Frequently Asked Questions
Intersection Safety Program
Why has the
Osceola County decided to implement the Intersection Safety Program?
According to the Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety, annually nearly 2 million crashes occur in intersections. In 2005,
red light running resulted in 800 fatalities and over 165,000 injuries.
It is believed that an Intersection Safety
Program will reduce the number of red light crashes and injuries associated
with such crashes. The purpose of this program is to increase traffic safety in
Osceola County. The goal of the program is to reduce red light running
violations, red light crashes, and red light injury crashes without impacting
County funds.
What is a red
light running violation?
A vehicle that proceeds into an
intersection equipped with a photographic traffic control monitoring system
when the traffic control signal for that vehicle’s direction of travel is
emitting a steady red signal is in violation of Florida Statutes §§ 316.0083,
316.074(1) and 316.075(1)(c)1. When a motorist receives a Notice of Violation,
the issuing Police Department/Sheriff’s Office has determined that the vehicle
entered an intersection by entering the crosswalk on the near side of an
intersection when the traffic control signal, for the direction in which the
vehicle was traveling, was emitting a steady red signal. Motorists already in
the intersection when the signal changes to red, when waiting to turn for
example, are not considered red light violators.
Why did I receive
this Notice of Violation?
Based upon images captured by
the automated system, your vehicle was determined to have failed to comply with
a steady red signal. As the owner of the vehicle, the Notice of Violation is
mailed to you. For every violation captured by the cameras, the images and
video are reviewed and approved by the Police Department/Sheriff’s Office
before a Notice of Violation is issued and mailed to the vehicle’s registered
owner.
If I am in the
intersection when the light is yellow and the light changes to red, will I
receive a Notice of Violation?
No. The automated camera system only becomes
active once the red light is showing. It will not capture a vehicle if the
vehicle enters the intersection prior to the light changing to red. If
you entered the intersection on yellow, it is legal to clear the intersection
if the light turned red while you were still in the intersection.
What if I am not the driver/owner of the vehicle at the time of the
violation?
As the registered owner of the vehicle, you are deemed
responsible for the violation and the payment the penalty unless, in compliance
with Florida Statute § 316.0083(1)(d)1.a-d, you establish by a sworn affidavit that a statutory exemption
applies. The exemptions are that the motor vehicle: (a) passed through the
intersection in order to yield the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle or as
part of a funeral procession; (b) passed through the intersection at the
direction of a law enforcement officer; (c) was, at the time of the violation,
in the care, custody, or control of another person; or (d) a UTC was issued by
a law enforcement officer to the driver of the motor vehicle for the violation
of Florida Statute § 316.074(1) and § 316.075(1)(c)1 stated in this Notice. The
affidavit must be sworn before a notary public or other person authorized to
administer oaths.
If you assert that the vehicle was in the care,
custody, or control of another person, you must provide the name, address, date
of birth, and, if known, the driver’s license number of the person who leased,
rented, or otherwise had care, custody, or control of the vehicle at the time
of the violation. Acceptance of this assertion by the Police Department/Sheriff
Office will result in the issuance of a Notice of Violation to the person named
in the affidavit. If the vehicle was stolen, then the affidavit must include a
copy of a police report showing the vehicle to have been stolen. If you assert
that a UTC was issued by a law enforcement officer for the violation of Florida
Statute § 316.074(1) and 316.075(1)(c)1 stated in the
notice, then you must include the serial number of the UTC. For faster
processing, you may, but are not required to, include a copy of the UTC.
You may download and print the Affidavit of
Non-Responsibility form from the links at the bottom of the page on www.ViolationInfo.com.
What is the amount of the fine? Is there a late fee?
The owner of a motor vehicle is liable for payment
of a statutory penalty of $158.00 for the Notice of Violation. There are no
points assessed for this Notice of Violation. If the owner of the vehicle does
not pay the statutory penalty, request a hearing, or submit an affidavit by the
due date listed on the Notice of Violation, a Uniform Traffic Citation will be
issued.
What happens if I ignore the Notice of Violation?
I have received a UTC, may I submit an affidavit?
Yes, you may submit an affidavit. You must download the Post UTC Affidavit from the links at
the bottom of the page on www.ViolationInfo.com.
The Post UTC Affidavit must be mailed to the Police Department/Sheriff’s
Office. Submission of an affidavit does not guarantee a dismissal of the UTC.
You may call Customer Service at 1-866-225-8875 ten (10) days after submission
to check on status.
Will I receive any points on my driving record for this
violation?
No, this is a non-criminal infraction that
is not reported to the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles.
Will my insurance rates be affected?
No, this is a non-criminal infraction and is
not reported to any insurance agencies.
Will the red
light cameras take a picture of the driver of the vehicle?
No. A violation of Florida Statutes §§
316.0083, 316.074(1) and 316.075(1)(c)1 is a civil violation assessed against the
owner of the vehicle; it is not a criminal violation. Similar to a parking
ticket, there is no need to identify the driver and therefore, no need to capture
the image of the driver.
Is this only a revenue generating program?
