question re: red-light cameras

[Freelance Superhero]

so i think i was caught by a red-light camera on sunset yesterday. i wasn't speeding, per se, but i was going fast enough that i couldn't stop when i noticed the light was yellow. lo and behold, it changed while i was in the middle of the intersection, and i saw a bright flash go off.

my question pertains to the following:
i was driving my aunt's van at the time, and i am not one of the registered drivers of that van. does that make a difference? will the ticket be made out to her, and if so, will it affect her insurance rating? is there any way that i can claim official responsibility for the ticket, as opposed to simply paying the fee on my aunt's behalf? will it ultimately affect my insurance rating in any way?

i'm just a little curious because i've never been caught by one of these cameras before, so i'm not sure how the ticket-issuing process works.

thanks for any and all advice/information.

[InfiniteNothing]

You sure it wasn't catching the person after you. Around here running into a yellow intersection is fine and if it turns red while you're in it that's okay too. Usually the red light cameras have a very long 0.5 second delay so as not to catch someone catching a solid orange.

[MrGreg]

If it did get you, they should send the ticket to the registered owner of the vehicle. The ticket includes instructions on what to do if the owner wasn't the driver at the time. They can fill out a form with your info and sign it stating that you were driving the car at the time. The ticket gets forwarded to you.

[bachviet]

If you were caught, the ticket would be sent to the register owner of the car within 1 week.

If you were already in the intersection zone before the light turned red, you would be okay.

[modena]

yea, i think you are going to be ok, as long as you were in the intersection when the light did turn from yellow to red

[Grimm]

The cameras are only supposed to catch people who enter the intersection after the light turns red. If they try to ticket you you should get a lawyer that specializes in tickets.
Most likely it was the person behind you that was having their picture taken.

There is one here in San Diego that charges $99 to fight a ticket for you. He wins more often than not.

[Freelance Superhero]

great! thanks for the help everyone.

[JackHammer]

Even if it was you that tripped the light, they only hit you with a ticket but not a moving violation which incurs points on your license.

[DankNstickY]

did you notice if there even WAS somebody behind you? all this talk of 'maybe it wasn't meant for you' might be falsely setting you at ease, but it's gonna come back and get you when you think you're in the clear. just a thought

[Freelance Superhero]

yeah, i know. there actually was someone who went thru the intersection later than i did; not behind me, but in the lane next to me.

but yeah, i'm prepared for and expecting the worst, just in case. i'm too jaded and cynical to be put at ease about it.

[Thesifer]

Most likely its that guy.. I was in the intersection once when the light turned red.. and got all worried about the ticket... but one never showed.. So I assume someone was behind me .. I never really looked to make sure at the time..

[civicdidex]

Even if it was you that tripped the light, they only hit you with a ticket but not a moving violation which incurs points on your license.

i think this would be a moving violation too

[kgsilvas]

Even if it was you that tripped the light, they only hit you with a ticket but not a moving violation which incurs points on your license.

My best friend just got a "red light camera" ticket in the mail here in CA and it clearly states that it counts as a moving violation.

[bachviet]

My best friend just got a "red light camera" ticket in the mail here in CA and it clearly states that it counts as a moving violation.

Yeap that will be $300 + traffic school fee.

[MikeD]

I've gotten those tickets in both DC and VA. Here they're not moving violations, simply a $50 fine for the vehicle's registered owner.

[Thesifer]

It's different in California.. its over 300$ and a moving violation.. they really like to enforce it out here..

[bachviet]

It's different in California.. its over 300$ and a moving violation.. they really like to enforce it out here..

More like they want to generate more revenues.

[Thesifer]

yeah.. But I was giving them the benefit of the doubt!! . They are doing it for Our Safety.. They told me so.. they dont want me to get plowed into in an intersection.. that is the only reason we have redlight cameras!!..

*hides in own little world*