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A Timely Guide To Fighting Evil NYC Camera Violations

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Last Updated on July 26, 2023 by Lawrence Berezin

NYC camera violations are growing

The widespread enforcement of NYC camera violations is a costly fact of life in Parking Ticket Land. That is to say, whether it is a bus, bus lane, red light, or school zone camera, the Evil Empire has its eyes on you.

So, what is a driver to do?

Be vigilant, don’t drive too fast, and learn as much as possible about speed cameras.

Do lawyers fight NYC camera violations?

For the most part, no. But that doesn’t mean you cannot fight an unjust camera violation yourself. However, equip yourself with as much “camera” knowledge as possible before engaging the Evil Empire in a just dispute.

Meanwhile, your first speed violation may be only fifty bucks. But there are rules that increase upon recurring violations that I will talk about later.

There are three types of cameras.

  • Red light
  • Bus lane
  • School zone

Penalties

You must answer the summons within 30 days. Likewise, you must pay the notice of liability within 30 days, or Evil Empire will send a notice to the vehicle owner with a $25 penalty added.

The Evil Empire sends a final notice of the NYC camera violation is sent 30 days thereafter if the summons remains outstanding.

Enforcement action may commence against the registered owner 14 days following the final notice.

The Evil Empire has shared a lot of information about camera violations

  • The Department of Transportation (DOT) reviews the images from the cameras for possible violations and mails out notices of liability to vehicle owners.
  • Regardless of who was driving, the owner of the car is responsible for the ticket.
  • Red light camera tickets do not result in any points on your driving record.
  • The sensors automatically activate after the light turns red and a vehicle crosses over the crosswalk line.
  • If you fail to stop, you may receive a notice of liability in the mail with a picture of your car driving through the red light.
  • You can view the evidence against you by logging on to the website printed on the notice of liability.
  • DOT personnel must issue technician’s certificates certifying the proper operability of the camera on the date of occurrence, along with a confirmation that the vehicle bearing your license plate number was the one that drove through the red light.
  • Multiple red light camera violations issued at different locations on the same day are each enforceable.

[Source: NYC Department of Finance/Red Light Camera Violations].

Possible Defenses

  • You have evidence showing that you drove through the red light because of a health or emergency situation.
  • You have evidence showing that you drove through the red light because you were following the instructions of law enforcement personnel.

More defenses are good.

  • You have evidence showing that you drove through the red light because you were part of a funeral procession.
  • Or the photos did not depict your vehicle or license plate.
  • Someone stole your vehicle or license plate prior to the date and time of the violation.
  • Likewise, you transferred your plate prior to the date and time of the violation.
  • If your vehicle was not the only one in the photo, it may be possible that your vehicle was not the one that triggered the camera.

Still More

  • Moreover, you may attempt to challenge the proper operability of the camera if you have evidence that the camera malfunctioned at the time of the violation. Ask for the technician’s certificates.
  • The traffic light was broken at the time of occurrence.

Increased Penalties

Effective February 20, 2020, if a vehicle has more than one bus lane restriction violation that has either been paid, found guilty following a hearing, or where judgment has been entered within a 12-month period, pursuant to VTL Section 1111-c (e) and Title 19 Section 39-18 (a) of the Rules of the City of New York, the motorist is liable to pay $50 for a first offense within a 12-month period, $100 for a second offense within a 12-month period, $150 for a third offense within a 12-month period, $200 for a fourth offense within a 12-month period, and $250 for each subsequent offense within a 12-month period.

Possible Defenses:

  • Your evidence shows that you did not travel in the bus lane for more than 200 feet, or the evidence against you does not establish that you were in the bus lane for more than 200 feet.
  • Your evidence shows that some condition on the roadway prevented you from making an immediate right turn—for example, it was not safe or legal to do so.
  • The conditions existing on the roadway left you with no other option but to enter and stay in the bus lane for more than 200 feet.
  • You were complying with the direction of law enforcement personnel.

Keep reading

  • You have evidence of a sudden mechanical breakdown or medical emergency that necessitated your parking in the bus lane.
  • Generally, motorists may not drive in a designated bus lane during applicable hours unless:
  • The motorist is about to enter a driveway or make a right turn at the nearest intersection. You must make the turn within 200 feet of entering the bus lane.
  • The motorist temporarily stops to expeditiously pick up or drop off a passenger at the curbside.
  • The motorist is attempting to access a parking spot next to the bus lane.

