Paying for red light ticket?

Question

if i wasnt driving the car, but the car is in my name, do i still have to pay the ticket? i read online that if they dont have proof that it was me driving, i dont have to pay for it?

Answer 1

if they say you were driving, you were driving

Answer 2

if it was a camera that took a pic of your car, you can find out who was driving. but since the car is under your name i believe you do have to pay, atleast you could make the person who was driving pay.

unless your car was stolen and someone who you dont know got you that ticket.

Answer 3

Oh i've delt with these two of these already. First let me say that these traffic light camera's suck, and its hard to get it across to the judge that it wasn't you driving if you look anything like the person who was pictured.

If you weren't driving the car, but a camera busted whoever it was driving jumping a red light, the ticket is sent to you. This is because you are the registered owner of the vehicle. If it's not you driving, you are expected to mail back a form that comes in the mail with the ticket or go to court and let the judge know who the driver was. Although legally you are not required to do so, this is the easiest way to ensure the ticket does not go on your record.

It is the the courts job to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you are the driver. Thus, if you do not turn over whoever it is in the picture, then the court must prove that it is infact you who is in the car. To do this people just usually go to court, plead not-guilty, and tell the judge "this is not me driving" from there some sort of evidence has to be shown the proves beyond a reasonable doubt it is you driving. Of course if the driver is of the opposite s*x or looks nothing like you, then most likely the court will just drop the ticket. However if the person looks more like you, they may push to convict you of the traffic violation.

Bottom line, if the person in the picture looks nothing like you, then just go to court and tell the judge you obviously aren't the driver and then either give up the name of the driver, or simply leave them to prove who the driver is.If you do look like the driver, the easiest and most hassle free way to deal with it is just turn in the name of whoever it was who was actually driving your vehicle.

Answer 4

The signature on the ticket should be "proof positive" of who is the traffic code violator.   If it was one of your children then it is your debt as a practical matter.  If a stranger was driving that would be a curious circumstance.   Not following your line of reasoning.  If a friend was driving, I would hope he/she would step up and pay the town its bill.  If you make this into People's Court drama, the town will likely just increase the amount of the ticket.  The officer becomes angry because he has to take his "valuable time" to appear at the hearing.  I think the signatory will have to enter the guilty plea to get the court costs into the town treasury.