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Old 10-24-2008, 12:24 PM
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Default Contesting a Photo Radar Ticket

Has anyone tried to fight a photo radar ticket in traffic court? A few weeks ago I was driving home on Memorial Drive here in Calgary and just as a car was passing me, the tell tale flash of the photo radar van went off. I'm sure that I wasn't speeding, and surely not doing the 63 km/ hour (this is a 50 km zone) that the ticket indicates. The camera only flashed once.

I called the traffic enforcement office and asked if they would be able to provide the picture a few seconds before or after they took the picture that they took of my truck. The officer informed me that the privacy laws in Alberta wouldn't allow for that, which is understandable. She also informed me that any photo that has two vehicles in it is automatically tossed out. My truck is the only vehicle in the picture sent to me.

I'm sure that I was not speeding, and I also am sure that I would have seen a second flash of the camera if the car that was passing me had also got tagged.

I'm tempted to go to my court date and fight this, but I have no evidence to fight the photo that the police have of my truck. Think I should fight this, or just suck up and pay the $85? I've always viewed photo radar as a cash cow rather than traffic enforcement / safety, and it ticks me off that I seem to have received a ticket for someone else's speeding. I have no idea of how the cameras work, so I don't know how they are "aimed" and how the photo is taken. Is it possible that I am getting screwed here? And is it worth fighting? I don't want to waist a day in court if I don't stand a chance.
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Old 10-24-2008, 12:44 PM
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If you're polite, clearly present your case, at a minimum you'll get it reduced.

That being said, what's your hourly cost? Is it worth time loss for you?
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Old 10-24-2008, 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Albertadiver View Post
If you're polite, clearly present your case, at a minimum you'll get it reduced.

That being said, what's your hourly cost? Is it worth time loss for you?

Thanks for the reply. I'm self employed, so if I'm not working, I'm not making money. It's not really a consideration for me I guess as the work that I could be doing while in court can be done at another time. It's more of the principle I guess, but I don't want to waste my time or the court's time if I don't have a case to plead.
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Old 10-24-2008, 01:02 PM
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From an insurance stand point, photo radar does NOT count against you, so you won't be double dinged there.
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Old 10-24-2008, 01:05 PM
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BTW I drive that same route everyday after work. I never speed on memorial and haven't had a problem yet.
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Old 10-24-2008, 01:15 PM
camshaft camshaft is offline
 
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Default ticket

If your truck is the only vehicle in the picture....sorry to say, but you were speeding. You can plead "not guilty' and take your chances in court, but the multinova operator will be there with the same photos you were sent and testify that at the exact moment the picture was taken, you were the lead vehicle, and thus the vehicle in the frame when the picture was taken.

Odds are you will likely not be aquited. That being said, I encourage all those who feel they are innocent to go to court and have their say.

Good luck
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Old 10-11-2011, 07:43 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hunterbyheart View Post
From an insurance stand point, photo radar does NOT count against you, so you won't be double dinged there.
I wondered about that. If you don't self declare your vehicle had a ticket...can they void your insurance if you needed it?

I thought the insurance agent asks...have you had any speeding tickets. Do you say yes...or no? Interesting. Any agents on AOF?
  #8  
Old 10-24-2008, 04:10 PM
BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Albertadiver View Post
If you're polite, clearly present your case, at a minimum you'll get it reduced.

