Red light ticket while visiting
Feb 20, 2018 | 11:47 am
#1
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Red light ticket while visiting
Hi folks,
i am visiting california and using a car sharing service (not a traditional rental), where you essentially borrow someone’s car for an hourly fee. Driving around SF, I was unfamiliar and got flashed by a red light camera at night. Was a tiny fraction of a second late I think, but fairly certain it got me. I am totally gutted as I’m generally a very careful driver!
Assuming the the owner passes the ticket to my UK address, what is likely to happen? I’m happy to pay any fines which are due to me, I just don’t want any issues travelling in the future.
does anyone have any experience with how tickets are dealt internationally? I know which traditional rental companies they would just claw this money back and the issue would be settled, but this seems more complicated.
Many thanks
i am visiting california and using a car sharing service (not a traditional rental), where you essentially borrow someone’s car for an hourly fee. Driving around SF, I was unfamiliar and got flashed by a red light camera at night. Was a tiny fraction of a second late I think, but fairly certain it got me. I am totally gutted as I’m generally a very careful driver!
Assuming the the owner passes the ticket to my UK address, what is likely to happen? I’m happy to pay any fines which are due to me, I just don’t want any issues travelling in the future.
does anyone have any experience with how tickets are dealt internationally? I know which traditional rental companies they would just claw this money back and the issue would be settled, but this seems more complicated.
Many thanks
Feb 20, 2018 | 11:57 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHX
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Let the car's owner know what happened if you haven't yet. They will get the citation in the mail, and there is a process for them to follow when someone else is driving (link below). But right now just get in touch with the owner.
As to whether the city will bother going after a UK driver for a photo ticket, I have no idea. If they do, then take care of it one way or another like you normally would (if you believe you are guilty then just pay it).
Red Light Camera Citation | Superior Court of California - County of San Francisco
edit: Also if you do get it in the mail and want to just pay it, I would pay online and not the pay by mail route, just in case the mail gets delayed past the due by date. The SF traffic authorities have a reputation for being a bit draconian and not having a sense of humor.
As to whether the city will bother going after a UK driver for a photo ticket, I have no idea. If they do, then take care of it one way or another like you normally would (if you believe you are guilty then just pay it).
Red Light Camera Citation | Superior Court of California - County of San Francisco
edit: Also if you do get it in the mail and want to just pay it, I would pay online and not the pay by mail route, just in case the mail gets delayed past the due by date. The SF traffic authorities have a reputation for being a bit draconian and not having a sense of humor.
Last edited by Lost; Feb 20, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Mar 10, 2018 | 4:18 pm
#5
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Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
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Admittedly, I am not familiar with the intersections north of SFO, but I doubt if most (any?) of them are inside San Fran city limits.
Mar 10, 2018 | 7:18 pm
#6
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The easiest thing to do is to check online. Those tend to post fairly quickly and you can simply pay it and leave the car's owner out of the middle.
California municipal non-criminal violations are not linked to any master database used by CBP, so the failure to pay won't affect your ability to enter the US. But, if you do nothing, the ticket will go to the vehicle owner who will complete an affidavit including your information. That may affect you if you are back in California driving and are ever stopped again.
Don't be "gutted" this is a minor infraction and it does not create a criminal record because it is not any form of a crime.
California municipal non-criminal violations are not linked to any master database used by CBP, so the failure to pay won't affect your ability to enter the US. But, if you do nothing, the ticket will go to the vehicle owner who will complete an affidavit including your information. That may affect you if you are back in California driving and are ever stopped again.
Don't be "gutted" this is a minor infraction and it does not create a criminal record because it is not any form of a crime.
Mar 11, 2018 | 5:01 am
#7
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I doubt it. As far as I know, the only red light cameras in the vicinity of SFO are in Millbrae, either at the southbound exit from 101 to Millbrae avenue or the next intersection west, which is to the BART station access road. Those two generate a TON of light flashes, not all of which become tickets.
Admittedly, I am not familiar with the intersections north of SFO, but I doubt if most (any?) of them are inside San Fran city limits.
Admittedly, I am not familiar with the intersections north of SFO, but I doubt if most (any?) of them are inside San Fran city limits.
