Beating Traffic Cameras: Tips To Avoid Fines

Traffic cameras are an increasingly common feature of roads, with many jurisdictions teaming up with private companies to implement them. While they are often justified as a safety measure, they are also a significant revenue generator for local authorities. While it can be difficult to get out of a ticket, it is not impossible. Here are some of the ways people have tried to avoid traffic cameras, and how to dispute a ticket if you do get caught.

Use a license plate cover

A license plate cover is a cheap and effective way to make your license plate number invisible to traffic cameras. These covers are made of strong, clear polycarbonate plastic with a thin layer of prismatic material that reflects light from traffic cameras, making your license plate unreadable.

The Sunflex Zone License Plate Cover is a popular option that offers an ultra-thin, clear layer of protection against traffic cameras. It is designed to fit standard US plates and utilizes 300 nano layers to filter out infrared light, allowing only visible light to pass through. This makes the cover undetectable to the naked eye, ensuring law enforcement won't notice it. Additionally, it is shatterproof, weather-resistant, and won't yellow in the sun, helping to keep your license plate looking new.

Another option is the Zade Original Protector Anti-Photo Radar License Plate Cover, which is invisible to the naked eye but reflects most red light camera flashes. Its curved design also helps bounce radar lights off your license plate.

When choosing a license plate cover, it is important to consider the fit, durability, and weather resistance. Make sure the cover is designed to fit your country's standard plate size. Look for features like shatterproof or weather-resistant materials to ensure the cover can withstand different elements and protect your license plate.

Keep in mind that in most states, it is illegal to attach anything to your license plate that would make it unreadable. Check your local laws before installing a license plate cover to ensure compliance.

Use a license plate spray

A license plate spray is a cheap and effective way to make your license plate number invisible to red light cameras. It is also a good alternative if you can't use an anti-camera license plate cover.

Red light cameras use a strong flash to photograph cars' license plates. Clear sprays for license plates work by reflecting this light back to the camera, which makes the photo overexposed and unclear. The spray makes your plate shiny so that when a photo is taken with a flash, the shiny coat reflects the flash and makes your plate unreadable.

PhotoBlocker is the best-selling license plate spray based on a patented formula. The spray makes your plate shiny so that when a photo is taken with a flash, it becomes illegible. You need to apply four coats and allow the license plate to dry for at least an hour between coats. The spray is invisible to the naked eye, and one can cover four license plates.

However, it is important to note that some sources claim that these sprays are ineffective and do not work. It is also illegal to alter, block, or obscure a license plate in most states, so be sure to consult your state law before using any of these products.

Use a license plate shield

A license plate shield is a type of cover that you can place over your license plate to obscure it from view. There are a variety of different types of license plate shields available, each with its own unique features and benefits.

One of the most popular types of license plate shields is the clear, plastic cover. This type of shield is designed to make your license plate unreadable when viewed from an angle, while still being clear and legible when viewed directly from behind. This type of shield is also known as a "photo shield" and has been featured on popular TV shows such as CSI Miami.

Another type of license plate shield is the reflective license plate cover. This type of cover is coated with light-reflecting crystals that reflect the flash of a camera back towards the source, causing the image of your license plate to be overexposed and unreadable. This type of shield is also known to be effective against infrared cameras, which are commonly used in speed cameras.

If you're looking for a more high-tech solution, you might consider a smart license plate cover. These covers are equipped with sensors that can detect the flash of a red light camera and will then trigger flashes on the sides of the plate, making the image too bright for the camera to capture.

It's important to note that the legality of using license plate shields varies depending on your location. In most states, it is illegal to attach anything to your license plate that would make it unreadable. However, some license plate shields are designed to be invisible to the naked eye, so it's important to do your research and understand the laws in your area before using any of these products.

While license plate shields can be an effective way to beat traffic cameras, they may not work against all types of cameras or in all situations. Additionally, it's important to consider the potential consequences of using these products, as law enforcement may take a dim view of any attempts to obscure your license plate.

Use a laser jammer

Using a laser jammer is one way to try to beat traffic cameras. Laser jammers are electronic devices used by motorists to block safety cameras and prevent them from detecting their speed. They are commonly disguised as parking sensors or garage door openers.

The devices work by receiving the light signal from a laser speed camera and simulating the reflections the device would have seen. The jammer makes changes to the simulated reflections so that the speedmeter shows alarm signals to the operator or gives no speed reading. The idea is that the operator sees alarms that they see in their daily work, tricking them into thinking the issue is with their equipment.

However, using a laser jammer is illegal in the UK and the US. There have been several successful prosecutions, including prison sentences, for the offence of perverting the course of justice.

One example of a laser jammer is the Laser Elite Jammer, which was bought legally as a parking sensor but was hacked to the same wavelength as police speed traps. The gadget was programmed to intercept incoming police lasers and send them back at the same frequency, which made it virtually impossible to record the car's speed. It also sounded an alarm if the camera picked up speeding activity, prompting the driver to slow down.

Challenge the admissibility of the photo

Challenging the admissibility of a photo taken by a traffic camera is one way to dispute a traffic camera ticket. Here are some ways to do that:

Hearsay

In some jurisdictions, a red light camera photo is considered hearsay. Hearsay is an out-of-court statement presented in court to prove the matter asserted. In this case, the photo is an out-of-court statement that the prosecution is attempting to use to prove you violated the traffic law. Hearsay evidence is generally inadmissible unless it fits into one of the exceptions. However, there are more than two dozen hearsay exceptions, and it is worth researching whether this objection applies in your jurisdiction.

Right to Confront Witnesses

The Sixth Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees you the right to cross-examine witnesses. Unless a witness appears who maintains the record and system associated with the camera, you do not have this opportunity.

Authenticity of the Photograph

If no one from the company that maintains the camera shows up to testify, you can object to the use of the photographs for lack of foundation. The prosecution must present evidence that the camera that took the photo, the system that connected it to the traffic light, and the traffic light itself were functioning properly. Without establishing this foundation, the photo is not reliable and cannot be admitted into evidence.

Lack of Evidence

Even if the photos are clear and the judge allows them, if none of them clearly show you driving, the prosecution cannot prove it was you driving the car. Additionally, the photo also provides no proof that the traffic light was functioning properly. If the prosecution can't prove the traffic light was functioning properly, they can't prove that you ran the red light.

Frequently asked questions