Can You Fight a Camera Ticket in California?

Yes. Camera tickets issued in California, including red light camera citations and speed camera citations under AB 645, can be contested through the same Trial by Written Declaration process as any other traffic infraction.

Red light camera tickets

Red light camera citations are issued when an automated camera system photographs a vehicle running a red light at an intersection. These citations are mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle and typically include photographs of the vehicle, the license plate, and in some cases the driver.

Red light camera tickets are among the most expensive traffic citations in California, with fines often reaching $490 or more after penalty assessments.

These tickets can be contested through a Trial by Written Declaration. Common factual issues that drivers raise in their declarations include:

• Whether the driver in the photograph can be clearly identified.
• Whether the yellow light timing at the intersection met California standards.
• Whether required signage was posted at the intersection.
• Whether the camera system was properly calibrated and maintained.

Speed camera tickets under AB 645 and SB 720

Assembly Bill 645, signed into law in 2023, authorized six California cities to operate speed camera pilot programs: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Jose, Long Beach, and Glendale. Senate Bill 720, signed in 2024, expanded automated speed enforcement authority to additional cities.

Speed camera citations are civil penalties, not criminal. They carry no DMV points on your driving record. Fines range from $50 for the first citation to $500 for subsequent violations.

Factual issues that drivers may consider when contesting a speed camera ticket include:

• Whether the registered owner was actually driving the vehicle at the time.
• Whether required warning signage was posted in advance of the camera.
• Whether the speed detection equipment was properly calibrated.
• Whether the citation was issued within the requirements of the authorizing legislation.

How camera tickets differ from officer-issued citations

There are a few important differences between camera tickets and tickets issued by a police officer during a traffic stop.

Camera tickets are mailed to the registered owner, not necessarily the driver. If you were not driving the vehicle, this is a factual matter you can address in your declaration.

There is no officer testimony in camera cases. The prosecution’s evidence is typically the photographs, the camera system’s calibration records, and a declaration from the camera system operator or law enforcement liaison.

The absence of an officer who personally observed the alleged violation can be a relevant factual consideration in your declaration.

How to contest a camera ticket with TicketClear

TicketClear supports camera citations across all 58 California counties, including AB 645 speed camera tickets and red light camera citations. The process is the same as contesting any other traffic infraction: upload your citation, answer questions about your circumstances, review your declaration, and download or have us mail your filing packet.