This is a safety program. Automated safety
systems have been shown to reduce red light violations and intersection
crashes. Numerous studies throughout the U.S. and worldwide, as well as the
experience of many other cities, indicate significant decreases in red light
running violations and collisions after cameras were installed. Often times, a
spill-over effect results from automated enforcement: other intersections not
monitored by automated enforcement also see a decrease in violations and
accidents because of the presence of enforcement in other areas of the
community.
What if I was issued a citation
from an officer for the same offense?
The citation issued by a Police Department
or Sheriff’s Office takes precedence over the Notice of Violation. You must
submit an affidavit with the serial number of the UTC that you received for
violation of Florida Statute § 316.074(1) and 316.075(1)(c)1.
For faster processing of the affidavit, please include a copy of the UTC.
How much time do I have to pay my
Notice of Violation?
It is recommended the completed signed and
notarized affidavit or payment be received prior to the due date specified on
the front page of this notice to be appropriately processed.
If you have questions regarding payments
please send an email to Customer Service at [email protected].
How can I pay my fine?
ONLINE PAYMENT: The fastest and easiest
way to pay your Notice is to pay online. If you have the Notice of Violation,
go to www.ViolationInfo.com
and log on with your Notice # and PIN shown in the red box on the
front of your Notice of Violation. Click the Pay button. There is a
convenience / service fee for this service.
PAYMENT BY PHONE: Call toll free 24
hours a day, 7 days a week: 1-866-225-8875. There is a convenience/service fee
for this service.
PAYMENT BY MAIL: Mail your check or
money order (payable to Osceola County) to Osceola County, Payment
Processing Center, PO Box 742527, Cincinnati, OH, 45274. DO NOT MAIL
CASH. Be sure to put the Notice # on the face of your payment. If you
have any questions, please contact Customer Service at [email protected].
What is the Refund Policy?
A refund check may be issued
under the following circumstances:
Duplicate and/or overpayment of a Notice of Violation
If you feel as though you are entitled to a
refund, please submit your request on the Red
Light Refund Form and send the completed form to the address specified at
the top of the form.
I have received multiple Notices of Violation; do I have
to send in a payment for each?
If you have multiple violations in one City you may send one
check with the individual coupons enclosed and the notice numbers written on
the check.
If you have multiple violations in different cities you must send
a separate check for each violation. If you send one check for multiple
violations that occurred in different cities your check will be rejected and
returned to you.
What if my check is returned?
If payment is not received by the due date
of the Notice of Violation, a Uniform Traffic Citation will be issued at a
higher cost.
Can I make payments in
installments or set up a payment plan?
Payment plans are only available if a hearing has been
attended. Partial payments are accepted by mailing the payment to the
address located on the coupon of the Notice of Violation. Partial payments
cannot be made online or by contacting customer service.
I paid the violation;
why did I receive another notice?
The
notice you just received could be for an additional violation or it could be a
UTC which is now a past due notice. If it is a past due notice, chances
are that your payment and the notice crossed in the mail. It can take as
many as 5 business days to show in the system once the payment is mailed. Call
1-866-225-8875 to confirm that your payment was received.
Do I have to pay my fine
the day of the hearing?
You
must pay the full fine amount within 30 days of a liable judgment unless the
local hearing officer has outlined a payment plan.
I do not believe I ran a red light. Where can I go to view my
images and video?
You
can view your images on any computer with an Internet connection. Log on to
www.ViolationInfo.com. To log on to the site you must enter the Notice Number
and the PIN located at the top right of your Notice of Violation. If you do not
have internet access you may view your images at your local public library.
I don’t believe I ran a red light and want to discuss my case with
someone.
You
can request a hearing by following the instructions on the Notice of Violation.
How much do I have to pay for a Hearing?
A
person who is found liable after a Notice of Violation hearing can be liable
for court costs and fees not to exceed $250, in addition to the amount of the
civil penalty assessed for the violation.
A person
who is found liable after a Uniform Traffic Citation hearing can be liable for
an additional penalty, courts costs and fees not to exceed $500, in addition to
the amount of the civil penalty assessed for the violation.
Can I schedule a hearing?
Yes, you
can schedule a hearing. If you wish to have a hearing after the issuance of a
Notice of Violation (“NOV”), print and sign your name on the hearing request
coupon located on the back of the NOV, place it in the included envelope, and
mail it to the address located on the front of the coupon. Once a hearing has
been scheduled you will be notified of the location, date, and time.
If you wish
to request a hearing after the issuance of a Uniform Traffic Citation (“UTC”)
follow the instructions found on the UTC.
Can I make a hearing request over the phone?
No.
Can someone other than me attend the hearing?
Only
you or your legal counsel may appear at a hearing.
Is there more than one place that I can attend my hearing?
No.
Can I bring a lawyer to the hearing with me?
Yes.
How do I know that these violations are valid?
Images of
your vehicle were captured and recorded by a Traffic Safety Camera. You can
review your images and video of the actual occurrence online. The images and
video were reviewed by several qualified technicians and finally by the Police
Department/Sheriff’s Office before the alleged civil infraction was affirmed
and mailed to you as the registered owner or identified driver.
What company provides the red light camera program in Osceola
County?
Osceola County has contracted with American Traffic
Solutions Inc. to provide the Intersection Safety Program. ATS will install and
maintain all equipment related to this program and process all violations
captured by the equipment.