Not sure why this is front page news [even in Toronto --never mind globally on HN] But...
I've had a couple of photo tickets quashed in UK. one for slightly speeding, another for straying into a bus lane navigating through city centre traffic. In both cases, I wrote to the city council and asked for a copy of the latest calibration report for the camera involved. In both cases I got an "As a gesture of goodwill..." [ie. we know we'll lose if this goes to court] letter in return, quashing the tickets.
I imagine the legalities are similar everywhere. But in UK, all traffic cameras need to be calibrated at regular intervals [not sure how often] and a lot of them aren't because it costs money and councils hate spending money and, besides, most people never question the tickets when the proof of their guilt has been "caught on camera".
Not that I'm advising people to drive dangerously. But, if you do get flashed for a minor infringement, or a slight lapse in concentration [such as straying into a bus or taxi lane], it might be worth a try.
Of course [again in UK] they have a policy of "Pay £X" now or appeal the ticket and, if you lose the appeal, the fine is doubled to £2X. Which is obviously designed to deter people from appealing. So, if you happen to get nabbed by a camera that has recently been calibrated, you're out of luck! It's a gamble.
I've had a couple of photo tickets quashed in UK. one for slightly speeding, another for straying into a bus lane navigating through city centre traffic. In both cases, I wrote to the city council and asked for a copy of the latest calibration report for the camera involved. In both cases I got an "As a gesture of goodwill..." [ie. we know we'll lose if this goes to court] letter in return, quashing the tickets.
I imagine the legalities are similar everywhere. But in UK, all traffic cameras need to be calibrated at regular intervals [not sure how often] and a lot of them aren't because it costs money and councils hate spending money and, besides, most people never question the tickets when the proof of their guilt has been "caught on camera".
Not that I'm advising people to drive dangerously. But, if you do get flashed for a minor infringement, or a slight lapse in concentration [such as straying into a bus or taxi lane], it might be worth a try.
Of course [again in UK] they have a policy of "Pay £X" now or appeal the ticket and, if you lose the appeal, the fine is doubled to £2X. Which is obviously designed to deter people from appealing. So, if you happen to get nabbed by a camera that has recently been calibrated, you're out of luck! It's a gamble.