So, I am 'accused' by a red light camera for not stopping on a red and turning. I think I stopped. The video says I didn't. My wife and daughter both say "you paused, but you didn't stop". It's a $100 ticket, whatever, but I want to contest it just to make them earn their money. I got pulled over for 8mph over in 1999, so this is my first experience with traffic issues in over 20 years. I have until 8/19 to contest it in person, or by mail. If they still say I did it, (which I kinda did, but mostly didn't), can I nickel and dime that $100 fine? I have no idea how these things work. I'm not even that pissed. I know that's a busy intersection at lunch time, so I feel like I didn't do anything wrong or dangerous, even if it wasn't by-the-rules-of-the-road book. What say you, anyone?

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Just chillin' like Garret Quillin.

Make em earn it.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

You can contest it. If the hearing officer isn't having a bad morning they'll probably throw it out. If they are, you'll have to pay the $100.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Yes. But I was not pulled over, I was (allegedly) caught on camera, so there was no officer. Unless I misunderstand what you're saying by "hearing officer".

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Just chillin' like Garret Quillin.

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Just chillin' like Garret Quillin.

check if there are fees and such for contesting... if you lose it could cost more. i'm not sure if these kangaroo courts are sympathetic to your plight or not

The fine doubles if I don't contest it or pay it by 8/19. I refuse to make it easy for the state to steal $100, so I'll waste the cost of a stamp and contest it by mail and (like Darkside said) make them earn it.

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Just chillin' like Garret Quillin.

I am aware of that. The person hearing your appeal of the fine is who I am referring to as the "Hearing Officer". You can call them a judge if you like.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

It's not a moving violation because they don't know who was driving. So it is nothing more than an expensive parking ticket. Pay it and move on.

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"I honestly don't see a good bet on the board here."

Ignore it

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And if both your wife and daughter say you didn't stop, then you likely didn't. But if you want to post the video link I am sure MANY would be happy to weigh in.

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"I honestly don't see a good bet on the board here."

It's going to be very hard for you to beat it when there's video of you rolling the light. But you could get lucky. My advice would be that if you're going to contest it show up in a suit and act like an attorney. You'll stand out from all the guys dressed like bums who are giving excuses rather than denials.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

Just tell them you were drunk at the time so you can't be held responsible for your actions.

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You know me like that.

Move out of state

Spend a ton of money on a high end video editing software. From there, slow the video to whatever speed is necessary to make it look like you’ve stopped.

Once that part is done, turn your perfunctory hearing into a full on Zapruder Film analysis. Argue everything, including the definition of the word stop.

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that video could potentially trigger some here

Sound advice. I would go with this.

I got pulled over for speeding for the first time in over 20 years while on vacation in Florida this weekend. Rental car way smoother than my cruddy Nissan Sentra at home. Only a warning though.

Button 48

Definitely contest it. I don't think there is any additional fees to contest.

This ticket is, IIRC, treated similar to an equipment violation. It is not treated like a speeding ticket, accident, etc, that will go against your driving record. The reason being. They can't determine who was actually operating the vehicle when the "transaction" occurred. My Wife got one in WeGo at 59/64 recently, and because the vehicle is registered to me, I of course got the bill. She contested it and won.

With that said, if they allow you to pay in person. Do so with the smallest denomination you can. Make them earn it. I did that years ago in WeGo (same light... 59/64). I went to the Police station with $100 in pennies and made them count it out. When the desk sergeant got in to it with me, I told him to sit his ass down... Pennies are legal tender and because you wasted my time with this fleecing of your citizens/residents, I was gonna make you work to earn it.

Since then, I think they note you can't pay in pennies.

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Certified Dirty Old Man

This.

This is silly. When you go to renew the registration, it will be a nightmare.

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It has nothing to do with your registration, nor will it affect your license.

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Pay it before they double it. You can contest but the extra money that you will pay for parking and gas isn't worth it. It's tough to win those things. You probably would have been better being pulled over because in my experiences the cop rarely shows up in court anyway. At that point they simply throw it out.

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That's incorrect. I know first hand with having to deal with it on a company vehicle.

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Nope it won't.

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I believe if you let it go unpaid they can suspend your license.

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Certified Dirty Old Man

It doesn't affect a license because they can't prove who was driving. They can and do effect vehicle tags eventually.

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Looks like there is a bill to eliminate that (3376), but when I look it up, it's latest status is Sine Die as of 1/31/21. Doesn't Sine Die mean they adjourned without a date for reconvening on the bill?

https://www.illinoispolicy.org/new-bill ... a-tickets/

Status of the bill;
https://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus ... gID=124984

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Certified Dirty Old Man

The fine doubles. If you have more than 1 outstanding parking or red light violation in Chicago, they can boot your car.

The hearings are still virtual so there is no reason you shouldn't contest the violation. The hearing officer may toss it out.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!