Speed Cameras in DC

Speed cameras are found throughout the DC area in locations selected by the DC Metropolitan Police Department. The purpose of the speed cameras are to reduce the number of accidents and injuries that are associated with speeding and traffic accidents, as well as make certain areas such as school zones safe for individuals to walk around.

Speed cameras work by using radar to detect vehicles that are travelling over the posted speed limit, which then triggers the camera to photograph the rear of the vehicle, including the individual’s license plate. If you are caught by a speed camera you can face fines of up to $250 in addition to other penalties.

Speeding Penalties

If someone is caught be a speeding camera in DC, they may face a fine of up to $250, depending on how much over the posted speed limit that person was travelling. The number of points assessed to someone’s driver’s record will depend on how much over the posted speed limit a person was driving as well.

If they were driving one to 10 miles per hour over the posted speed limit, they will receive two points. If they were travelling 11 to 15 miles over the speed limit, they will receive three points. If travelling 16 to 20 miles per hour over the speed limit, they will receive four points. If travelling 21 or more miles per hour over the speed limit, they will receive five points.

Unless the speeding contributes to a reckless driving charge, there are no criminal ramifications because this infraction is handled at the DMV and not at the DC Superior Court House.

Speed Camera Enforcement in DC

If you are caught by a speed camera in DC, a notice of infraction is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle after an examination of the license plate in the photograph.

Once an individual has been notified, he or she must either pay the fine, which may be up to $250, or request an administrative hearing to contest the ticket.

The Metropolitan Police Department deploys any speed camera through which an individual will receive a speed camera citation. Additionally, an officer from the Department may pull an individual over and issue a speeding ticket. However, if an individual wants to make a payment or contest the infraction, that is enforced and handled by the DC DMV.

Appealing a Ticket

Someone may request an administrative hearing that will be held at the DMV to contest a ticket. If they are not happy with the hearing examiner’s decision, that person may submit a motion for reconsideration within 30 days of the hearing examiner’s decision.

How An Attorney Can Help After Getting Caught by a Speed Camera in DC

An attorney will be able to contest the ticket and appear on an individual’s behalf at an administrative hearing at the DMV. An attorney may also be able to provide the hearing examiner with information that challenges the photographs or mitigates the circumstances. This information may result in the speed camera ticket being dismissed altogether in certain cases. To learn more about speed cameras in DC, call today.