Home > Research Legal Advice > Speeding / Traffic Ticket > Are photo radar speeding tickets enforcable since they are issued by a n...
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Asked over 3 years ago - Goodyear, AZ
FlagI was told by an attorney (as we shared a shuttle ride to the airport) to never pay a photo radar speeding ticket since the photo was taken by a leased agency rather than the police department. That was approximately 2 years ago, and I can't remember the attorney's name. Unfortunately I now need to know the answer since I received a photo radar speeding ticket taken by Redflex Smartcam Mobile Speed Van System on I-10 in Arizona.
Yes, they are enforceable. Traffic citations are, for the most part, civil violations not criminal. But you still must be properly served in order for the court to find you responsible. Mailing it to you is not service under the rules unless you voluntarily accept service by signing it and sending it back, acknowledging that you received it and that it is you in the photo..
If you do not do that, then the citing entity (city, county, state, etc) must serve you like any other law suit. And then it must prove that it was you in the picture, that the camera and radar were properly calibrated, etc. Theses are all easy things to establish, but the state still has burden of doing so.
Whatever your opinion of this process, it may be cheaper to acknowledge and pay the ticket, or go to defensive driving school if available to you, than paying the fine. The facts of your situation will dictate what is the best thing to do.
Good luck
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