Q) Why has Hillsborough County decided to implement the Red Light Camera Enforcement Program?
A) According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, nearly 2 million crashes occur annually at intersections. Of those, red light running resulted in 800 fatalities and over 165,000 injuries in 2005 alone.
It is believed that an automated red light camera program will reduce the number of red light crashes and injuries associated with such crashes. The purpose of this violator funded program is to increase traffic safety and reduce red light violations, crashes, and injuries in Hillsborough County without impacting taxpayers.
Q) What is a red light violation?
A) Pursuant to Hillsborough County Ordinance 09-64 , the owner of a motor vehicle commits a red light violation and is liable for payment of a minimum civil penalty of $125 if the owner’s vehicle proceeds into an intersection equipped with a photographic traffic control monitoring system while the traffic control signal for that vehicle’s direction of travel emits a steady red signal. Motorists already in the intersection when the signal changes to red are not in violation.
Q) Why did I receive this Notice of Violation?
A) Based upon images captured by the automated system and reviewed by law enforcement, it has been determined that your vehicle was utilized in committing a red light violation. As the owner of the vehicle, the Notice of Violation is mailed to you. For every violation captured by the cameras, the images and video are reviewed and approved by a Law Enforcement Officer before a Notice of Violation is Issued and mailed to the vehicle’s registered owner.
Q) If I am in the intersection when the light is yellow and the light changes to red, will I receive a Notice of Violation?
A) No. The automated camera system only becomes active once the red light is illuminated. It will not capture a vehicle if it enters the intersection prior to the light changing to red. If you entered the intersection on yellow, it is legal to clear the intersection if the light turned red.
Q) What if I am not the driver/owner of the vehicle at the time of the violation?
A) It is presumed that the registered owner of the vehicle for which a Notice of Violation is issued is the person who committed the red light violation. However, if your vehicle was stolen or was otherwise not in your care, custody, or control at the time of the violation, you may submit an Affidavit of Non-Responsibility to the vendor within 21 days of the notice. The Affidavit form must be filled out accurately, in its entirety, and must be submitted prior to the Notice due date before any additional action can be taken.
You may print the Affidavit of Non-Responsibility starting December 29, 2009.
The Affidavit must set forth the circumstances demonstrating that the vehicle was not in your care, custody, or control or that the vehicle was in the care, custody, or control of another person without your consent. The Affidavit of Non-Responsibility must be executed in the presence of a notary.
Q) What happens if I ignore the Notice of Violation?
A) Failure to pay the civil penalty or to contest liability prior to the 21st day after the Notice was issued is an admission of liability, and failure to appear at a Code Enforcement Hearing after having requested such a hearing is an admission of liability and constitutes a waiver of the right to appeal. If the civil penalty is unpaid, collection proceedings and entry of a judgment against you may occur.
Q) Will I receive any points on my driving record for this violation?
A) No. This is an ordinance violation that is not reported to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles.
Q) Will my insurance rates be affected?
A) No. This is an ordinance violation and is not reported to insurance agencies.
Q) Will the red light cameras take a picture of the driver of a vehicle?
A) No. A violation of Hillsborough County Ordinance 09-64 is an ordinance violation and is assessed against the owner of the vehicle; it is not a criminal violation. Similar to a parking ticket, there is no need to identify the driver and therefore, no need to capture an image of the driver.
Q) Is this solely a revenue generating program?
A) No. This is a safety program. Automated safety systems have been shown to reduce red light violations and intersection crashes. Numerous studies throughout the U.S. and worldwide, as well as results from other cities, indicate significant decreases in red light violations and collisions after cameras were installed. Oftentimes, a spill-over effect results from automated enforcement; other intersections not monitored by automated enforcement also show a decrease in violations and accidents because of the presence of automated enforcement in other areas of the community.
Q) What if I was issued a citation from an officer for the same offense?
A) The citation issued by a Law Enforcement Officer takes precedence over the Notice of Violation. If you were issued a citation from an officer for the same offense, you must submit an Affidavit of Non-Responsibility stating such to the vendor within 21 days from the date the Notice of Violation was issued. The Affidavit must also be accompanied by a copy of the citation.
Q) How much time do I have to pay my Notice of Violation?
A) You must pay the civil penalty on or before the due date on your Notice of Violation. The due date for payment is located both on the top and bottom right of your Notice of Violation.
Q) How do I pay my fine?
