Smile Boo...You're on Camera!

I almost threw the letter out because it looked like junk mail.

The return address was:

Newark Police Department
c/o Traffic Enforcement Office
P.O. Box 42034
Phoenix, AZ 85080

Why does the Newark Police Department have an Arizona P.O. Box?

Well, let me tell you. Apparently, the Newark Police Department has contracted an Arizona company, Redflex Traffic Systems, to monitor several intersections in downtown Newark with high-tech cameras. The program started in November 2009. So, if you see a letter with this address...smile boo...you're on camera! and now you have an $85 ticket for "allegedly" running a red light.

For the record...I didn't run the red light meaning (blow through the intersection at a high speed once the light turned red). I made a rolling stop...looked both ways quickly and saw that there were no cars coming and made a right turn. Also, the camera recorded my speed at 15 mph and the speed limit in Newark is 25 mph. So, the camera's details actually support my claim. No one blows through a red light at 15 mph. Mind you, it was 12:08 a.m. on this April day and I was on my way home from an afterwork event and there WAS NO TRAFFIC on the streets of Newark that night.

But I doubt the Newark Police Department or Redflex Traffic Systems care about the circumstances surrounding the incident...they each just want to get paid...hence the ticket.

So, I get the ticket in the mail almost a month later from the date of the "alleged" offense and they only give me 10 days to pay the ticket or appear in court to fight it. What type of nonsense is that? So, I have a decision to make...very soon. I probably could fight it and I probably could win on appeal but I don't know if I have a slam dunk victory. On the ticket it states "In no case shall motor vehicle points or automobile insurance eligibility points pursuant to section 26 of P.L.1990, c.8 (C. 17:33B-14) be assessed against any person for a violation occurring under the provisions of this act."

Translation: If you pay us the $$$ you won't get points on your license and your insurance company won't find out. Hmm...I don't know if that is totally true. Either way, it would only be the 2nd moving violation I've EVER received in my 14 years of driving in three states. The first moving violation was a speeding ticket from the Connecticut State Police when I was in college and I won that case on appeal. So, I'm 1-0 on fighting moving violations.

Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.

What do you think I should do?