Isn't Camera Speeding Tickets UNCONSTITUTIONAL?

Question

Isn't it against the law? Any violation of law requires a witness,Camera is not a witness RIGHT?

I can't believe I got 3 (3 x $40 = $120) Camera Speeding Tickets at the same spot in Montgomery County, MD at different dates and times.

Is there a way I can get out of this mess?

I found the following articles:

Md: Caught speeding on camera, police officers refuse to pay tickets

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1982816/posts

Any thoughts???

Answer 1

You're lucky they are $100 each in St. Louis!  and yes those cops need to pay their tickets, just like the rest of us!  Crooked d**n cops!

Answer 2

Yes, you can stop speeding.  If you simply can't stop speeding.  Stop speeding through that spot with the speed camera present.

I'm sure you've noticed the irony of questioning whether a speed camera is against the law in catching YOU FOR SPEEDING, which absolutely is against the law.

Answer 3

A: quit speeding and/or running the red lights

B:  Fight them.  Fight them on any and every point.  In my opinion, as well as the opinions of many others including some attorneys, "camera cops" violate our constitutional right to face the accuser.

In reality, it is just another cash-cow for what ever municipality has employed them  BTW, the camera _company_ makes more from those tickets that does the muncipality.

Fight them

Answer 4

most states kinda acknowledge the fact that the tickets can be fought in court.  They compensate for that by making the violations non-moving with only a dollar amount for a penalty.  If you were speeding, pay the fines and slow down.  If you weren't spend more, get a lawyer and contest it.

Answer 5

I don't quite understand. Relatively few crimes have actually 'I was standing watching you' sort of witnesses.

Use of cctv footage and forensics is often used as evidence.  

Answer 6

"Any violation of law requires a witness,Camera is not a witness RIGHT?"  My response to this is a question.  A man walks into a remote farmhouse and murders its only resident.  The body is only discovered when mail starts to pile up.  They eventually catch the perpetrator because of forensic evidence.  No witness.  Does he get away with it?

Thousands of people get arrested without having a witness to their crimes.  Murderers and thieves chief amongst them.  So, no it isn't unconstitutional.  That article was referring to officers who were using the defense that it wasn't their own car, it was owned by the county.  You committed the crime, why try to weasel your way out of it?  Just slow down.

Answer 7

In Albuquerque, NM they put in the cameras and used the excuse that it was covered by a city nuisence ordinance.  The tickets here were $100 for the 1st offense then $200 for the 2nd.  The State Government made them stop the $100 fines and lowed it to $64 and the state gets a $20 kick back as well now.

Remember this the next time your city officials come up for re-election.

Answer 8

I don't think there is any valid argument for them being unconstitutional but it's definitely an invasion of privacy.

Welcome to the brave new world.

Answer 9

Driving is a privilege...not a right. Slow down, drive carefully, and quit running through lights and you won't have to worry about tickets. AND QUIT SPEEDING!!!

Answer 10

Where did you come up with that witness stuff? I'm pretty sure its perfectly legal. There is proof...what more do you want. Maybe slow down since you've been caught 3 times in the same place.

Answer 11

Why would they be unconstitutional? You have no constitutional right to break the law and driving is a privilege that requires the approval (by license) of the state.

Do you think that a cop pulling you over, with lights flashing, is unconstitutional? It is not. The only difference here is the means of delivery of the citation. You still have the right to contest the ticket in court, just as you would if you'd been pulled over.

Police resources are far better spent on patrol and preventing crimes of opportunity, such as robberies, thefts and assaults in places like shopping malls and residential areas.

The short answer is don't speed and you won't get a ticket, but if you believe that you were not speeding and the ticket and its attendant technology is mistaken then you should fight it.  

Answer 12

Don't speed.

Answer 13

Unf. its not.  We are the test county for it.  You can thank the representatives you prob. voted for.

Plus, when you see photo enforced slow down to 9 and under and you will be fine, thats what I always do..

Btw, that article has to do with the officers and ambulances (EMT) workers getting the tickets when they are going to calls and they have too pay it out of there own pocket.  Or that is what I say on the news a few months ago.  That is why they are refusing too pay!!

Answer 14

Pay the tickets and quit speeding?