Speed Camera (Not Recognised) - Points OR FINE?

Question

Today I got flashed by a camera in a business park. I was doing 50mph in a 30 limit. All I saw was 1 speed limit 30 sign.

There was no speed camera sign and it was not yellow or in high visibility. I did not recognise the type of speed camera it was on a metal pole there were 2 'CCTV' like cameras, bunched together.

It only flashed once, and since it was in the business park on the road to the gym, I am presuming it was owned by them and will go back to the 'control box'.

My question is, do they have the power to issue penalty points, I presume they can issue a fine but it is the '3' points I don't want if the image comes out (It was at night).

Answer 1

It doesn't matter if there is only one speed limit sign. It doesn't matter if it was a law enforcement camera or a police officer. The fact is you got caught doing 20mph over the speed limit. The state & local authorities have the right to set & enforce speed limits in any manner that is deemed fair & just, and cameras have been cleared for law enforcement use.

Since your violation was rather extreme, you will most likely get penalty points. And I'm sure the image will come out just fine, the two times I got caught the image was crystal clear even under what were at the time poor lighting conditions.

Pay your fine like a good respectable citizen and obey the speed laws in the future.

Answer 2

Try asking the people in the gym if they know who enforces the camera.  They will have heard of other cases.  Good luck.

Just thought - it might be just a security camera taking pictures of cars coming and going in case of joy riders etc.

Answer 3

An article showed up in our local paper about speed cameras.  Turned out one of the reporters had been caught by one.

In our area, this man was assessed a fine ($100 for 45 in a 35 mph zone), but the "ticket" -- with photo -- he received in the mail assured him that 'no points were assessed to [his] license'.  His argument was that photo PROVED nothing.  It was simply a photo of his car in the intersection that arrived at his residence a month after the so-called offense.  That he was NOT assessed points meant to him that the speed cameras were simply a money-making gimmick for the city.  He did not recall "speeding", but moving along with traffic.  So, he wanted to know, did EVERYONE ELSE that traveled thru that intersection that day ALSO get a ticket?  That would line the city coffers pretty quickly if they did.

At any rate, my guess it that this is all subject to the community you are in.  In my community, no points are assessed, the city just wants your money.

I remember speeding thru NY State years ago and getting picked up by a Statie doing 70 in a 55 zone.  I EXPECTED an enormous fine.  Turned out the little "burg" I was caught in had ridiculously out-dated fines and I was only fined $30.  It was my LUCKY DAY!  Suffice it to say, it's all subjective.

Answer 4

They are probably the city's cameras since you mentioned trafic lights. A random buisness or person cant decide to just put of traffic lights. It probably has to go through an approval prosess to set one up so its definitly the city, its their responsibility to regulate traffic. Now, many intersections have cameras that only check to see if you ran a red light. You are safe as long as your front tires past the white line at the begining of the intersection on the yellow light. Intersections have sensors that will hold a yellow for you if you have already entered. Ok, now for the ones that check speed limit as well. These are not as common as the previous type. So yea, they have the power but only if they caught you. Keep in mind that the flach could be a frigmnt of your imagination or maybee a car behind you flashed its lights to warn you.

Answer 5

That's actually a tough question. It depends on where you live. If you were Germany, forget it, they've been there forever.

But since you sound like the U.S., it varies from state to state.

The circumstances where you can be cited for a moving violation while on private property should be almost none in the U.S. You could be charged with a crime or sued if you did something seriously reckless, but this doesn't fit. Jurisdiction is sometimes negotiated in these business park environments.

So first find out if the road is in the business park or a public road. You might want to check on the legality of Speed cameras. Some states impose so many restrictions on them that it's tough. But it is state by state.

Some states do require notice of a speed camera, defacto if not dejure. If you have a sign that says you're now on the "property of business park B" the worst you probably face is a snotty letter.

If this is a business park camera owned by the park company and there is some kind of tie to the police, not only would it be unusual, then the camera could be questionable.

My state requires annual inspection of all radar or speed measuring devices and not long ago they had to throw out current and past tickets that were given on the basis of a gun that hadn't been recertified. They do drift off.

It's worth keeping in mind. You don't want to argue if you're stopped, but if its important or you have a lawyer friend, you can sometimes challenge a ticket just on the basis that the gun wasn't realigned and recertified.

As for fine or points, again, if it's private property, I wouldn't think either. You're state may have provision for working private property in case of an accident going to a public street. But usually it's insurance company to insurance company.

Wait and see what happens. Good luck.