Broward Judge Rules Red Light Camera Tickets Are Constitutional
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) – Drivers caught on camera speeding through red lights in Broward won't be getting an automatic 'get out of jail' free card at court.
On Wednesday, however, Judge Steven P. DeLuca, ruled on a number of issues relating to the use of the cameras and found that none of the constitutional arguments against them would hold up in court, according to The Sun-Sentinel.
In June, Broward Judge Fred Berman ruled that red light tickets issued by police officers are unconstitutional because they impose more severe penalties than red light camera citations.
A spokesman for American Traffic Solutions, which has contracts to manage the camera systems for more than a dozen cities in Miami-Dade and Broward, said the ruling sends a message that the cameras are constitutional and if you get a ticket, you can expect to pay the fine, according to the paper.
Most of the challenges that DeLuca ruled on were raised by attorney Ted Hollander who has successfully gotten more than 600 red light camera tickets thrown out. In fact, up until recently, DeLuca threw out a lot more red light camera tickets than he upheld. From July 2010 to May 2011, Deluca and Traffic Hearing Officer upheld only 44 of the 830 tickets challenged in Broward, the 786 other drivers didn't have to pay.
Wednesday's ruling applies only in DeLuca's courtroom. If Hollander appeals the ruling, that decision would impact more of South Florida.
