Red light cameras are used to enforce safe stopping and compliance at busy intersections, but their usage has generated controversy over the years. The primary argument against their usage is that they can be faulty.

If you’ve received a red light camera ticket, and you have reason to believe that it was sent in error, be sure you know how to contest the citation and what is at risk if you’re unsuccessful.

North Carolina has its own process for challenging red light camera citations.

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Are red light cameras legal in North Carolina?

Yes. Any intersection that has a red light camera installed must have appropriate signage installed to alert motorists that the cameras are in use. But any image captured is legal evidence according to North Carolina law.

Red light camera violations differ from standard red light violations as cited by police officers in that they’re civil offenses rather than traffic infractions. So a red light camera violation results in a cheaper ticket than one that would be issued by a police officer. In addition, they do not influence car insurance rates the way traditional tickets do.

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

If you run a red light and it’s captured by a red light camera, the minimum penalty is a ticket for $50. If for any reason, you’re late on the payment, it will go up to $100.

Considering that the tickets are relatively inexpensive, it may not be worth the time to contest them. Besides cost, there are drawbacks and advantages to each option, which are extrapolated on below:

How to pay a red light camera ticket

If you decide to pay the ticket, you have four available options: online, over the phone, by mail, or in person. The information required to pay via any of these options should be found on your ticket, or you can find it via North Carolina’s

SafeLight site

Paying the ticket means you forfeit any right to contest the ticket in the future. On the other hand, because it doesn’t show up on your driving record, the matter is dealt with quickly and with minimal hassle.

How to fight a red light camera ticket

If you decide to contest the ticket, you’ll have to gather the pertinent evidence to prove that you were not operating the car at the time of the violation. You’ll need to file an affidavit that states the name and address of the person or company who was in control of the car at the time, or that your car was stolen and being driven by a thief at the time.

While hiring an attorney can absolutely help you in earning a dismissal, bear in mind that very few lawyers are willing to take on these types of cases, as the violations themselves are often not worth their time, especially as there are no long-term repercussions for the driver.

How does a red light camera work?

Red light cameras are installed at intersections where traffic lights use sensors instead of timers. When the light turns red, the sensors activate the red light cameras to capture visual footage of any car that enters the intersection.

The cameras record the license plate number of these cars, along with the date and time, vehicle’s speed, the location of the violation, and how long the light has been red.

North Carolina outsources their red light camera program to SafeLight, a third-party company. SafeLight captures violations, and then sends the photographic evidence to law enforcement agencies who thereafter issue the tickets and handle any appeals and court dates.

Although there remains some debate over the use of red light cameras, a study by the

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)

reported that these cameras helped reduce fatal crashes in intersections by 14%. In addition, red light camera violations are significantly cheaper and less serious infractions than red light violations as reported by patrolling police officers.

MORE:

Does running a red light increase your car insurance rates?

How to find affordable car insurance in North Carolina

The good news is, getting a red light camera violation doesn’t go on your record, nor does it impact your car insurance rates. But if you’ve decided it’s time to find a more affordable policy anyway, you can still save money with help from

Jerry

Whether you have a squeaky clean driving record or one that needs a little work (or even a lot of work), Jerry can still help you find better rates. That’s because Jerry is a fully licensed car insurance and brokerage app that takes all the tedious work and time out of comparison shopping. Just answer a few short questions, and Jerry will bring you tailored quotes from dozens of reputable insurance companies in minutes.

All that’s left is for you to take your pick, and Jerry handles the rest, including finalizing your paperwork and keeping you up to date with new quotes whenever it’s time to renew.

“I recently started looking for insurance. With my past ticket, I got rejected from several companies while others charged me extreme prices. My friend referred me to
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FAQ

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

Tickets that are sent to you either by email or phone are likely fraudulent. State agencies only deliver legal documents by certified mail, to the address associated with your registration and driver’s license.

So if you receive a red light camera ticket in any other way than mail, or if you notice information that is incorrect or missing on the one you received, contact your local court to find out if the ticket is legitimate.

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