Photoessay #916 - Dismissed!

I successfully got my $124 ticket dismissed today. Unexpectedly. I was all ready with my sick puppy defense. Even had a picture for support. But I didn't need it as I got let off on a technicality.

The city of Lake Forest Park has contracted with some outfit in Arzona to set up speed zones near schools 'photo enforced'. Which means that for a certain part of the road, the speed limit drops to 20 mph with a little sign and if you drive down the road at a faster speed, flash! and the cameras mounted on the pole have taken your picture and you're screwed. This particular zone is 2 blocks away from the school on a different street. Really really annoying, it's hard to see that it's anything other than a revenue stream for the city.

So, when I was taking the dog to the vet, flash! Dang! Sure enough I received a ticket for $124. You could request a mitigation hearing, which I did. When I got there this morning, at least 20 other people were there all having got the same ticket in the same place. And were mad as heck about it.

But, these tickets are not moving violations because the camera cannot tell who was driving. More like a parking ticket which belongs to the vehicle. A parking ticket for $124?

The judge asked if anybody present had not been driving the car during the violation. If so, the judge would dismiss the ticket. I did not consider the inverse which would have given me a hint.

The first person gave his usual excuses, not seeing the sign, how would you know, etc. The judge adjusted it by half but he still owed $65. He wasn't very happy mumbling about the cash gtab by the city.

Because of the 'Barnes' name, I was called second. But the judge called Dennis Barnes, not me. I went up looking confused. I said who I was. Then I remembered that I had been driving the Prius which probably was registered in my husband's name. We had not been real careful about this, whoever was there when the car got licensed owned the car. A small fleet of used cars have been registered in my name. But Dennis bought that car at the dealer so, yeah, probably in his name.

The judge asked "was I driving". Yes, I was. Did I own the car? Apparently not. She asked me to raise my right hand and testify that I had been the driver. She then dismissed the ticket.

Suwwwweeeeat! Lucky me!

I look at the letter and, sure enough, the summons was addressed to Dennis.

So, to all those readers in photo-enforced land. If you are driving a car registered to somebody else, you do NOT have to pay!

Picture of Lake Forest Park, Washington city hall.