That being said, what's your hourly cost? Is it worth time loss for you?
Well Ill kindly reply to this .... If he feels he is not in the wrong , its worth the loss in pay , why let them win , Since ft saskatchewan has gotten that stupid radar camera thingy . Anyway If I were him and that can garuntee that doesnt speed , might be something in doing . But then agian theres a right way and a wrong way of going about things .
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Old 10-24-2008, 05:53 PM
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I love fighting tickets. Granted it's time away from work, but it can be entertaining, even if you don't win all the time. If you go to court, they'll have to provide the person, who issued you the ticket and you can ask him all kinds of embarrasing questions. You don't have to prove your innocence, just raise "reasonable doubt" and that can be really easy sometimes. And don't make the mistake of admitting there's a possibility you were speeding.
I'm going to court in Feb. to fight two tickets issued to me by one of our new Sherriffs. The tickets were issued in July and I had them set two different trial dates. Worst can happen is that I still have to pay the tickets, nothing major, but I've had 6 month's grace and the buggar that wrote me the tickets, will have to spend two days in court. As it is, I feell I have a good chance of beating both.
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Old 10-24-2008, 06:02 PM
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a few years ago my buddy had one thrown out because the operator didn't have his photo radar sign out for warning people. don't know if there still have to put them out or not
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  #11  
Old 02-11-2009, 08:22 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams View Post
...but I've had 6 month's grace and the buggar that wrote me the tickets, will have to spend two days in court. As it is, I feell I have a good chance of beating both.
Grizz
to bad they get paid for it and we dont even if we win. that should be the next step suing the crown for lost time!
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Old 02-11-2009, 08:25 AM
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Kind of off topic, but didnt Edmonton pass a idling ban? why is it that the photo radar van is sitting on the side of the road running? or are they above the law?
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Old 09-19-2012, 07:16 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams View Post
I love fighting tickets. Granted it's time away from work, but it can be entertaining, even if you don't win all the time. If you go to court, they'll have to provide the person, who issued you the ticket and you can ask him all kinds of embarrasing questions. You don't have to prove your innocence, just raise "reasonable doubt" and that can be really easy sometimes. And don't make the mistake of admitting there's a possibility you were speeding.
I'm going to court in Feb. to fight two tickets issued to me by one of our new Sherriffs. The tickets were issued in July and I had them set two different trial dates. Worst can happen is that I still have to pay the tickets, nothing major, but I've had 6 month's grace and the buggar that wrote me the tickets, will have to spend two days in court. As it is, I feell I have a good chance of beating both.
Grizz
Good idea! At least not let them get the money so easily. At least hear some noise when the money is thrown out to them... Wondering how your court experience turned out.
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Old 09-19-2012, 07:35 AM
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My favorite story was the guy who had a speeding ticket mailed to him with a clear picture of the plate and the appropriate fine for the offense. He took the exact amt. of cash to a photocopier and mailed the picture to the address.A couple weeks later he received a letter back enclosed was a photocopy of a set of handcuffs! I thought that was a hoot.Harold
  #15  
Old 10-24-2008, 02:14 PM
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Quote:
My truck is the only vehicle in the picture sent to me.

I'm sure that I was not speeding,
Just pay the ticket it will be much cheaper in the long run.
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Old 10-24-2008, 06:09 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott N View Post
She also informed me that any photo that has two vehicles in it is automatically tossed out. My truck is the only vehicle in the picture sent to me.
Lies....I got 2 this past summer and one picture had 2 vehicles...one in each lane.
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Old 10-25-2008, 12:59 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by james_m View Post
Lies....I got 2 this past summer and one picture had 2 vehicles...one in each lane.
It depends on the type of radar used. If it is photo radar, conventional radar is used, and is less accurate and is usually thrown out if there is another vehicle in the picture. Laser radar is becoming more common as it is more accurate. The speed is measured by an operator pointing a laser gun at your vehicle and the laser beam measures your speed rather than radar. If it is laser the only aguement is usually vehicle identification. If it is radar there could many arguements besides a vehicle. The two best ones I've heard were a train and a bird in the picture. If you show up in court make sure you ask the crown ahead of time for full disclosure. They'll provide you with all the evidence they can use against you. I've been to court 5 times, 3 were thrown out, 2 were reduced to $80. Here's a helpful site, I know it's BC but most of it applies. Good luck.

http://www.sense.bc.ca/fighting.htm
  #18  
Old 10-11-2011, 07:59 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by james_m View Post
Lies....I got 2 this past summer and one picture had 2 vehicles...one in each lane.
X2 Got one on Beddington in Calgary. The other car was actually closer to the camera. Can't afford to lose $45 per hour to fight it! Bah
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Old 10-11-2011, 08:04 PM
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OH YEA, If you guys don't have a radar detector, Turn your Radio to 660 AM and every 10 mins on the 1s they tell you where they are sitting... Really help full!!!!
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Old 10-25-2008, 01:27 AM
bighorn1 bighorn1 is offline
 
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I had a rather unusal situation this past summer i recieved one and was the only one in the photo however it was in a company truck and lo and behold we are all gps monitored. to make a lng story short they had a lot of explaining to do when the gps logs were presented in court and i was 7 km under, needless to say it was tossed.
  #21  
Old 10-25-2008, 05:21 AM
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If they sent a picture of your trucking speeding, why not send them a picture of you in the act of writing a cheque?
  #22  
Old 10-25-2008, 06:12 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gitrdun View Post
If they sent a picture of your trucking speeding, why not send them a picture of you in the act of writing a cheque?

