If you were stopped and cited for running a red light, you are certainly not alone.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that more than 50,000 drivers were pulled over and issued a red light ticket in 2018. That is just the beginning.
Nearly six times as many red light tickets, more than 296,000 in total, were sent to drivers who were “caught” by a red light camera.
How much is a red light ticket in Florida? It depends on the circumstances of your case. If you get pulled over by a police officer, a red light ticket fine is $125.00, and it also results in three points being added to your driving record. If you are caught by a red light camera, then the fine is $158.00. However, no points will be added to your license.
Florida Law: Traffic Control Signals
Florida law (Florida Statutes § 316.075), requires drivers to obey traffic signals. If they fail to do so, they can be cited for a moving violation. As was mentioned, when a police officer cites a motorist for running a red light, that ticket will come with three points attached to it, whereas red light camera tickets do not come with points. Similar to many other jurisdictions in Florida, Orlando has installed a number of red light cameras around the city. If you get a red light ticket in the mail, do not ignore it. It will not go away. But, you can fight it.
What Can You Do to Fight a Red Light
Ticket
If you have a ticket for running a red light in Central Florida, you have legal options available. In crafting a defense strategy, what you need to know is: how did you get the ticket?
Red light citations from law enforcement officers are typically defended in different ways than are red light tickets from cameras. If a police officer pulled you over, their testimony will be a core part of the case against you.
Red Light Camera Winning Defense
On
the other hand, with a red light camera, the entire case against you is in the
image. There are many ways to challenge the reliability of a red light camera
image. If you did not run that red light, or you believe that you had a valid
reason to do so, you should not pay the ticket without first discussing your
case with an experienced traffic lawyer. Your lawyer will review the red light
ticket and help you build a winning defense.
Speak to an Orlando, FL Red Light Ticket
Defense Attorney Today
At Skubiak & Rivas, P.A., our traffic defense lawyers have over six decades of combined experience handling a wide range of cases in Central Florida. If you got a red light ticket, we can help. For a free, no obligation review of your case, please contact our legal team today. We represent drivers in Orlando and throughout the region, including in Volusia County, Lake County, and Seminole County.
