Frequently Asked
Questions
Intersection
Safety Program
Why has the City
of Tampa 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 the City of Tampa. The goal of the program is to
reduce red light running violations, red light crashes, and red light injury
crashes without impacting city funds.
What is a red
light running violation?
Pursuant to Florida Statutes §§
316.0083, 316.074(1) and 316.075(1)(c)1, it is a violation of the red light if a vehicle
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. When a motorist receives a Notice of
Violation, it has been determined that their vehicle has proceeded into 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 City of Tampa Police Department 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 TAMPA PD WILL
RESULT IN THE ISSUANCE OF A UNIFORM TRAFFIC CITATION 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 this 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
happens if I ignore the Notice of Violation?
If you fail to respond, a Uniform Traffic Citation (“UTC”)
will be issued to you, UNDER THIS STATUTE FOR THE STATED INFRACTION you may become responsible for court fees and
costs. Upon issuance
of a UTC, you shall have the remedies specified in Florida Statutes § 318.14,
which include the right to have a hearing before a designated official, who
shall determine whether an infraction has been committed. If the official
concludes that no infraction has been committed, no costs or penalties shall be
imposed. If the official concludes that an infraction has been committed, the
official may impose an additional civil penalty not to exceed $500 and court fees
and costs.
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. 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 officer 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, you can 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 is received
8 days prior to the due date specified on the front page of this notice to be
appropriately processed or a UTC will be issued at a higher cost. If you
have questions regarding payments please contact Customer Service at 1-866-225-8875.
How can I pay my fine?
ONLINE PAYMENT: The fastest and easiest way to pay your Notice is to pay online. Go
to www.ViolationInfo.com and logon with
your Notice # and PIN shown in the red box on the front of this notice.
Click the Pay button.
PAYMENT BY PHONE: 8:00
AM to 5:00 PM Eastern time Toll free at: 1-866-225-8875.
PAYMENT BY MAIL: Mail
your check or money order (payable to City of Tampa) in the enclosed
envelope with the coupon printed at the bottom of the reverse side of this
notice. DO NOT MAIL CASH. Be sure to put the Notice # on the face
of your payment. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service
Toll free at: 1-866-225-8875.
What is the Refund Policy?
A refund
check may be issued under the following circumstances:
If you feel as though you
are entitled to a refund, please submit your request on the
Red Light Refund Form
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 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?
A Uniform Traffic Citation may be issued at an increased amount if the
violation payment is returned. You will be responsible to pay this fine to the
court.
Can I make payments
in installments or set up a payment plan?
Payment plans are not available.
I paid the violation;
why did I receive another notice?
The notice you just received could be for additional violations 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 10 days of a liable judgment.
What happens if I do not pay the Notice of Violation?
If you fail to respond, a Uniform Traffic Citation
(“UTC”) will be issued to you, UNDER THIS STATUTE FOR THE
STATED INFRACTION you may become responsible for court fees and costs. Upon
issuance of a UTC, you shall have the remedies specified in Florida Statutes §
318.14, which include the right to have a hearing before a designated official,
who shall determine whether an infraction has been committed. If the official
concludes that no infraction has been committed, no costs or penalties shall be
imposed. If the official concludes that an infraction has been committed, the
official may impose an additional civil penalty not to exceed $500 and court
fees and costs.
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 Number located at the top right of your Notice of
Violation.
I don’t believe I ran a red light and want to discuss my case with
someone.
If you choose to appear
before an official of the county court or plead not guilty, do not respond to this Notice of Violation.
You will receive a Uniform Traffic Citation within 60 days of the Violation
Date via certified mail. Instructions
will be provided to you by the county clerk’s office as to how you should
proceed.
How much do I have to pay for a Hearing?
A person who is found liable after a 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?
If you wish to have a hearing, do not respond to the Notice of
Violation. A UTC will be issued with instructions on how to proceed for a
hearing.
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 City of Tampa Police Department 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 City of
Tampa?
The City of Tampa 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.