Red Light Cameras

Red Light Cameras

Frequently Asked Questions

Red Light Running Facts
How a Red Light Camera Works
What to Do if You Receive a Notice of Violation

Frequently Asked Questions about the Irving, Texas Automated Red Light Program

What is a red light running violation?

A red light running violation occurs when a motorist enters an intersection after the traffic signal has turned red. Motorists already in the intersection when the signal changes to red, when waiting to turn for example, are not considered red light violators.

Where are the red light cameras located?

Cameras have been installed at six intersections based on crash statistics compiled by the Irving Police Department. Each intersection will be clearly marked with signs.
Intersections in the City now equipped with red light camera systems are:

Belt Line Road and Pioneer	O’Connor Road and Lane
Loop 12 WFR at Irving Blvd.	SH 183 NFR and Belt Line Road
SH 161 ESR and Gateway	SH 161 EFR and SH 114 NFR

Why did I receive this Notice of Violation?

Based upon images captured by the automated system, your vehicle was determined to have committed a red light violation. As the owner of the vehicle, the Notice of Violation is mailed to you.

What if the light was yellow?

Based upon images captured by the automated system, your vehicle was determined to have committed a red light violation. As the owner of the vehicle, the Notice of Violation is mailed to you.

What if I am not the driver/owner of the vehicle at the time of the violation?

You may submit a Declaration of Non-liability if you are in the business of renting or leasing vehicles or if the vehicle was sold or reported stolen at the time of the violation. You may submit a sworn statement to that effect to the administrative adjudication hearing officer to rebut the presumption that you were driving the vehicle at the time of the violation. Using the envelope provided with the Violation, complete and mail a notarized Declaration to the City of Irving, Traffic Safety Program – Photo Enforcement, P.O. Box 152288, Irving, TX 75015-2288.

What happens if I Ignore the Notice of Violation?

Failure to pay the civil penalty or to contest liability Not later than the 30th day after the notice was issued is an admission of liability, and failure to appear at an administrative adjudication hearing after having requested a hearing is an admission of liability and constitutes a waiver of the right to appeal. Failure to pay the civil penalty within 31 days after receipt of the Notice of Violation shall result in the imposition of a late-payment fee of $25 and may result in the County Tax Assessor Collector refusing to renew the registration of the vehicle alleged to have been in violation of the city’s ordinance. If the second notice remains unpaid, collections proceedings and entry of a judgment against you may proceed.

Will I receive any points on my driving record for this violation?

The civil penalty may not be recorded on the owner’s driving record and an arrest warrant may not be issued.

Will my insurance rates be affected?

No, this is a civil infraction and is not reported to any insurance agencies.

Is this only a program to generate revenue?

This is a safety program. Automated safety systems have been shown to reduce red light violations and intersection crashes. Numerous studies throughout the United States and worldwide, as well as the experience of many other cities, indicate significant decreases in red light running violations and collisions after cameras were installed. Often times, a spill-over effect results from automated enforcement. For example, other intersections not monitored by automated enforcement also see a decrease in violations and accidents because of the presence of enforcement in other areas of the community.

What if I was issued a citation from an officer for the same offense?

The citation issued by a police officer takes precedence over the Automated Intersection Safety System Notice of Violation. You must appear in court with both notices and the Adjudicative Hearing Officer will take the appropriate actions.

Red Light Cameras Do Affect Driver Behavior in the Long Run
Public safety officials in Columbus, Ohio report a 72 percent decline in red light violations between March and August 2006. Additionally, intersections monitored by cameras previously averaged 5 to 14 crashes caused by red light running per year. Since the program was implemented only one crash has been recorded.

In Garland, Texas, crashes caused by red light runners decreased by 56 percent (from 43 crashes to 19) at the four intersections where red light cameras were installed. Overall, crashes were reduced by 25 percent and all injury crashes were reduced by 27 percent.

Source: “Report on the Effectiveness of Automated Red Light Enforcement,” City of Garland Transportation Department, Sept. 2006

From 1994-2005, red light running violations decreased 73 percent in New York City.

Accidents are down 11 percent in the intersections with red light cameras in Arnold, Missouri according to Police Chief Robert Shockey. At the Rockport intersection located in front of a school, accidents are down 50 percent.

