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City Red-Light Camera Programs Bypass State Laws

Miami Herald

  Since 2008, many South Florida residents have experienced the horror of finding surprise red-light ticket violations in their mailboxes. These violations are the result of red-light cameras, which were originally installed by cities as a so-called “safety precaution.” Fines for these tickets can come to as much as $200.

But, if any of these fines were obtained from 2008 to July 2010, many South Floridians may be getting a refund.

On Thursday, the Florida Supreme Court ruled in a 5-2 decision that red-light fines collected from 2008 until July 1, 2010, were unlawful. The reason?

The Miami Herald reports that during this time, red-light ticket violations were not state traffic tickets, but city “code violations.”

Many drivers who were fined say hearings conducted at City Hall were "biased and unfair." It wasn’t until July 1, 2010, that Florida law deemed the red-light tickets state traffic violations. 

The ruling was decided after the case of Richard Masone, who sued the city of Aventura, and Michael Udowychenko, who sued the city of Orlando.

To read more about the case and the ruling, go to: MiamiHerald.com

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