WSWD? Red light ticket in Cocoa Beach

[MrsMinease]

DH and I got a nasty surprise in the mail the other day. We received an invoice from Hertz indicating that the vehicle we rented was caught by red-light camera in Cocoa Beach. DH and I are both very responsible drivers (neither of us have any infractions on our licences, and we're in our 30s and 40s) and we're very careful when we're driving in areas we aren't familiar with. The timing of the infraction matches roughly with when we were in Cocoa Beach shortly before heading to the cruise terminal. We have been wracking our minds trying to figure out where we might have run an amber (we KNOW for certain we did not run a red) and so far can't figure it out. We only drive as far as Ron Jons before turning around and heading to the ship. We absolutely want to take responsibility for this, but would also like proof of the infraction.

Has something like this happened to anyone else in that area? The only notification we've received is the letter from Hertz charging a $30 admin fees for the infraction, but nothing about the ticket itself. Should we follow up with Hertz and request proof? Should we contact the local police department?

 

[bullsmom7]

Definitely follow up with Hertz. When the tickets are issued a photo of the license plate and the driver is included. They should send you a copy of this so that you know it was you. Good Luck!

 

[dsnydaddy]

Read up on the subjet there are a few websites with some help on these things. You'll want to know particularly what the Laws in FL say about them. Here's a site that gives some guidance but it does deal more with California Laws than FL.

http://www.highwayrobbery.net/

 

[zmom]

These are becoming increasingly popular here in Florida. What a lot of cities like to do is ticket you for a right turn on red without coming to a full and complete stop behind the white line, what my husband likes to call a California rolling right turn-- we got one of these in the mail and he wasn't too happy!

 

[erionm]

Definitely follow up with Hertz. When the tickets are issued a photo of the license plate and the driver is included. They should send you a copy of this so that you know it was you. Good Luck!

I agree.

 

[snelsonbrown]

DH and I got a nasty surprise in the mail the other day. We received an invoice from Hertz indicating that the vehicle we rented was caught by red-light camera in Cocoa Beach. DH and I are both very responsible drivers (neither of us have any infractions on our licences, and we're in our 30s and 40s) and we're very careful when we're driving in areas we aren't familiar with. The timing of the infraction matches roughly with when we were in Cocoa Beach shortly before heading to the cruise terminal. We have been wracking our minds trying to figure out where we might have run an amber (we KNOW for certain we did not run a red) and so far can't figure it out. We only drive as far as Ron Jons before turning around and heading to the ship. We absolutely want to take responsibility for this, but would also like proof of the infraction.

Has something like this happened to anyone else in that area? The only notification we've received is the letter from Hertz charging a $30 admin fees for the infraction, but nothing about the ticket itself. Should we follow up with Hertz and request proof? Should we contact the local police department?

YEP THIS IS WHAT I TRIED TO WARN EVERYONE ABOUT - Norm was driving and his thoughts were in his next delivery and ran the red light accidently right in front of Best Western and the next thing 2 weeks later, we were sent a ticket invoice in the amount of $158.00 - there are now 3 places here with cameras (so far none in Cape Canaveral - all in Cocoa Beach)
First one is by the Hilton (further South), second one is located on Highway 520 AKA Cocoa Beach Causeway and A1A (this is catching folks by the 100's) and then the third is in front of Best Western on Sheppard and A1A (aka Atlantic Avenue-Cocoa Beach) which is also catching a lot of folks.
The "invoice" has 3 pictures - picture of vehicle going through the red light, front of vehicle and then the back with the license tag - dated and timed
so yep it can happened. I can assure you, we now make sure that none of us are daydreaming which we shouldn't be anyhow.
So sorry - sure do know the feeling
Ask Hertz to forward you all the pictures

 

[MrsMinease]

Thanks everyone. I have now been able to get my hands on the photos, and there's no question that it was our car, and it is a case of not coming to a full and complete stop before turning right. It was exactly where we decided to turn around and head back towards the ship. We feel horrible, and Hertz also mentioned they're seeing a marked increase in these kinds of tickets for the Cocoa Beach area. They've advised that we should be receiving the actual fine within about 4 weeks, and that will include all of the details for payment.

I hope our experience can serve as a lesson to others driving in Cocoa Beach!

 

[MrsMinease]

Thanks for the sympathy as well, Shirley!

 

[spaddy]

I guess I am a little confused by this. How can a still photo prove you didn't completely stop before turning right on red?

 

[SullyMonster]

Sorry about your ticket, but I have to ask, what is WSWD? I've been racking my brain and even googled it and still have no idea........