During the first year of operation of the red light camera enforcement safety program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, red light violations decreased 70 percent and 88 percent at two of the intersections where cameras are operating according to State House Speaker John M. Perzel (R-172).

In Fairfax, Virginia after one year of camera enforcement, violations were reduced by about 40 percent. Additionally, 84 percent of its residents supported the use of red light cameras.

Significant citywide crash reductions have followed the introduction of red light cameras in Oxnard, California: 7 percent overall crash reduction; 29 percent reduction in injury-related crashes; 32% reduction in front-into-side crashes; 68 percent reduction in front-into-side crashes involving injury.

Charlotte, North Carolina reported the following findings based on a before and after study done at 17 intersections: 37 percent decrease in angle crashes at intersections with cameras; 60 percent decrease in angle crashes at approaches with cameras; all crash types reduced by 19 percent; crash severity reduced 16 percent.

Red light running accidents decreased 30 percent in the year after red light cameras were installed in Baltimore County, Maryland compared to the prior year.

Red light running in Savannah, Georgia has decreased by 45 percent since installing a red light camera.

Source: “Red light Cameras: A Proven Method to Save Lives,” National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running, www.stopredlightrunning.com/html/redlight.htm.

Red Light Running Facts - Top

A crash caused by a driver who runs a red light is more likely to result in serious injury or death.

Deaths caused by red light running are increasing at more than three times the rate of increase for all other fatal crashes
More people are injured in crashes involving red light running than in any other crash type.
Reduction in red light running through a comprehensive red light camera program will promote and protect the public health, safety and welfare of Irving citizens.
- Almost all drivers (96 percent) fear being struck by a red light runner.
- A majority of Americans (56 percent) admit to running red lights.
- Red light runners can be any one of us who drives.
- One in three Americans knows someone who has been injured or killed in a red light running crash.
- Red light running is often a result of aggressive driving, and is completely preventable.

Most people run red lights because they are in a hurry, when in fact they only save seconds.

Sources: “Stop Red Light Running,” Federal Highway Administration Safety Website:safety.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/srlr.htm.2002.
R. A. Retting and A.F. Williams, "Characteristics of Red Light Violators: Results of a Field Investigation," Journal of Safety Research (1996): 27.1, 9-15.

How a Red Light Camera Works - Top

The system is activated when motion is detected just prior to the stop bar AFTER the traffic signal has turned red. The camera system takes a series of two images.

The first image shows the vehicle before crossing the white stop line after the red light was illuminated.

The second image shows the violator in the middle of the intersection with the red light illuminated.

The license plate image is a close-up from one of the images captured.

Data including the time, date and duration of the yellow and red lights is also recorded.
What to Do if You Receive a Notice of Violation- Top

Payment Information

Pay Online. Login to http://srv-cms:8080/cms/entity/www.violationinfo.com by entering your notice number and pin number shown in the red box on the front of your notice. Click the pay button. There is a convenience fee of $4 that will be assessed at the time of payment.

Pay by Mail. Mail your check or money order (payable to the City of Irving with the coupon printed at the bottom of the reverse side of the notice. The mailing address for the payment processing center is the City of Irving, Traffic Safety Program - Photo Enforcement, P.O. Box 152288, Irving, Texas 75015-2288.

Pay by Credit Card. Call (866) 790-4111 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Central Standard Time.

Pay in Person. City of Irving, Customer Service Counter (first floor), 825 W. Irving Blvd., Irving, Texas, 75060.
How much is the civil penalty?

The fine is $75 for each offense. After the due date, a late fee of $25 will be added to the civil penalty.

How much time do I have to pay my Notice of Violation?

If your payment is not received or a hearing in not set prior to the due date indicated on your notice, a $25 late fee may be added to the $75 fine amount.

What are my options?

1. Pay the $75 penalty.

2. Contest the violation.

You have the right to contest the imposition of the civil penalty by requesting, in writing, an administrative adjudication hearing by the due date. You must request an administrative adjudication hearing by signing the coupon on the back of the Notice of Violation and mailing it so that it is received by the due date on the Notice. You will be notified in writing of the date, time and location of the hearing. If you are found liable after the administrative adjudication hearing or you request a hearing but fail to appear at the time and place of the hearing, you will be liable for the amount of the penalty. If you are found liable for the civil penalty after an administrative adjudication hearing, you shall pay the civil penalty within 30 days of the determination of liability.

