In short, yes, you do have to pay a camera ticket in Ohio if you receive one. Camera tickets, also known as automated traffic enforcement tickets, are civil violations in Ohio and failing to pay them can result in late fees, penalties, driver’s license suspensions, and other consequences.
What are camera tickets in Ohio?
Ohio allows two types of camera tickets:
- Red light cameras – Cameras placed at intersections to catch drivers running red lights. They take photos of the vehicle’s rear license plate.
- Speed cameras – Cameras used to monitor speed limits in designated areas. They also photograph the rear license plate.
In both cases, the ticket is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle. The ticket will include details like the date, time, location of the violation, applicable fines/fees, and payment instructions.
Do you have to pay red light and speed camera tickets?
Yes, red light and speed camera tickets are enforceable under Ohio law. Failing to pay can lead to:
- Late fees – If you don’t pay on time, late fees will be added to the amount due.
- Collections – Unpaid tickets may be sent to a collection agency, damaging your credit score.
- Registration hold – The Ohio BMV can place a hold on renewing your vehicle registration until fines are paid.
- Driver’s license suspension – The BMV can suspend your license for failure to pay camera tickets.
So while you do have options for contesting a camera ticket in Ohio if you believe it was issued incorrectly, you cannot simply ignore a ticket you receive in the mail.
How much are camera tickets in Ohio?
Costs for red light and speed camera tickets in Ohio are:
Violation Type | Fine Amount |
---|---|
Red light violation | $100 |
Speeding violation | Up to $150 |
Note that late fees, court costs, and other penalties may be added if the ticket is not paid on time.
Can you fight a traffic camera ticket in Ohio?
Yes, you have options to contest a camera ticket in Ohio, including:
- Request a hearing – You can request an administrative hearing to challenge the citation. You’ll have to provide evidence as to why you believe the ticket was wrongly issued.
- Submit an affidavit – File an affidavit stating you were not driving the car at the time. The ticket will be dismissed but the registered owner must identify the actual driver.
- Appeal to municipal court – You can appeal the hearing decision and have your case heard in municipal court.
The process for contesting a ticket may vary slightly by jurisdiction. Details on fighting the ticket will be included with the citation.
Can you ignore a traffic camera ticket in Ohio?
No, ignoring an automated traffic camera ticket is not advisable in Ohio. As outlined above, failure to pay can lead to late fees, driver’s license suspensions, vehicle registration holds, and other problems.
Plus, unpaid fines could eventually be sent to collections, damaging your credit score. Once that happens, the amount owed will likely increase significantly due to collections fees.
What happens if you never got the initial camera ticket?
If you believe a red light or speed camera ticket was issued to your vehicle but you never received the initial notice, you can contact the court listed on any subsequent notices regarding failure to pay fines. You can explain that you never got the original ticket and request a copy.
Be aware that under Ohio law, the original ticket being successfully mailed to your registered address constitutes proper notice. Claiming you didn’t get the initial ticket is unfortunately not a strong defense if you are facing late fees and other penalties.
Can a traffic camera ticket affect your driving record?
No, red light and speed camera citations in Ohio are civil violations, not criminal traffic offenses. This means they do not go on your driving record or affect your auto insurance rates.
The ticket is issued to the vehicle owner, not the driver. Points are not assessed against your license.
What happens if you don’t pay?
If you do not pay an automated traffic camera ticket in Ohio, here are some potential consequences:
- Late fees added to your fine amount
- Being sent to collections, damaging your credit
- BMV registration hold placed on renewing your license plates
- Driver’s license being suspended by the BMV
- Outstanding fines being sent to the Ohio Attorney General’s office for further enforcement action
So while a camera ticket does not initially affect your driving record, failing to pay can eventually lead to your driver’s license being suspended until you settle the fines and reinstatement fees.
Can a camera ticket become a warrant?
Generally no – unpaid red light and speed camera citations in Ohio do not directly become criminal warrants. The ticket remains a civil penalty.
However, if you fail to appear in court after being summoned due to unpaid fines, the judge can potentially issue a warrant. But this stems from the failure to appear, not the original camera ticket itself.
How long do you have to pay a camera ticket in Ohio?
Payment deadlines for camera tickets depend on the issuing jurisdiction, but are typically between 15 to 30 days from the mailing date. The due date is printed on the citation itself.
If unpaid, late fees are usually assessed after the initial deadline passes. Make sure to pay promptly to avoid late fees that will increase the amount you owe.
Can police arrest you for an unpaid camera ticket?
No, law enforcement cannot arrest you solely for having unpaid red light or speed camera fines in Ohio. Because automated camera tickets are civil penalties, not criminal traffic violations, you cannot be jailed for failure to pay.
However, repeated failure to pay could potentially lead to charges like contempt of court if you disregard summons to appear and other notices. But the unpaid civil fines themselves do not warrant arrest.
Conclusion
Traffic cameras that catch red light and speeding violations remain controversial in Ohio. But under current law, if you receive an automated camera ticket you do need to pay it or contest it properly. Simply ignoring the ticket can lead to late fees, collection actions, license suspensions, and vehicle registration problems through the Ohio BMV.
Paying your camera ticket or contesting it is the proper course of action when you receive one. While the citation does not go on your driving record or impact your insurance premiums, failure to act can still create major headaches down the road.