26 INTERSECTIONS WITH AUTOMATED PHOTO ENFORCEMENT CAMERAS
- Bryant Streeet & 6th Street
- Bush Street & Van Ness Avenue
- Ellis Street & Larkin Street
- Fell Street & Masonic Avenue
- Folsom Street & 1st Street
- Franklin Street & Geary Street
- Harrison Street & 3rd Street
- Harrison Street & 5th Street
- Harrison Street & 8th Street
- Howard Street & 4th Street
- Howard Street & 5th Street
- Howard Street & 9th Street
- Marina Boulevard & Lyon Street
- Market Street & Octavia Boulevard
- Mission Street & 5th Street
- Mission Street & 7th Street
- Mission Street &15th Street
- Oak Street & Octavia Boulevard
- Park Presidio Boulevard & Fulton Street
- Park Presidio Boulevard & Geary Boulevard
- Park Presidio & Lake Street
- Pine Street & Polk Street
- Polk Street & Hayes Street
- Richardson Avenue & Francisco Street
- Sloat Boulevard & Nineteenth Avenue
- South Van Ness Avenue & Fourteenth Street
Mar 11, 2018 | 3:40 pm
#8
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I doubt it. As far as I know, the only red light cameras in the vicinity of SFO are in Millbrae, either at the southbound exit from 101 to Millbrae avenue or the next intersection west, which is to the BART station access road. Those two generate a TON of light flashes, not all of which become tickets.
Here's a video I took 10 years ago of that intersection - if you look you'll see multiple occasions where the cameras flash despite no movement at the intersections, with the most obvious being around the 10-11 second mark. There is one stage where it does flash legitimately, when an ambulance goes through the red - www.flickr.com/photos/docbert/2399560257
Last edited by docbert; Mar 11, 2018 at 3:42 pm Reason: Trying to fix Flyertalk/Flickr linking brokenness...
Mar 12, 2018 | 10:36 am
#9
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The easiest thing to do is to check online. Those tend to post fairly quickly and you can simply pay it and leave the car's owner out of the middle.
California municipal non-criminal violations are not linked to any master database used by CBP, so the failure to pay won't affect your ability to enter the US. But, if you do nothing, the ticket will go to the vehicle owner who will complete an affidavit including your information. That may affect you if you are back in California driving and are ever stopped again.
Don't be "gutted" this is a minor infraction and it does not create a criminal record because it is not any form of a crime.
California municipal non-criminal violations are not linked to any master database used by CBP, so the failure to pay won't affect your ability to enter the US. But, if you do nothing, the ticket will go to the vehicle owner who will complete an affidavit including your information. That may affect you if you are back in California driving and are ever stopped again.
Don't be "gutted" this is a minor infraction and it does not create a criminal record because it is not any form of a crime.
Mar 12, 2018 | 5:39 pm
#10
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Don't know if this is relevant, but I received a ticket in the mail some years ago because a friend was either speeding or ran a red light while borrowing one of my cars. The ticket had a picture of her behind the wheel and there was a place to check off that I was not the driver, and all I had to do was send a picture of myself in as well. No charge...never heard from the Colorado folks again on it..
Same in CA?
Same in CA?
Mar 12, 2018 | 6:23 pm
#11
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Don't know if this is relevant, but I received a ticket in the mail some years ago because a friend was either speeding or ran a red light while borrowing one of my cars. The ticket had a picture of her behind the wheel and there was a place to check off that I was not the driver, and all I had to do was send a picture of myself in as well. No charge...never heard from the Colorado folks again on it..
Same in CA?
Same in CA?
The driver isn't trying to beat the ticket, just trying to figure out how to pay with as little hassle to the owner.
That should be simple here because it can all be done online.
Mar 13, 2018 | 1:35 pm
#12
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The cameras at the intersection of Millbrae Ave/Rollins Road (ie, the entrance to the BART station) have been broken for at least 10 years, and just seems to randomly flash out of boredom every few seconds.
Here's a video I took 10 years ago of that intersection - if you look you'll see multiple occasions where the cameras flash despite no movement at the intersections, with the most obvious being around the 10-11 second mark. There is one stage where it does flash legitimately, when an ambulance goes through the red - www.flickr.com/photos/docbert/2399560257
Here's a video I took 10 years ago of that intersection - if you look you'll see multiple occasions where the cameras flash despite no movement at the intersections, with the most obvious being around the 10-11 second mark. There is one stage where it does flash legitimately, when an ambulance goes through the red - www.flickr.com/photos/docbert/2399560257
Mar 13, 2018 | 1:37 pm
#13
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Mar 13, 2018 | 5:11 pm
#14
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