Did I Get Snapped By A Speed Camera?

Speed cameras are designed to deter drivers from exceeding speed limits. If you're caught speeding by a camera, you may face a steep fine. The one true way to tell if you've been caught is by receiving a notice letter in the post. If you've been caught exceeding the speed limit, a fine should arrive within 14 days, usually within five working days. In the US, the average time to receive a fine is about two weeks, but it can take up to 28 days. In some cases, the first indication that you have received a fine is when you get a reminder or final notice.

You will receive a notice letter in the post

If you've been caught speeding by a camera, you will usually receive a notice letter in the post. This is typically the only way to know for sure that you've been caught, as not all speed cameras flash. In most cases, you will receive a fine in the letterbox, but sometimes it may be a reminder or final notice of an outstanding fine.

The average time to receive a speeding fine is about two weeks, but it can take up to 28 days or more, depending on your location. The letter will include details such as the date, time, and location of the offence, as well as photos of your car and license plate.

If you receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) letter, you can appeal it. Common grounds for appeal include technicalities surrounding the timing of the ticket, missing details on the NIP, incorrect or obscured speed limit signs, or if you can prove you weren't behind the wheel.

It's important to note that speeding camera tickets are usually issued to the registered owner of the vehicle, not the driver. Therefore, if someone else was driving your car at the time of the offence, you may be able to dispute the ticket.

Not all speed cameras flash

How to Know if You Got a Speeding Camera Ticket

There's no surefire way to know if you've been caught speeding by a camera before you receive a fine. In most cases, the first indication that you have a speeding ticket is when a fine arrives in the mail. However, there are instances when you might observe a sudden flash in your rearview mirror or identify distinct camera equipment mounted on a vehicle parked by the roadside.

It's a common misconception that speed cameras always flash when they capture a speeding vehicle. However, this isn't always the case. There are various types of speed cameras in operation, and some of them don't use a flash. Here are some examples:

• Truvelo Cameras: These cameras are thin, narrow, and usually yellow. They are forward-facing, capturing the photo of the driver. Truvelo Combis don't use a flash; instead, they rely on infrared technology. Some have a built-in infrared photo unit, while others use an orange-coloured lamp on a separate pole to take the picture.
• HADECS Cameras: HADECS stands for Highway Agency Digital Enforcement Camera System. These cameras are small and grey, sometimes with yellow sides. They are often mounted on motorway gantries or poles at the roadside, earning them the nickname "stealth cameras" due to their inconspicuous design. They use infrared technology, so there is no visible flash.
• SPECS and VECTOR Average Speed Cameras: These cameras are usually fitted on gantries above the road and are placed in multiple locations along a stretch of road. They track vehicles' speed over a longer distance using infrared technology without flashing.
• Siemens SafeZone Average Speed Cameras: Commonly found in town and village centres, outside schools, or on dual carriageways, these cameras measure speed between two or more locations without a visible flash.
• SpeedSpike Average Speed Cameras: These newer cameras can be part of a network of up to 1,000 separate cameras, monitoring an area 24 hours a day. They measure average speed between fixed points and can catch speeding drivers in both directions without a visible flash.

While not all speed cameras flash, it's important to remember that their presence is intended to promote safer driving. The use of speed cameras has been found to reduce accidents and road fatalities significantly.

You can appeal a speeding ticket

If you believe you have been unfairly issued a speeding ticket, you can appeal it. However, winning an appeal can be difficult. The appeal process is not like a new trial; you cannot present new evidence or have witnesses testify. Instead, the purpose of an appeal is to review the original trial for any legal errors. The onus is on the driver to prove that the traffic court judge did not follow the law.

If you wish to appeal a speeding ticket, you must first file a notice of appeal. In many jurisdictions, this must be done within 30 days of the conviction. You will then need to produce an "appellate record", which consists of all the documents filed in the trial court and transcripts of all the hearings. In some cases, there won't be any court reports or transcripts, so the appellate record will consist of only a "settled statement" of the facts, agreed upon by both the driver and the government.

The most important part of the appeal is the "appellate briefs", which are written arguments submitted to the appellate court. The driver submits the first brief, known as the "Opening Brief", followed by the government's "Response Brief". The driver then gets the final word with the "Reply Brief". After all the briefs have been submitted, the court will set a date for oral argument, which is optional and will only be held if either party requests it.

If you are considering appealing a speeding ticket, it may be worth hiring an attorney to handle your appeal.

In some cases, you may be able to get out of a speeding ticket without going to trial. For example, in some states, if you have never had a ticket before, you may be eligible for traffic school. Alternatively, if you were ticketed for not having proof of insurance, many courts will dismiss the ticket if you can present proof of insurance before your hearing date.

You will receive your fine within two weeks

If you've been caught speeding by a camera, you will usually receive a fine through the post within two weeks. In most places, this will be within 14 days, but it can take up to 28 days, and in some places, you could receive your fine in as little as four days.

In the US, the fine will be sent to the registered owner of the car, not the driver, so make sure you were driving the car when the ticket was issued. In the UK, the fine will go to the driver.

If you have been caught exceeding the speed limit, you will usually receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) letter. You can appeal this letter, and one of the most common grounds for appeal is if you haven't received a letter within 14 days. In this case, you can reject paying the fine, but you will need to plead "not guilty" and argue your case in court.

The fine amount will depend on the speed limit in question and by how much you exceeded it. In the UK, the minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and three points on your driving licence. The sum is usually a percentage of your weekly income, up to a maximum of £1,000, or £2,500 if you were driving on a motorway. An unpaid fine after 28 days could result in an increased sum, a court case, or a warrant for your arrest.

The financial penalties of a speed camera ticket

The ticket fine itself is determined by how many kilometres or miles you were speeding over the limit, and the area in which you were speeding. For example, in Ontario, Canada, fines are higher if you are caught speeding in a Community Safety Zone. Fines also increase incrementally the further you are over the speed limit.

The victim surcharge fee is an additional expense that is regulated by the provincial or state government and is added to all provincial or state offences, except for parking tickets. This money is then used to support victims of criminal offences. The amount of the surcharge varies depending on the amount of the actual ticket fine.

A standard court fee is also applied to all speed camera tickets, and this is also set by the province or state.

In most cases, the first realisation that you have been caught by a speed camera will be when you receive the fine in the mail. This can take up to two weeks in most states, but it can take up to 28 days in some places. In other places, such as Tasmania, you could receive a fine electronically in as little as four days.

While there is no sure way to know if you have been caught speeding by a camera before the fine arrives, you can check for any outstanding fines in some states. For example, in New South Wales, you can use the Service NSW app, and in Victoria, you can log in at fines.vic.gov.au.

Frequently asked questions