Redlight camera ticket violation in Los Angeles, CA - out of state resident with rental car?
My husband received a traffic violation from a redlight camera making a left turn. Being unfamiliar with the streets as tourists in a rental car and the yello light seemed way too short. Nevertheless, it is a violation. The ticket seems a bit confusing. Obviously, we won't be contesting it as we can't show up in court, we live in Virginia. There was an option to go to traffic school. Is the option only available after you pay the $465 fine (which is ridiculous compared to where we live) just to avoid the points on your license? and I assume you would pay extra? and of course since we are out of state residents, would he be able to take a class here?
Lastly, would anyone recommend contesting the ticket through sending in a statement to the courts? Is it worth the trouble?
Advice would be much appreciated.
Thank you for your time.
Hello Virginian Driver, sorry to hear about your bad luck. I endured a similar situation when I used to live in Minnesota.
If you choose to go to traffic school, the fine is usually waived, but then the court charges administrative fees that usually cost about the same, maybe a little less, than the ticket fine. Also, a traffic school usually charges $20-$40 or so for their traffic school course.
Fortunately for your ticket, you can take online traffic school (which is actually quite common in CA). That way you don't have to leave your home state for anything.
My advice:
- Read your citation front and back for all the details. Make sure you choose the traffic school option BEFORE paying the ticket. If you pay the ticket, then you cannot take traffic school.
- Take traffic school at an APPROVED traffic school provider (http://www.trafficschool.com/ has LA County courses - http://www.californiatrafficschool.com/ is also good)
- Call the court phone # listed on your ticket with any questions - they have the definitive answer for anything you're not clear about).
Hope that helps - Jonny Driving School