Can you BK a traffic ticket??

[nickifan]

As if I don't have enough to worry about right now...I got a letter from the police with the "red light" camera showing my license plate going thru it.
It's a $75 fine. I have until late June to pay it.

Is this something that could be included on the list of creditors????

I am so P.O.d.... I was on the way to the hospital where my mother was in the ER but I know that's not really an excuse. I wasn't speeding, just was the last car to sneak thru but red light came on....

[WhatMoney]

For Ch. 7 BK, short answer NO.

Section 523(a)(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, specifically states that fines and penalties owed to and for the benefit of governmental units are non-dischargeable. This includes traffic tickets and other criminal (or punitive) fines.

[liz417]

Sucks, but no....

$75 bucks, that's all?!? I turned on a red without stopping completely and my "red light camera" ticket was $462!!

[ryan]

Thanks, I was about to ask the same question tonite, myself.....just got a $100 ticket by a "red light camera"....driving directly into the sun at 5:30pm while making a left turn and essentially blinded. Biggest ripoff on the planet, imo.

[HHM]

Generally no, any criminal violation cannot be discharged.

HOWEVER, in many states, the "red light" cameras are not considered a criminal issue and can be discharged.

[nickifan]

Generally no, any criminal violation cannot be discharged.

HOWEVER, in many states, the "red light" cameras are not considered a criminal issue and can be discharged.

Thanks to all for replies. I like HHM's best and will certainly ask the attorney about it!!

[ryan]

Generally no, any criminal violation cannot be discharged.

HOWEVER, in many states, the "red light" cameras are not considered a criminal issue and can be discharged.

Thats interesting. In the fine print on my ticket it reads:

"....as the registered owner or nominated driver of the vehicle described in this Notice, we have no choice but to hold you responsible for paying this civil penalty by (Date) This violation will not be reported to your insurance company or the Sec of State unless you have 5 (five) or more unpaid photo enforcement violations....."

What do you think?

[biotechsolution]

one thing that is dischargeable on a ticket, mainly parking tickets, is the late penatly fine. Some parking tickets keep accuring a penatly each month that it isn't paid. Any fine that is considered a 'punitive' is dischargeable.
Not the original criminal fine but any additional 'punitive' fines (paying late).

[BROKEDED]

Thanks, I was about to ask the same question tonite, myself.....just got a $100 ticket by a "red light camera"....driving directly into the sun at 5:30pm while making a left turn and essentially blinded. Biggest ripoff on the planet, imo.

We had red light cameras in four cities along one highway. The largest city had posted signs at three lights stating how many citations the city had doled out from each of those lights. Each one was over 5000 citations. The fine was $50. The camera company supposedly handled everything...mailing the citations, collecting the fines, etc... The camera co. got $25 and the city got $25 so at least $375,000 to the city from just three lights at that time.

Well it got reported that the city(ies) weren't getting paid by the camera company and there was a BIG uproar and to my knowledge all of them were discontinued. Some of the cameras are still up but inactive and have been for years.

One of the side effects, and I don't know if this played a part, was that there was a huge spike in rear end collisions at the photo lights. I'm sure the cities had at least a few lawsuits from that as well.

There was even one instance of a man shooting out one of the cameras with a rifle.

[ApresMoi]

Hi NickiFan! :-). Have you filed? My creditor's meeting is in about 3 weeks. Woo hoo!

[ApresMoi]

California pols are littering the state with cameras...even put them in a park to catch unsuspecting Sunday drivers!! The Governator plans to use the cameras to catch speeders, to help balance the state budget. First time ever, he put a line item in the 2010 budget. They're desperate. Plenty of motorists are fighting these mad schemes to drain out wallets. AAA is opposed to much of this nonsense. Call your legislators!! Highwayrobbery.net is where I go to get updates. The cameras are EVIL.

We had red light cameras in four cities along one highway. The largest city had posted signs at three lights stating how many citations the city had doled out from each of those lights. Each one was over 5000 citations. The fine was $50. The camera company supposedly handled everything...mailing the citations, collecting the fines, etc... The camera co. got $25 and the city got $25 so at least $375,000 to the city from just three lights at that time.

Well it got reported that the city(ies) weren't getting paid by the camera company and there was a BIG uproar and to my knowledge all of them were discontinued. Some of the cameras are still up but inactive and have been for years.

One of the side effects, and I don't know if this played a part, was that there was a huge spike in rear end collisions at the photo lights. I'm sure the cities had at least a few lawsuits from that as well.

There was even one instance of a man shooting out one of the cameras with a rifle.

[AngelinaCatHub]

These cameras are income earners and no other reason. They do not aid in Public safety. In fact as mentioned above, they have caused a vast amount of damage in rear end collisions here in FL.

Some of the camera venders are pointing the cameras to the right lane. It is legal in FL to turn right on red without stopping (if the lane is clear of course). This in essense makes every right turn a violation that the camera companies and Cities get their royalties.

Unfortunatly, FL has a manditory gun law and in shooting a camera if caught gets you five years no comp time manditory in prison. More cameras would be "corrected" if the gun laws were less stern. (It doesn't stop the crooks though). 'Hub

[MSbklawyer]

Unfortunatly, FL has a manditory gun law and in shooting a camera if caught gets you five years no comp time manditory in prison. More cameras would be "corrected" if the gun laws were less stern. (It doesn't stop the crooks though). 'Hub

The work-around for that is to get very good with a sling shot. There are some amazing things out there as in: A laser sighted slingshot.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.catsdomain.com/slingshot/ps55.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.catsdomain.com/slingshot/&usg=__nDneKJm60guL5mqyw0-TSEWNGdk=&h=343&w=550&sz=47&hl=en&start=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=QQqSwBinOdLzvM:&tbnh=83&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwrist%2Brocket%2Bslingshot%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1

That baby and a good stainless steel ball bearing and you've got yourself a gun-free "correction" to those pesky traffic cams.


Truly gone are the days of forked sticks and strips of rubber cut out of an old inner tube.


P.S. You might also try ditching Charlie "I-am-NOT-gay-and-here's-my-hot-girlfriend-to-prove-it" Crist as governor.

[BROKEDED]

I had always wondered if a paint ball "gun" would garner the same punishment of a real gun if caught. Just keep the camera housing lens peppered with paint all the time. I doubt the cities maintain the cameras so it would become unprofitable for the camera companies to constantly send or pay someone to clean the paint off.