supposed to proceed, and they don't in most cases," said Young

There were a few vehicles in the photo-radar picture but in the next lane.

Anyone else fight a photo-radar ticket and have any advice?
Photo-radar doesn't result in demerits but can it increase your insurance rate?   

[johngenx]

If there's more than one vehicle in the frame, you have a chance.  Otherwise, you're facked.  Courts side with the technology in a big way.
Photo Radar tickets have no demerits and no insurance penalty.  It's purely a tax.

[quadzilla]

Hope you fight it and win. Horrible taxation. Very happy we don't have it here as traffic was moving at 130kph down the 404 today.

[jamie1]

Good luck if you choose to fight it, but I wouldn't use the defence that you haven't gotten a ticket since your last one 3 years ago. My last speeding ticket I got was in Sept of '91. I speed at the time.

[Arthur Dent]

I often wonder - does the radar target just one lane? If you're in the other then you'd be hopefully in the clear.

[Firm]

Hope you fight it and win. Horrible taxation. Very happy we don't have it here as traffic was moving at 130kph down the 404 today.

Yeah...It seems the 400-series is either crawling along at <40km/h or at least 120-130km/h...No middle ground.

[aquadorhj]

yeah, good luck with the defense.   the officer/clerk who processes photo radar tickets supposed to throw out unclear or ones with multiple vehicles.  i'm surprised they didn't if your photo clearly shows other vehicles. 

[Arctic_White]

Bummer about the ticket.  Hopefully you can get it thrown out.

[Black Hatch]

I think I'm going to chicken out and pay it.
Too much hassle to lose 2 days of work.

[HeliDriver]

I think I'm going to chicken out and pay it.
Too much hassle to lose 2 days of work.

2 days of work? Are the courts really that busy in Edmonton?

I've taken tickets to court a handful of times and have always been out before lunch. Last time, I was in and out in an hour.

[Black Hatch]

I think I'm going to chicken out and pay it.
Too much hassle to lose 2 days of work.

2 days of work? Are the courts really that busy in Edmonton?
I've taken tickets to court a handful of times and have always been out before lunch. Last time, I was in and out in an hour.

Potentially 2 days.  I have no idea.
1 day for appearance, 2nd day for court, plus downtown parking. It sounds like it would be more than $120.

[HeliDriver]

I know Calgary has a first appearance centre where you can just walk in and talk to a Crown Prosecutor, no appointment needed (although it is first-come-first-served and can get kind of busy).

If there is more than one car in the photo, then the CP might just toss it then and there. No need to even go to court.

[Black Hatch]

So in conclusion, I met the CP and the only thing he was willing to do was reduced the fine to $82. Said the other car in the photo too far away.
Can't provide disclosure unless it goes to trial. If I wanted to go to trial, it would have to be in April, 2014. Fack that.
Paid the fine and left.  2 hours total.

Total tax grab as Johngenx said.

[HeliDriver]

^^ Oh, well. Good on you for trying at least. And you saved a few bucks, so it wasn't a total waste of time.