I remember when photo radar was first used in Alberta and reading about some guy who took a picture of the money to pay his fine and sent the photo in with his ticket. IIRC, he was charged with contempt of court! Too funny....
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Old 10-25-2008, 06:44 AM
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I have some experiance in this area.

I would suggest that you go down to the Calgary courthouse 2nd floor on or before the date on your ticket. You will be given the opportunity to speak with a traffic comissoner. Explain your case as you see it and that you would be willing to enter a guilty plea in return for a reasonable reduction.

The court date on your ticket is only a 1st apperance. This means that you are given the opportunity to plead guilty or not guilty and set a trial date from there. If you are planning to go to trial, fill out the back of the ticket to plead not guilty by mail. You will recieve a letter some weeks later with a trial date. Send this in and it will at least save you one day in downtown calgary.
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  #24  
Old 10-25-2008, 06:53 AM
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Scott, was the trap setup just west of 14st in front of the CBC building? If so, then you are free and clear even if you were doing 100kmph. They always park their vans their, but on the OPPOSITE side of the street. This means that they are parked illegally. Peace officers are forbidden to break the law while enforcing it. Being illegally parked constitutes breaking the law, thus your ticket is moot. Go to court, you will win if that is the case.

Tree
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Old 12-24-2008, 01:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gitrdun View Post
If they sent a picture of your trucking speeding, why not send them a picture of you in the act of writing a cheque?
and they will send you a picture of hand cuffs.

I contested two multi cash grab tickets and beat both of them. The camera operator makes more money in his van then in court. he wont show up to fight one ticket.

Puma
  #26  
Old 10-11-2011, 05:33 PM
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Default photo ticket

hi someone in calgay help me please i got 2 photo tickets a week apart and they both have the same address on them. can someone tell me where 10800 16 ave nw. when i do a google serch it shows me down 16 ave. but the problem is i was driving down stoney trail no where near that address. 2 one week apart. one for 102 klms in a 80. the other 97 in a 80. they have a picture of my bus but not at the rite address. also anyone know of a photo lawyer. thanks
  #27  
Old 10-11-2011, 07:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by peonu2 View Post
hi someone in calgay help me please i got 2 photo tickets a week apart and they both have the same address on them. can someone tell me where 10800 16 ave nw. when i do a google serch it shows me down 16 ave. but the problem is i was driving down stoney trail no where near that address. 2 one week apart. one for 102 klms in a 80. the other 97 in a 80. they have a picture of my bus but not at the rite address. also anyone know of a photo lawyer. thanks
So you were speeding and you want to try and get off on a technicality?

LC
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Old 10-12-2011, 03:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck View Post
So you were speeding and you want to try and get off on a technicality?

LC
I had a four demerit ticket that the officer couldn't provide the pre and post calibration report for his radar gun when I asked if I could view it in court. He also didn't have any notes on where he was set up. There fore I smiled, he glared and I got off on a technicality.
  #29  
Old 10-12-2011, 04:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by natural.born.fawn.killer View Post
I had a four demerit ticket that the officer couldn't provide the pre and post calibration report for his radar gun when I asked if I could view it in court. He also didn't have any notes on where he was set up. There fore I smiled, he glared and I got off on a technicality.
That's good! I have taken tickets to court too and won, not speeding tickets but some goofball signage ticket.

You were flying if your speeding ticket was 4 demerits....very lucky! I just find it funny how everyone wants to fight tickets when they are speeding....

LC
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Old 06-01-2012, 02:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by peonu2 View Post
hi someone in calgay help me please i got 2 photo tickets a week apart and they both have the same address on them. can someone tell me where 10800 16 ave nw. when i do a google serch it shows me down 16 ave. but the problem is i was driving down stoney trail no where near that address. 2 one week apart. one for 102 klms in a 80. the other 97 in a 80. they have a picture of my bus but not at the rite address. also anyone know of a photo lawyer. thanks

Hi, did you get any success for the 2 speeding tickets at 10800 16 AVE NW Calgary?

I got the samilar ticket from the same location. I got the location map from Google Map. I didn't go through that location at all.

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