Your quest for knowledge continues.

  • The bus stop zone begins at the bus stop sign and continues in the direction of the arrows until the next parking sign or, if there is no parking sign, to the end of the block.
  • The Evil Empire installs cameras at certain bus lane locations
  • Or can mount them on an actual bus.
  • Likewise, if you violate the bus lane zone, the camera will take a picture or video, and you will receive a summons in the mail.

[Source: NYC Department of Finance/Camera Violations]

Special Notice

On August 1, 2022, the City of New York will begin issuing speed camera violations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round. The City will operate speed cameras in 750 school speed zones.

Expanding the speed camera law is one aspect of the City’s comprehensive plan to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries. Learn more at www.nyc.gov/visionzero.

Download a flyer

This type of camera violation is issued to the owner of a vehicle traveling over the speed limit in a school zone.

The owner of the subject vehicle is responsible for the violation if:

  • The car was being driven with the owner’s express or implied permission.
  • The car was observed by the camera traveling in a school speed zone in excess of 10 MPH of the posted maximum speed limit.

Other information about school zone speeding camera violations:

  • The camera must successfully pass a self-test of its functions on the date of occurrence.
  • The camera must undergo an annual calibration check, and a certification of that fact must be kept.
  • The Department of Transportation (DOT) must certify that the camera was operating properly on the date of occurrence, which you are entitled to see upon request.

Defenses

  • You have evidence showing that the violation was issued outside of the enforceable days or hours. (This applies to violations issued before August 1, 2022.)
  • You have evidence showing that you are not the owner of the vehicle in violation. For example, there were other cars near yours at the time of occurrence, and the camera captured the wrong car.
  • You have evidence showing that the camera malfunctioned on the date of occurrence.
  • You have evidence to show that your car was reported stolen and not recovered before the occurrence.

[Source: NYC Department of Finance/Speed Zone Camera Violations].

Commentary

There has been a significant increase in cameras and NYC camera violations. It’s time to be vigilant and dispute them when you can figure out a winning defense.

Meanwhile, here are some blog posts I wrote that may be helpful:

“Smile, You’re on the Valuable Real-Time-Cameras”

There is a remarkable number of Real-Time-Cameras watching our every move. But, is it possible to watch the watchers? Yessiree!

Meanwhile, here’s how you do it.

Table of Contents

Read More.

“Speed Cameras are on 24/7 for the First Time”

N.Y. State authorized N.Y.C. to turn on the speed cameras in school zones 24/7. In other words, lights, camera, action, gotcha! Meanwhile, here’s what the D.O.T. has to say.

NYC DOT launched the Speed Camera program in 2013. In June 2014, the pilot expanded to 140 school speed zones, in order to support the pursuit of the City’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries. NYC DOT is now authorized by the State to operate cameras in 750 school speed zones 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round.

Read More.

“10 Common Misconceptions about Speed and Red Light Cameras”

There was an incredibly informative article written by Catherine Yang about speed and red light cameras. Ms. Yang provided gold nuggets of knowledge we ought to know about. Here are some common misconceptions we may harbor about these camera.

Read more

“3 High-Priced Parking Rules and Camera Violations You Need to Know”

Bus lane camera parking rules violation fine increases incrementally.

Read More.

“I beat a Red Light Camera Ticket”

I love hearing from wonderful members of the driving public who fight when they’re right and win. Last week I received an email from Robert sharing news of the dismissal of his red light camera parking ticket. Bravo, hip-hip-hooray, kudos to Robert!

Here’s how Robert beat this unjust ticket

Read More.

Larry’s, thank you!

The Evil Empire has done a super job of providing the residents of Parking Ticket Land with comprehensive information about speed cameras, which I have published in this blog post.

Read it and weep. But empower yourself to fight when you’re right and win.

FREE Download

NYC camera violations are here to stay.

This blog post has much useful information. It’s the type of value that you may wish to keep nearby in case you fall prey to one of the Evil Empire’s eyes in the sky.

So, I prepared a PDF version of this post. If you’d like to take it home with you, click the pretty button below.

Easy, right?

Easy, Peasy, short, and sweetzy!

Larry says:

 

I have retired and will not be answering comments or questions.

Thank you!

 

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