Around a month ago, I received a red light ticket in the mail, you know from the automated cameras. The car pictured was similar to a car I used to own, but the license plate was one for a car I have never owned or operated.
The back of the ticket had check boxes for challenging the ticket but all the options revolved around my knowing the person who actually owned the car or was actually driving the car. No option was there for actually being not guilty and not involved.
So I wrote a letter pleading not guilty and asking for a hearing. Last week I got a letter in response, listing the OUTCOME of my hearing, in which I was found guilty! It did list the appeals process I could APPLY for, and which involved paying the fine and a deposit before applying for the appeal.
So today I called and gave the lady who answered a piece of my mind. She did indeed have my examiner (who found me guilty according to the paper work) call me back. She said that since my letter did not explicitly demand that I actually be present for the hearing, for my convenience they held it without me.
Over the phone I merely described the evidence of my innocence I would have provided had I been given an opportunity, and after 30 minutes she called me back stating the case would be dropped.
So what it comes down to is this. If you get a ticket in the mail for running a red light, unless you can point the finger at someone else, they are going to make it hard as hell to challenge the ticket. I have half a mind to drive down to her office and speak to the highest honcho I can.
