A series of class action law suits have been filed in several cities across Florida, including Orlando for using red light cameras. Class action law suits have also been filed in Miami Gardens, Aventura, and Juno Beach.
A West Palm Beach-based law firm, Schueler, Halvorson & Weissner, is leading the charge arguing that red light cameras violate drivers’ due process and equal protection rights.
Meanwhile, cities counter that cameras act as a deterrant to drivers, in that they prevent accidents which saves lives. The red light cameras snaps a photo of the license plate of the vehicle and the owners get a citation in the mail.
Lawyers representing drivers that have been fined argue that, in the case of red light cameras, no officer witnesses the infraction, the owner of the vehicle gets the citation and someone other than the owner could be driving the vehicle.
They further argue that, under state law, drivers who run red lights receive citation from police officers, which could be contested in court. There is no opportunity to go to court in the case of city citations received.
Several other class actions law suits are planned against other cities.
