Do You REALLY Have To Pay Traffic Camera Tickets?

Controversy swirls around the traffic cameras, and speed vans placed around the city of Lafayette. The Hub City is not alone. Many citizens simply ignore the citations while some fight them. Personalliberty.com recently published a story about a Virginia military veteran who chose to fight.

Nate Cox received a citation in the mail & decided to challenge it. Here is the text of the letter Cox sent to the DC Department of Motored Vehicles...

To Whom it May Concern,

 

I received a letter claiming I committed a violation of a speeding law in the District of Columbia on 04/21/2012. As per the instructions, I am writing to plead ‘not guilty’ to this charge. Although this option is said to result in this matter going to court; it is my suggestion that the charges simply be dropped. This suggestion comes out of respect for tax payers, and my request that their hard earned money not be wasted in such proceedings. As there is no evidence of my involvement with this alleged ‘crime’, as well as the fact that I am not granted my 6th amendment right to face my ‘accuser’ (a camera); I see no way the government could prove my guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. I also see find no legal requirement for me to implicate someone else in this process, as it is the government’s responsibility to prove a person’s guilt. It is also my 5th amendment right to remain silent on the matter.
If it is the government’s decision to move forward in this matter, I would request copies of any evidence the prosecution may have of my involvement in the “offense”; as well as, all maintenance records for the camera(s) involved.
Sincerely,
Nathan Cox
United States Army Veteran

The case was dropped.

Collecting the nearly 17,000 unpaid Redflex citations has been an issue within Lafayette City Parish government. Jefferson Parish cancelled its contract with Redflex in 2010. The company is currently under federal investigation, and recently lost its $100 million contract with the City of Chicago.