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<br />Cities questioning future of red-light cameras - South Florida Sun-Sentine1.com <br /> <br />Page 4 of 4 <br /> <br />dismissed or remain unpaid. <br /> <br />That's out of31,521 tickets in Broward and 5,449 in Palm Beach. <br /> <br />National law firm The Ticket Clinic is responsible for many of the dismissals. <br />In South Florida it has won around 700 cases and lost two, said attorney Ted <br />Hollander, and raised multiple legal issues. <br /> <br />Rulings have said a videotape is not a witness. They've thrown out cases <br />because there was no proof the camera had been recently inspected. Judges <br />and hearing officers have required photographic evidence that the car had not <br />entered the intersection before the light turned red. Other cases were thrown <br />out because officers did not have certified copies of vehicle registrations or <br />because cities couldn't prove the employees who review tapes for violations <br />are certified to do so. <br /> <br />A recent Broward ruling said it's unconstitutional that there are different fines <br />for red-light tickets issued by cameras versus police officers, and one of the <br />two methods should be eliminated. <br /> <br />"If I were [A TS], I'd be worried," Hollander said. "Everyone involved should <br />be worried." <br /> <br />A TS might put an end to the losses in at least one city here. <br /> <br />Pembroke Pines and American Traffic Solutions are discussing a new contract <br />under which the city wouldn't pay anything until it has issued enough tickets <br />to cover all its costs, including legal fees and personnel time. <br /> <br />"Our goal is public safety and saving lives, but we've got to be able to pay for <br />it," said Mayor Frank Ortis. <br /> <br />abarkhurst@tribune.com or 954-356-4451 <br />Copyright <9 2011, SOllth FloridaSlln-SeIltil1~l <br /> <br />http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/locallfl-ats-red-light-cameras-deal-20 11 0706,0,51751 0... 7/13/2011 <br />