Multiple DC camera enforced tickets

[Anonymous]

Hello! So… in the last six weeks there has been construction around my child’s preschool, with a number of road closures. As such, I had to start taking a different route. I have just found out that there is a particularly corner where I turn right and apparently haven’t been coming to a full stop with a stop sign. I got a ticket in the mail, went to sign in to pay it and realized that I have four additional tickets - all for the same thing and in the span of a week. Is there any way for me to contest? Please save me the snarky comments; clearly I have learned my lesson. I honestly didn’t realize I was doing this. $500 in fees is a lot! I am just trying to figure out if there is a way for me to reduce the damage with some sort of argument that may have working for others. By the time I found out about the first one, I already had five.

Also what does this mean for the points system in DC? Any implications for my insurance?

[Anonymous]

I would recommend appealing them and laying out your story of how this happened. At worst you get more time to pay (filing the appeal stops the clock on payment until they issue a ruling) and chances are they may strike some of the tickets out of sympathy or double jeopardy or whatever logic they use

This happened to my spouse a few years ago with two tickets in involving a speed camera and the city dismissed one of them.

And if you believe the stop sign camera is faulty — this was a big problem several years ago — do some research and see if others have complained about it.

There was for instance a red light camera that was taking photos of cars taking perfectly legal right turns on a green arrow, and this went on for weeks before the city fixed it. (Southbound Connecticut Ave at Nebraska)

[Anonymous]

I meant to add, in general it is a good idea to avoid stop sign cameras whenever possible. They just aren’t reliable and it’s very annoying to have to worry about it every time. Even if you’re a very careful driver.

[Anonymous]

OP here. What is the logic I could use for the appeal? The videos are pretty clear that I am not stopping. Can I appeal on the grounds that there are various and I was unaware and shouldn’t get penalized for the same infraction all within such a short time frame without realizing I was doing it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. What is the logic I could use for the appeal? The videos are pretty clear that I am not stopping. Can I appeal on the grounds that there are various and I was unaware and shouldn’t get penalized for the same infraction all within such a short time frame without realizing I was doing it?

You didn't realize you weren't stopping at a stop sign? That doesn't make you sound like a competent driver.

Do you stop at other stop signs?

But it won't impact your insurance.

[Anonymous]

I have seen them give organizations a break on multiple citations. Worth a try if you don’t mind spending the time.

[Anonymous]

You need to use Waze every time, even if you're not following the Waze-provided route.

I'm done with Google Maps, as they seem to have removed most camera warnings from their maps. (and yes, I have it turned on....Waze has much more comprehensive camera notifications)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. What is the logic I could use for the appeal? The videos are pretty clear that I am not stopping. Can I appeal on the grounds that there are various and I was unaware and shouldn’t get penalized for the same infraction all within such a short time frame without realizing I was doing it?

That you stopped and the camera is faulty. Hire a lawyer and be willing to push it. It costs them more money to test and calibrate and risks more tickets being tossed than just waiving the tickets

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. What is the logic I could use for the appeal? The videos are pretty clear that I am not stopping. Can I appeal on the grounds that there are various and I was unaware and shouldn’t get penalized for the same infraction all within such a short time frame without realizing I was doing it?

That you stopped and the camera is faulty. Hire a lawyer and be willing to push it. It costs them more money to test and calibrate and risks more tickets being tossed than just waiving the tickets

She should lie? In the face of video evidence? I can’t imagine a judge appreciating that tactic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend appealing them and laying out your story of how this happened. At worst you get more time to pay (filing the appeal stops the clock on payment until they issue a ruling) and chances are they may strike some of the tickets out of sympathy or double jeopardy or whatever logic they use

This happened to my spouse a few years ago with two tickets in involving a speed camera and the city dismissed one of them.

And if you believe the stop sign camera is faulty — this was a big problem several years ago — do some research and see if others have complained about it.

There was for instance a red light camera that was taking photos of cars taking perfectly legal right turns on a green arrow, and this went on for weeks before the city fixed it. (Southbound Connecticut Ave at Nebraska)

Wow, quite the legal scholar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. What is the logic I could use for the appeal? The videos are pretty clear that I am not stopping. Can I appeal on the grounds that there are various and I was unaware and shouldn’t get penalized for the same infraction all within such a short time frame without realizing I was doing it?

You weren't unaware that you weren't stopping, you were unaware that you were getting a ticket for it. Not a very compelling argument.

As for you "shouldn’t get penalized for the same infraction all within such a short time frame," stop and think about that for a hot second. What you're saying is that this wasn't a one-time infraction, but that you're a habitual offender. Despite that, you think you should get a break on the tickets. As far as I'm aware, thee isn't a rule state states that if I am given a speeding ticket, I now have free rein to go as fast as I like for the next week or so.

Pay your damn fines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. What is the logic I could use for the appeal? The videos are pretty clear that I am not stopping. Can I appeal on the grounds that there are various and I was unaware and shouldn’t get penalized for the same infraction all within such a short time frame without realizing I was doing it?

That you stopped and the camera is faulty. Hire a lawyer and be willing to push it. It costs them more money to test and calibrate and risks more tickets being tossed than just waiving the tickets

Op said there is video. The calibration argument may for work speed cameras, but not really when there is video evidence of her not coming to a complete stop. What is there to calibrate?

[Anonymous]

Just pay the damn tickets and move on.

Wasn't it the case in the past that if you contested the camera tickets and lost they could asses points too? The only reason they don't assess points is because they can't prove who was driving. I wouldn't risk it personally.

[Anonymous]

I'm on OPs side but I don't know if there is much you can do. I think you can try to contest them and if nobody from teh city's side shows up they will get dismissed. That worked for me once, but in other instances my appeals have been ignored.

With current technology, the city could easily install cameras on every corner that give you a $100 ticket for exceeding teh speed limit by 1 mph, or stopping one inch over the white line, etc. We don't want to live in that city and woudln't accept it.

Why should we accept the current state of affairs?

A much fairer system would give a warning the first time, the maybe a $25 ticket, then escalate to $50, $100.

$500 is really punitive (at least for some people)...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm on OPs side but I don't know if there is much you can do. I think you can try to contest them and if nobody from teh city's side shows up they will get dismissed. That worked for me once, but in other instances my appeals have been ignored.

With current technology, the city could easily install cameras on every corner that give you a $100 ticket for exceeding teh speed limit by 1 mph, or stopping one inch over the white line, etc. We don't want to live in that city and woudln't accept it.

Why should we accept the current state of affairs?

A much fairer system would give a warning the first time, the maybe a $25 ticket, then escalate to $50, $100.

$500 is really punitive (at least for some people)...

Stop driving if you can't handle stopping at a stop sign. These cameras are out there because too many kids have been killed by careless drivers like OP.