A) ONLINE PAYMENT: The fastest and easiest way to pay your Notice of Violation is online. Go to www.violationinfo.com (starting December 29, 2009) and log on with your Notice # and Pin # as shown in the red box on the front of the Notice. Click the Pay button.
PAYMENT BY PHONE: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time, call toll free at 1-866-790-4111.
PAYMENT BY MAIL: Mail your check or money order (payable to Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners) in the envelope enclosed with your Notice of Violation along with the coupon printed at the bottom of the reverse side of the Notice. DO NOT MAIL CASH. Be sure to put the Notice # on the face of your payment. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service toll free at 1-866-790-4111.
Q) What is the refund policy?
A) A refund check may be issued only in the case of a duplicate and/or overpayment of a Notice of Violation.
If you are entitled to a refund, please submit your request on the Red Light Refund Form starting December 29, 2009. Send the completed form to the address specified at the top of the form.
Q) I have received multiple Notices of Violation; do I have to send in a separate payment for each?
A) No. You may send one check in one envelope, but you must include coupons for each Notice of Violation you received. For example, if you received three Notices of Violation, you may send in one check and three coupons, but you must write each Notice number on your single check.
Q) What if my check is returned?
A) You will be responsible for a returned check fee of $30 for handling the returned check. This is in addition to any late fees and the original fine amount. You will receive a letter from Hillsborough County detailing the new amount due.
Q) If I am found liable, do I have to pay my fine the day of the hearing?
A) No. However, you must pay the full fine amount along with the costs associated with the hearing within 10 days following the hearing.
Q) What happens if I do not pay the Notice of Violation?
A) The County will begin collection of the civil penalty through a collection agency.
Q) I do not believe I ran a red light. Where can I go to view my images and video?
A) You can view your images and video on any computer with an internet connection by logging on to www.violationinfo.com (starting December 29, 2009). To access your images and video, you must enter the Notice # and the Pin # located at the top right of your Notice of Violation.
Q) I do not believe I ran a red light and want to discuss my case with someone.
A) You must request a hearing on or before the due date listed on the top and bottom right of your Notice in order to obtain a review of your Notice of Violation before a Code Enforcement Special Magistrate as detailed in Hillsborough County Ordinance 09-64. To request a hearing, sign and mail in the coupon located on the back of the Notice of Violation. You will be notified of the date, time and location of the hearing.
Q) What is a Code Enforcement Hearing?
A) A Code Enforcement Hearing is an opportunity to appear in front of a Special Magistrate and explain the circumstances surrounding your Notice of Violation. As detailed in Hillsborough County Ordinance 09-64, you must schedule a hearing to contest the imposition of the civil penalty.
Q) How is a hearing scheduled?
A) You must request a hearing in writing. Sign the coupon located at the bottom on the back of your Notice of Violation and mail it to the address shown. The signed coupon must be mailed on or before the due date of your Notice of Violation. You will be notified by mail of the scheduled date, time and location of your hearing.
Q) Can I make a hearing request over the phone?
A) No. All requests must be in writing.
Q) Can someone other than me attend the hearing?
A) Only you and/or your legal counsel may appear at a hearing.
Q) Are their any costs associated with requesting a Code Enforcement Hearing?
A) A person who is found liable after a hearing, or who requests a hearing and thereafter fails to appear at the time and place of the hearing, may be liable for administrative hearing costs in addition to the amount of the civil penalty assessed for the violation. A person who is found liable for a civil penalty after a hearing will also be responsible for costs associated with the filing of a special magistrate's order in the public record.
Q) How do I know that these violations are valid?
A) Images of your vehicle were captured and recorded by a Traffic Light Safety System and reviewed by law enforcement. You can review your images and video of the actual occurrence online. The images and video were reviewed by several qualified technicians and finally by a Law Enforcement Officer before the civil infraction is affirmed and mailed to you as the registered owner of the vehicle. You have the option of contesting the Notice of Violation by requesting, in writing, a Code Enforcement Hearing.
Q) What if the camera was not working or was otherwise defective?
A) On the front of the Notice of Violation, under the close-up photograph of your license plate, the Notice states in the first sentence that the Traffic Light Safety System was operating correctly at the time of the violation.
Q) What company provides the red light camera program in Hillsborough County?
A) American Traffic Solutions, Inc. provides the red light camera enforcement program. ATS installs and maintains all equipment related to this program and processes all violations captured by such equipment.
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