How to Avoid the Insurance Impact of a Red Light Camera Ticket
If you have ever received a red light camera ticket in the mail, you might have wondered how it affects your car insurance rates.
After all, running a red light is a serious traffic violation that could endanger yourself and others on the road.
However, the answer to this question is not so simple.
Depending on your state and your insurance company, a red light camera ticket may or may not impact your insurance rates.
In this blog post, we will explain how red light cameras work, how they differ from regular red light tickets, and how you can avoid the insurance impact of a red light camera ticket.
Photo Courtesy: rd.com
What are Red Light Cameras and How Do They Work?
Red light cameras are devices that automatically monitor intersections for drivers who run red lights.
They are installed by local authorities to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities caused by red light running.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, red light cameras reduced fatal red light running crashes by 21% and the rate of all types of fatal crashes at signalized intersections by 14% in large US cities.
Red light cameras work by detecting when a vehicle enters the intersection after the light has turned red.
They then take a photo or a video of the vehicle’s license plate and sometimes the driver’s face.
The evidence is then reviewed by a police officer or a contractor who decides whether to issue a citation or not.
If a citation is issued, it is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle within a few weeks.
How Does a Red Light Camera Ticket Affect Your Insurance Rates?
The impact of a red light camera ticket on your insurance rates depends on your state and your insurance company. In most states, red light camera tickets do not affect your insurance rates at all.
This is because they do not go on your driving record and they do not involve any points. Insurance companies use your driving record and your points to determine your risk level and your premiums.
Therefore, if they do not have access to your red light camera tickets, they cannot use them to raise your rates.
However, some states do report red light camera tickets to your driving record and assign points to them.
These states include Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Virginia.
In these states, a red light camera ticket could affect your insurance rates the same way as a regular red light ticket. The amount of increase depends on your insurance company and your previous driving history.
Some insurance companies may ignore one or two minor violations, especially if you have a clean record. Others may raise your rates significantly for any violation, regardless of the severity.
To find out how a red light camera ticket affects your insurance rates in your state, you can contact your insurance agent or your state’s department of motor vehicles.
You can also compare quotes from different insurance companies online to see how they differ in their pricing policies.
How Does a Red Light Camera Ticket Differ from a Regular Red Light Ticket?
A red light camera ticket is different from a regular red light ticket in several ways. First, a red light camera ticket is issued to the owner of the vehicle, not the driver.
This means that if someone else was driving your car when the violation occurred, you are still responsible for paying the fine. However, some states allow you to transfer the liability to the actual driver by providing their name and address.
Second, a red light camera ticket is usually classified as a civil or administrative violation, not a criminal offense.
This means that it does not result in any points on your driving record or any criminal penalties. However, some states treat red light camera tickets as criminal offenses, which could lead to points, license suspension, or even jail time.
Third, a red light camera ticket is usually cheaper than a regular red light ticket. The average fine for a red light camera ticket in the US is $158, while the average fine for a regular red light ticket is $250.
However, the fines vary widely by state and city, ranging from $50 to $500.
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Greetings, I’m Evans Odundo, a dedicated professional holding a Master’s Degree in Software Engineering from Daystar University.
My blogging journey is fueled by a profound interest in insurance companies, and I take pride in unraveling the intricacies of their coverage.
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