According to the Lakeland Ledger, Friday, August 7, 2009, eleven individuals appealed citations issued to them by the Lakeland, FL police for red light running.
One of these eleven individuals was issued four citations for the same offense. Each appealed their red-light citations during a code enforcement hearing at City Hall.
Since tickets based on the camera evidence are considered city code violations, they are not treated differently as those issued by police officers. Anyone contesting the citation must appeal before City Hall. However, last Friday, no one was successful in beating City Hall.
Attorney, Kristie Hatcher-Bolin, who served as the volunteer hearing officer, did not grant any of the appeals. Her role was not to have sympathy on the violators, but to look at the evidence of still photos and videos of the alleged violations shot by the nine cameras installed in five intersections in Lakeland, FL.
During Friday's hearing, there were a couple of close calls in the full-speed snapshots, but after reviewing the super-slow motion videos, all of the violations were viewed as violations, nonetheless.
"The camera doesn't lie" was repeated during the entire hearing.
The Lakeland, FL Police Department provided the hearing officer with video and photographic evidence. The only sympathy Hatcher-Bolin was able to give was to waive the $25 hearing fee and a issue a 30 day extension to pay the fine.
Ovidio Martinez was the individual who received four violations, all in a two week period. Each time, Martinez was turning right on red onto Memorial Blvd from North Florida Ave in Lakeland, FL.
Pursuant to Florida Law, drivers must stop at the stop bar while approaching a red light, which Martinez did not do. He stopped after the bar, just before turning, which was not acceptable.
By the time he got his first ticket, three more were on their way, Martinez said. City commissioners are planning on addressing this problem very soon for multiple cases of right-turn-on-red violations.
One woman drove through a red light two-tenths of a second after it changed, she did not receive a break either.
Another man reported that he was not the man driving his car but the hearing officer indicated that the ordinance calls for citations to be mailed to the owners of the cars, not the drivers.
Four drivers who signed up for the hearing, did not show up.
The use of red light cameras in Lakeland, FL is new to the City. As such, the process is expected to have its share of problems. However, it is through open dialogue with the public that these issues can be heard and addressed to ensure a fair process for all.