3. Submit an Affidavit stating you were not driving the car.

If your vehicle was stolen or sold at the time of violation, or was being test driven by another person, you may submit a sworn statement to that effect to the Court to rebut the presumption that you were driving the vehicle at the time of the violation. You may obtain an Affidavit of Non-Liability by visiting www.ViolationInfo.com. This affidavit must be filled out accurately and in its entirety, and it must be notarized. Mail the Declaration and pertinent information to the City of Irving Traffic Safety Program – Photo Enforcement, P.O. Box 152288, Irving TX 75015-2288.

Visit www.ViolationInfo.com to view information about your Notice of Violation. You will be asked to enter your Notice number and PIN number which are found on the front of your Warning or Notice of Violation, in the upper right or left corner, inside the red box.

I have received multiple Notices of Violation; do I have to send in a payment for each?
No, you may send one check in one envelope – but you must include coupons for each violation you received. For example, if you received three violation notices, you may send in one check and the three coupons but write each notice number on your check.
Why if my check bounces?
You will be responsible for a returned check fee of $25 for handling the bounced check – in addition to any late fees and the original fine amount. You will receive a letter from the City of Irving detailing the new amount due.

Can I make payments in installments or set up a payment plan?

        Payment plans are not avaliable. You must pay your civil penalty by the due date on your Notice of Violation or a late fee willbe assessed. You have a additional 30 days after the late fee is assessed to pay the civil penalty before collections proceedings begin.

What is a refund policy?

A refund check may be issued under the following circumstances:

Duplicate and/or overpayment of a Notice of Violation

Overpayment of the Notice of Violation as a result of a Hearing or Appeal.

If you feel as though you are entitled to a refund, please submit your request on the Red Light Refund Form. Send the completed form to the address specified at the top of the form.

Do I have to pay my fine the day of the hearing?
You must pay the full fine amount no later than 30 days after a liable judgment.

What happens if I do not pay the Notice of Violation?
Failure to pay the civil penalty or to contest the liability with the time allowed will result in a $25 late fee and may resut in the County Tax Assessor-Collector refusing to register the vehicle alleged to have been in violation of this ordinance.

I do not believe I ran a red light. Where can I go to view my images and video?
The images and video are available on the Internet at http://www.violationinfo.com/. To logon to the site, you must enter the Notice Number and the PIN Number located at the top right of your Notice of Violation.

You may also obtain informaiton by scheduling an appointment with the Traffic Safety Coordinator by calling (972) 721-2646.

What is an administrative adjudication hearing?
An administrative adjudication hearing is an opportunity in which you may appear in front of a city-appointed officer and discuss the circumstances surrounding your Notice of Violation. As detailed in the ordinance section below, you may schedule a hearing to contest the imposition of the civil penalty.

Ordinance No. 2006 Section VII. Non-Judicial Administrative Hearing.

(a) A person who receives a Notice of Violation under this ordinance may contest the imposition of the civil penalty by requesting, in writing, an nonjudicial administrative hearing within the time provided on the notice , which period shall not be less than 31 days after notification of the violation.

Can I schedule a hearing?
You must schedule a hearing in writing. Sign the coupon located on the back at the bottom 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 and time for your hearing.

I am Handicapped and unable to appear in court for my hearing.

You must respond to your Notice of Violation on or before your due date. If you wish to contest the Notice of Violation, you do not need to appear before an Adjudicative Hearing officer. However you must submit in writing, on or before your due date, a copy of your disabled placard and a written explanation of your actions or concerns. This written explanation will be reviewed and a decision will be issued by mail. Please call Violations Processing Center/Irving Customer Service Center at (866) 790-4111 for additional information.

Can I make a hearing request over the phone?

No, all requests must be in writing.

Can someone other than me attend the hearing?

Only you or your legal counsel may appear at an adjudicative hearing.

Is there more than one place that I can attend my hearing?

No.

Can I bring a lawyer to the hearing with me?

Yes.

Under what circumstances can this notice be dismissed?

