Red light camera question
 

I was on a work trip to SFO last week in an Avis rental and was on my way to the airport and stopped by Milbrae ave to fill up my gas before returning. Unfortunately there is an intersection there that has red light cameras all over the place (which I had no idea). I am 100% certain I did not run any red lights, although I went through that intersection thrice due to a mix up with Google maps directions... once from main road, left turn to Rollins ave on a left green arrow - then made a U-turn on Rollins and returned back straight through to the other side on a solid green, this was a dead end so made another U-Turn on the other side and waited in the turn lane for a green arrow to make a left onto the main road again.

Here is the thing... somewhere along my path I did notice a couple of flashes and thinking oops, what was that, however as I recall these flashes were from my rear view mirror so as far as I can recall I was away from the intersection when that happened but now I am running my brain here wondering if somehow my plates were captured, although I don't think so.

Questions -
- how long before I know for certain that it wasn't me that was captured? i.e. it has to go to Avis first and then I get notified
- If I DO get a citation (which I would really be surprised) what evidence do they need to provide? I am assuming they need to send me a picture of my car IN the intersection against a red light, otherwise just a picture of me in a car does not mean anything really.
- I am a resident of TEXAS and was in CA for work, red light cameras are banned in TX and don't affect the driving record. I know I am jumping the gun here but any ideas if I am somehow found guilty if it could affect my TX driving record? I researched this a bit and TX law says that the out of state violation affect the TX record only IF the out of state violation when committed in TX would be prosecutable here. In this case that would be a negative since TX law states that any violation committed based on evidence of photographic equipment is invalid.

Also, if I had entered the intersection on a red I would've most definitely noticed the flash right? It was 5am in the morning and dark. The flashes I saw were well after the fact as I recall and because it was dark I believe it was a reflection from my mirrors.

Here is the intersection in question: (Milbrae ave at Rollins in the city of Milbrae)

I've been flashed on these over the years many times when I am positive I did not run a red light, and have yet to see a ticket...

If you get cited they will send a photo of you/your vehicle to you to prove it was you (I've heard some people get a photo that is not them and not their vehicle and then they dispute it). Basically the citation is attached to the license plate and is the responsibility of whoever owns the vehicle. In the case of Avis if the ticket comes through as a red light run during your rental period they will contact you about it and probably send it to you with an admin fee for themselves added on.

Since the ticket does not attach to a specific driver I'm not sure your insurance will ever find out about it but I could be wrong there.

Be sure to check whatever address you have on file with Avis for possible communication (if you have a work profile or something- and a work address- check your Avis profile online).

yeah, thanks! I will update on how Avis handled the process IF I get any communication.

Don't worry about TX driving record. Any citation would be attached to the car and rental and not you since they can't prove who was driving at the time... and as you said the violation is not allowed per TX motor laws.

I wouldn't even worry about the CA intersection... as you said you saw a flash well after you were already out of the intersection. Those red light cameras take a picture of a vehicle as it is going through the intersection. Otherwise it doesn't mean crap if you're outside the intersection.