. You could pay fines and other costs totaling $99 and receive points on your license if you get a ticket, so it’s important you know your options for fighting a ticket.

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Are red light cameras legal in Missouri?

Red light cameras in Missouri are controversial, but they are still legal. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the burden of proof falls on the state to prove the car owner was driving at the time of the violation, which means you’re not automatically assumed guilty just because your car went through a red light.

What should I do if I receive a red light ticket?

You can go through a red light if you are

making a right turn

and first come to a full and complete stop. Any other movement through the intersection during a red light leaves you in violation of the law and subject to a ticket.

Red light violations are class C misdemeanors in Missouri. You could be looking at fines and other costs up to $99. You could also earn at least one demerit point on your driving record, but you can avoid this by completing a driver improvement program (DIP).

How to pay a red light ticket

Not everyone wants to fight a ticket. Paying the ticket is an admission of guilt and it means you’re waiving your right to challenge the ticket in court. You may also get demerit points, but you can avoid this by completing a DIP.

Not every driver is eligible for a DIP, but if you are, taking the course will keep points off your license. You will still have to pay the fine, though.

How to fight a red light ticket

Red light cameras aren’t perfect, and your ticket may be in error. In fact, 1 in 4 issued tickets is a mistake but only 5% of drivers take their challenge to court. To challenge your ticket, you can request a contested hearing.

You can request a contested hearing by checking the appropriate box on the back of your ticket and mailing it to the court. The next thing you should do is hire an attorney.

A traffic ticket attorney can greatly increase your chances of winning. An attorney can:

Handle all the legal paperwork

Represent you in court

Negotiate with the prosecutor to have your charges dropped or reduced

How does a red light camera work?

Traffic lights have built-in sensors that work with red light cameras to capture video and photo footage of traffic violations that take place in the intersection. The camera will photograph your license plate number and link it to a record with the following information:

Date and time of the incident

Vehicle speed

Location

Amount of time since the light turned red

Third-party companies operate the majority of red light cameras. These companies send any footage to law enforcement, who use the footage to cite traffic violations. The most frequently ticketed violations are running a red light and performing an illegal turn, but any violation of

Missouri's traffic laws

at an intersection could land you with a red light camera ticket.

A study conducted by the

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

found a 14% reduction in fatal crashes at intersections where red light cameras are used. These statistics are used to justify more cities and states using red light cameras.

MORE:

Does running a red light increase your car insurance rates?

How to find affordable car insurance in Missouri

A ticket of any kind and especially a moving violation like a red light camera ticket will increase your

car insurance rates

in Missouri. Rate increases are great times to check around for better insurance rates.

Luckily there’s a car insurance shopping expert who just so happens to be a licensed insurance broker as well. Download the

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FAQs

How do I know if a red light camera ticket is real?

Red light camera tickets in Missouri will always be issued through the mail. Never trust a ticket that is sent to you via email or over the phone. If you receive a suspicious ticket, call the court to confirm the details.

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