Traffic Camera Tickets: What You Need To Know (2025)

Can You Get a Speeding Ticket From a Camera?

Can you get a ticket from a traffic camera? In many jurisdictions, the answer is yes. Many areas use speed cameras and red light cameras to reduce the risk of car and truck accidents. Because officers can only patrol so many areas at once, traffic cameras can supplement the work of police.

Speed cameras and red light cameras are often strategically placed near intersections or in areas where excessive speed is a persistent problem. They are programmed to snap photos when someone drives through a red light or exceeds a certain speed. They usually work in conjunction with license plate recognition systems.

These systems can look up the offending vehicle’s license plate number in a database. From there, the vehicle owner would receive a ticket in the mail. If the car has historic tags and is being used outside of permitted purposes, like daily driving, additional penalties may apply.

How Traffic Cameras Work to Capture Violations

Traffic cameras are more complex than many people realize, and there are multiple types of systems. In some locations, violations are captured by fixed units, or standalone speed cameras. In other areas, point-to-point units capture a driver’s average speed between multiple cameras.

Both types of cameras generally rely on cameras and computers to track speed and record violations in these key ways:

• Lasers or Doppler radar identify speeding vehicles.
• Multiple radar readouts per second give an accurate estimate of speed.
• Cameras record images of the car, driver and license plate.
• Some cameras capture video as well.
• The camera records the date, time, speed limit and other important data.

If someone receives a speeding ticket, law enforcement can easily download photos, video and other relevant data from the camera and use it as evidence in court.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Camera Ticket?

Unless you know you ran a red light in an intersection with a camera or sped by a speed camera, you might be surprised when you receive a ticket in the mail. It can take some time for a ticket to reach you; in areas where speed cameras are allowed, police officers typically must review photos or video of the incident before sending out a ticket.

Exactly how quickly your ticket gets to you can vary. However, in most instances, you can expect to wait a few weeks before getting a ticket.

Are Speed Camera Tickets Enforceable?

Speed camera and red light camera tickets are enforceable in some jurisdictions but not all of them. Some states prohibit speed and red light cameras altogether, and states that have them don’t always enforce payment of tickets.

Understanding whether tickets are enforceable in your area is often more challenging than it seems. Even within the same state, the laws on traffic camera tickets and their enforcement may vary by city or county.

In some instances, it can be difficult to tell whether you should pay a camera ticket or not. Tickets will sometimes state that while you’re legally obligated to pay the assessed fine, non-payment cannot adversely affect your driver’s license or your credit score.

You may not want to pay for a ticket if you aren’t legally required to. However, if you mistakenly believe you don’t have to pay a ticket, you might find yourself facing additional fees, points added to your driver’s license, and damage to your credit score. In some cases, an unpaid ticket can escalate further, eventually triggering a court summons or even a warrant, depending on your jurisdiction. In some cases, an unpaid ticket can escalate further, eventually triggering a court summons or even an arrest warrant, depending on your jurisdiction. The best way to know whether or not you’re obligated to pay a ticket is to consult a traffic attorney near you.

Can You Get a Ticket if You Weren’t the Driver?

If a police officer writes a speeding ticket during a traffic stop, they hand the ticket directly to the speeding driver, regardless of whether the driver owns the vehicle. However, most states that issue camera tickets automatically send them to the car’s registered owner.

So if you’ve received a camera ticket for a violation someone else committed while using your car, you may not ultimately have to pay. Still, it’s important not to ignore the ticket.

In some areas, you may be able to file a sworn statement claiming that you were not driving at the time of the violation; depending on where you live, you may or may not be required to identify the person driving at the time. In other areas, you may need to appear in court to testify.

If you must go to court, you should gather any evidence that supports your case beforehand. For example, if the camera photographed the driver—and the driver clearly isn’t you—that may be enough to get the ticket dismissed. If the other driver is willing, you may ask them to come to court and take responsibility.

Typically, when you receive a speeding ticket in the mail, the back of the ticket will include information on how to respond and any deadlines for doing so. Make sure to carefully review this information before determining what to do next.

What Happens if You Don’t Pay a Camera Ticket?

Failing to pay a traffic camera ticket can have serious consequences, or no consequences at all, depending on your jurisdiction. Some areas will send the ticket to a collection agency, which could have a negative impact on your credit.

In certain states, including Maryland, an unpaid speed camera ticket may suspend your vehicle registration.

Can You Fight a Speed Camera Ticket?

Speed camera tickets might be able to reduce the frequency of car and motorcycle accidents. However, cameras can’t always capture the full context of your situation. If you believe you were mistakenly issued a ticket or that there are extenuating circumstances, you might choose to fight it.

The process to contest traffic camera tickets can vary. In some areas, you may need to request a court hearing. When you receive your ticket, you should carefully read the back — this is where you should find instructions for disputing the ticket.

You don’t have to retain an attorney to fight a speed camera ticket, but an attorney can increase your chances of success. Your lawyer may be able to argue one of these defenses:

• The photo/video doesn’t show an actual violation
• You weren’t the one driving the car
• The camera was falsely triggered by something else
• The camera was not properly calibrated

If you aren’t sure whether you should fight a ticket or not, it can still be helpful to consult a lawyer. An experienced attorney can help you decide whether to pay a speed camera ticket or challenge it.

Do Camera Tickets Give You Points?

If you live in a state with a point system, traffic violations and accidents where you are at fault will add points to your license. If you accumulate enough points, your license will be suspended. But do you get points from camera tickets?

In most states, camera tickets will not add points to your license. However, if you want to make sure, you should check your state’s laws.
In areas where points are assessed for camera tickets, completing a traffic school may help reduce or remove them - if your state allows it. Eligibility often depends on your prior driving record and whether you’ve taken a course recently.

How Many Camera Tickets Can You Get?

There’s generally not an upper limit to how many camera tickets you can get. However, it’s wise to do what you can to avoid getting more than one ticket. In some areas, penalties may increase with each subsequent ticket.

Have You Gotten a Traffic Camera Ticket?

Whether you’ve received a traffic camera ticket or are the defendant in a car accident lawsuit, the best way to help yourself is to consult an experienced lawyer.

However, if you’ve never had to interact with the legal system, you may be unsure of how to find the right attorney. That’s where we come in. At ConsumerShield, we’re dedicated to matching people like you with qualified lawyers nearby. Fill out our contact form below for your free case review!