What Happens If You Don't Pay A Red Light Camera Ticket In Texas

Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1631 into law Saturday, banning red light cameras in Texas. But many drivers still have questions well-nigh why some cities may exist allowed to operate the cameras and whether drivers really have to pay the tickets.

The new ban allows local authorities to operate cherry light camera systems nether the terms of vendor contracts -- until those contracts expire.

The law too eliminates the enforcement mechanism, saying the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles or a county assessor-collector tin can non refuse to register a vehicle because of an unpaid cherry-red light camera violation.

"In general, the reason to pay it is to exist able to register your vehicle or transfer the championship to your vehicle. However, I don't know how they would enforce information technology," Dallas attorney Amos Waranch said.

Waranch said it'due south possible, but unlikely creditors would pursue a lawsuit against someone who didn't pay the fine under the new constabulary.

"These citations are typically for $75 and the filing fee in Justice of the Peace Courtroom is $75. The fee to serve somebody with process brings it up to about $140, then information technology's probably non economically feasible for the red calorie-free camera operators or the urban center to file civil lawsuits against individuals," Waranch said.

With the new police on the books, individual cities seem to exist taking unlike approaches. Frisco and Plano stopped their red light camera operations over the weekend and said pending citations wouldn't exist issued. But, both cities said previously issued tickets should be paid.

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Fort Worth and Garland likewise ended their red light camera programs, but those cities said they would not collect on any citations that have not nevertheless been paid. It'due south worth noting, if you have paid, the cities are not issuing refunds.

"There's literally nada compelling y'all to pay these tickets ever again," said Kelly Canon, who advocated for a carmine calorie-free camera ban. "Welcome to real freedom, people."

Canon joined the opposition to the cameras in 2013 after she received a violation she paid in her abode city of Arlington. After she pushed for a local ban in Arlington, Canon took the fight statewide and is considering a national push likewise.

"You've got one machine giving a ticket to another machine and you're stuck in the eye because you happen to own the automobile. So, in what universe did that ever really make sense?" Canon asked.

The Urban center of Dallas confirms information technology turned off its red light cameras on June 1st.

It's non articulate how Dallas would handle citations moving forward.