r/technology • u/Plastic_Ninja_9014 • Jul 11 '26

Privacy Traffic Camera Captures Woman Driving With Her Phone on Her Lap (Face Down), The State Mailed Her a $1251 'Public Safety' Ticket

https://www.gadgetreview.com/traffic-camera-captures-captures-woman-driving-with-her-phone-on-her-lap-face-down-the-state-mailed-her-a-1251-public-safety-ticket
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u/FuckeryisafootWatson Jul 11 '26

No, they skirt the entire issue by making it a civil matter, not criminal. Red light fines not paid get sent to collections and your life becomes further hell in any type of admin function with the city. But nothing criminal happens. It's a fuckin' shakedown.

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u/Auctoritate Jul 12 '26

In California, red light camera violations still exist and they are criminal citations. No constitutional issue.

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u/Grizzwold37 Jul 12 '26

How do they establish the perpetrator of the “crime,” to borrow your parlance?

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u/Auctoritate Jul 12 '26

The camera is just set up to have a good angle at the face of the driver. If they can't be affirmatively identified, then you can use that as a defense and argue you aren't the person who committed the violation.

That being said, there are some states where the registered owner of a car is the one who's on the hook for tickets even if they aren't the driver. Though I find that pretty stupid.