Atlanta Traffic Lawyer, Sam McRae Law, Shares How to Fight Red Light Traffic Tickets

    ATLANTA, GA, September 12, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Red light cameras are activated when a vehicle passes over a sensor in the intersection if a traffic light is red. The camera takes pictures of the vehicle's front license plate and driver. A traffic citation is mailed to the vehicle's registered owner. In Georgia, the owner of the car is the one cited, even if someone else is driving (unless the vehicle was stolen).

Atlanta traffic attorney Sam McRae says that disputing a red light traffic citation requires different techniques than fighting one given by a law enforcement officer. He shares some important information that everyone who receives one of these citations should know.

Verify the Image

You can go online to your county's website to get a good look at the citation photo. The first step is to verify that indeed the image is of your car and the license plate number is readable. The number must be legible for a red light camera citation. Verify that the photo of the driver is clear.

Going to Court

If the images are clear, you may still be able to fight the citation if there were extenuating circumstances. If you go to court, either a police officer or someone from the company that makes the device must appear to explain how the device works and testify that it was operating properly when the photos were taken.

If no one shows up to testify, you can object to the photo's admittance into evidence, since no one authenticated the photographic evidence. With the photos excluded, there is no evidence to convict you. If the judge allows the photos into evidence anyway, you may later have a basis for an appeal if you are found guilty of the traffic offense.

Extenuating Circumstances

Traffic lawyers in Atlanta, Ga. remind drivers that state law requires signs to be posted warning of photo enforcement. If the signs were missing or obscured, and you can verify that, you may be able to beat the ticket.

If you ran the light to avoid a serious accident or for some other emergency, explain the situation. The judge may find that your reasons are adequate to find you not guilty.

The good news for Georgia drivers is that penalties for running a photo- enforced red light are much lower than tickets from an officer. The maximum fine is $70.00. No points are added to your license, it is not considered a moving violation and will not be used to raise your insurance rates. The penalties for a traditional red light citation are considerably higher: $1,000 and three points on your license.

Atlantic traffic lawyer Sam McRae, of Sam McRae Law, says that it is never wise to go into any court, even traffic court, without legal counsel.

"We have better than a 90 percent record of getting Atlanta traffic tickets[/url] reduced or dismissed," McRae said.

For more information on Sam McRae's law firm or to schedule a consultation, visit http://www.sammcraelaw.com.

About Sam McRae Law:

Sam McRae Law specializes in criminal defense and traffic ticket violations. With years of experience, Sam McRae has developed the expertise and relationships to resolve clients' traffic cases in an efficient and positive manner.

For more information, please visit http://www.sammcraelaw.com.

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