 

[SnackyStacky]

These are becoming increasingly popular here in Florida. What a lot of cities like to do is ticket you for a right turn on red without coming to a full and complete stop behind the white line, what my husband likes to call a California rolling right turn-- we got one of these in the mail and he wasn't too happy!

I guess I am a little confused by this. How can a still photo prove you didn't completely stop before turning right on red?

My guess is that the still photo is proving what's been boldfaced above.

That's absolutely ridiculous and simply a way to generate a revenue stream.

 

[MrsMinease]

Sully... WSWD = What Should We Do

Spaddy... I was wondering the same thing... until I was able to get far enough into the infraction system to see video of us making the turn! They have both stills and motion video evidence you can view online. We can see the brake lights come on, and we slowed adequately enough that the turn did not put anyone in danger, but it was not a full stop by any means.

We're counting this as a major lesson learned.

 

[SullyMonster]

Sully... WSWD = What Should We Do

Thanks! Lesson learned here as well!

 

[snelsonbrown]

Thanks for the sympathy as well, Shirley!

Thanks everyone. I have now been able to get my hands on the photos, and there's no question that it was our car, and it is a case of not coming to a full and complete stop before turning right. It was exactly where we decided to turn around and head back towards the ship. We feel horrible, and Hertz also mentioned they're seeing a marked increase in these kinds of tickets for the Cocoa Beach area. They've advised that we should be receiving the actual fine within about 4 weeks, and that will include all of the details for payment.

I hope our experience can serve as a lesson to others driving in Cocoa Beach!

I am very sorry and believe me $158.00 is quite a bit of $$$$$$$$$ - just wondering if the City will take that monies and start really making the beach areas super pretty and nice - the pictures do prove all that they accuse the driver of doing - it does not go against the driver's licenses which is good.

 

[Capt_BJ]

For what it is worth the red light cameras are under attack here in Florida as well. each day the paper has articles and letters to the editor - which happen to be split as not everyone is against the systems.

In today's Florida Today it was reported that a judge in Ft Lauderdale has ruled that police officers can not ticket a car for running a red light .... BECAUSE the ticket from an officer was $260, while the automatic camera generated ticket is $158 therefore the officer written ticket was unconstitutional.

That 520 / A1A intersection is the location of MANY MANY accidents and I for one am not against anything that helps cut this down. I've come darn close to getting nailed there several times.

p.s. intersections with this system have big signs announcing that the system is there . . .

 

[clten]

I'm sorry about your ticket. But I appreciate you posting it here. We too are usually cautious drivers, especially in places we don't travel regularly but could see us having the same problem as you. Hopefully, we've learned a lesson from your misfortune and will save us a ticket (and the admin fee from the rental car company!)

 

[snelsonbrown]

For what it is worth the red light cameras are under attack here in Florida as well. each day the paper has articles and letters to the editor - which happen to be split as not everyone is against the systems.

In today's Florida Today it was reported that a judge in Ft Lauderdale has ruled that police officers can not ticket a car for running a red light .... BECAUSE the ticket from an officer was $260, while the automatic camera generated ticket is $158 therefore the officer written ticket was unconstitutional.

That 520 / A1A intersection is the location of MANY MANY accidents and I for one am not against anything that helps cut this down. I've come darn close to getting nailed there several times.

p.s. intersections with this system have big signs announcing that the system is there . . .

Hey there Capt - I am I total agreement with you and also the camera may capture many other incidents that I hope will keep crime down even more- I am sure in having the cameras, many lives may be saved including mine

 

[newbydisney]

I am very sorry and believe me $158.00 is quite a bit of $$$$$$$$$ - just wondering if the City will take that monies and start really making the beach areas super pretty and nice - the pictures do prove all that they accuse the driver of doing - it does not go against the driver's licenses which is good.

Here in our city sadly most of the funds go to the camera company...very little is actually retained by the city.

 

[Cobbo]

So, what many folks may not know is that red light cameras in Florida have faced many challenges across the state and some judges have found them to be unenforceable and/or unconstitutional. There are law practices now that are successfully challenging these tickets and routinely having them dismissed.

Here is a recent article about the ongoing legal challenges - I'd read it before you just pay the ticket and see if you want to contact an attorney to discuss your options. For what it's worth, I'm a disney junkie, but I play an attorney in real life (but I do not handle any traffic issues & I have no affiliation with any of the law firms discussed in this article).

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article1170775.ece

Hope this helps!

 

[PoohJen]

I am so sorry for your ticket, so frustrating. But through these sleepy-dust filled eyes, I thought your topic sentence was "WSWD: Red Light District in Cocoa Beach". HUH???!!! I wasn't sure exactly what advice you would be looking for!