The City of Irving Code of Ordinance No. 2006 Section 11-306 Sec. 11-243, Affirmative Defenses, defines 8 reasons that a Notice of Violation issued under Sec. 11-243 of the code may be dismissed. The reasons are if:
(1)     The traffic-control signal was not in proper position and sufficiently legible to an ordinarily observant person;
(2)     The operator of the motor vehicle was acting in compliance with the lawful order or direction of a police officer;
(3)     The operator of the motor vehicle violated the instructions of the traffic-control signal so as to yield the right-of-way to an immediately approaching authorized emergency vehicle;
(4)     The motor vehicle was being operated as an authorized emergency vehicle under Chapter 546 of the Texas Transportation Code and that the operator was acting in compliance with that Chapter;
(5)     The motor vehicle was a stolen vehicle and being operated by a person other than the owner of the vehicle without the effective consent of the owner;
(6)     The license plate depicted in the recorded image of the violation was a stolen plate and being displayed on a motor vehicle other than the motor vehicle for which the plate had been issued;
(7)     The presence of ice, snow, unusual amounts of rain or other unusually hazardous road conditions existed that would make compliance with this article and with the traffic-control signal more dangerous under the circumstances than noncompliance; or
(8)     The person who received the notice of violation was not the owner of the motor vehicle at the time of the violation.

(b)      To demonstrate that at the time of the violation the motor vehicle was a stolen vehicle or the license plate displayed on the motor vehicle was a stolen plate, the owner must submit proof acceptable to the hearing officer that the theft of the vehicle or license plate had been timely reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

If I disagree with the Adjudicative Hearing Officer’s findings and want to appeal the decision, what do I do?

You may appeal a liable decision by filing a notice of appeal and paying a non-refundable filing fee of $25, in person, with the Chief Clerk of the Municipal Courts not later than 30 days after the Hearing Officer’s findings. You must complete an appeal request form, and a statement of personal financial obligation to secure an appeal and stay enforcement.

What is an appeal?

Sec. VIII. Appeal
    A person who is found liable after an administrative adjudication hearing may appeal that finding of civil liability to the municipal court by filing a notice of appeal with the clerk of the municipal court. The notice of appeal must be filed not later than the thirtieth (30) day after the date on which the administrative adjudication hearing officer entered the finding of civil liability, and must be accompanied by payment of the costs required by the law for the court, and a notarized statement of personal financial obligation. If these three items are not filed, the appeal is not perfected, and does not stay enforcement of the civil penalty. An appeal shall be determined by the municipal court by trial de novo. The affidavits submitted under section 21-208 shall be admitted by the municipal judge in the trial de novo, and the issues must be proved by a preponderance of the evidence. A person found liable by the municipal court shall pay the civil penalty and any other fees due the city.
Ord. No. 8746, § 1, 1-25-07

How do I know that these violations are valid?

Images of your vehicle were captured and recorded by an Automated Intersection Safety System. 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 the Irving Police Department before the alleged civil infraction was affirmed and mailed to you as the registered owner or identified driver. You have the option of contesting the Notice of Violation by requesting in writing an administrative hearing, at which time you may discuss the validity of the images and video captured on the date and time detailed on the Notice of Violation.

What if the camera was not working or it was defective?

If you look at the front of the Notice of Violation – at the paragraph under the close-up of your license plate – the City of Irving Police Department states in the first sentence that the Automated Intersection Safety System was operating correctly at the time of this violation.

What company provides the red light camera program in Irving?

The City of Irving has contracted with American Traffic Solutions Inc. to provide the red light camera enforcement program. ATS will install and maintain all equipment related to this program and process and review all violations captured by the equipment. More information about ATS is available at www.atsol.com.

Source: “Report on the Effectiveness of Automated Red Light Enforcement,” City of Garland Transportation Department, Sept. 2006

Source: “Red light Cameras: A Proven Method to Save Lives,” National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running, www.stopredlightrunning.com/html/redlight.htm.

Sources: “Stop Red Light Running,” Federal Highway Administration Safety Website:safety.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/srlr.htm.2002. R. A. Retting and A.F. Williams, "Characteristics of Red Light Violators: Results of a Field Investigation," Journal of Safety Research (1996): 27.1, 9-15.

Sources: “Stop Red Light Running,” Federal Highway Administration Safety Website:safety.fhwa.dot.gov/programs/srlr.htm.2002.
R. A. Retting and A.F. Williams, "Characteristics of Red Light Violators: Results of a Field Investigation," Journal of Safety Research (1996): 27.1, 9-15.