Latest news with #trafficviolations
CTV News
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Windsor getting 10 new red light cameras come fall
Windsor is set to get more red light cameras come the fall. Windsor is set to get 10 new red light cameras, but they may not be up and running until the fall. Installation for the next round of 10 started in April but aren't expected to go online until September. The first group of 10 was installed in 2022. The cameras will automatically take two pictures of offending vehicles, one when the light turns red, before the car enters the intersection, and the second will catch the vehicle going through the intersection as the light is red. More than 6,000 tickets were issued inn 2023, with over $1.2 million paid in fines.
Telegraph
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- Telegraph
How to appeal parking and speeding tickets
Motorists paid out a record amount of £620m in parking fines to councils during the 2023-2024 financial year, as town halls hit drivers with 1,000 tickets every hour. Meanwhile, private parking firms issued 7.8m fines between April and June last year – the highest on record, and equivalent to 43,000 a day. The industry has seen huge revenue increases over the past few years, and this is, in part, likely to be down to an increasing number of companies such as supermarkets, shopping centres and leisure facilities paying parking firms to patrol their car parks. The vast majority of the time, you'll be left with little option but to swallow your pride and cough up the cash. But these fines are also big business, and occasionally you will have been unfairly treated and have grounds to fight back. Here, Telegraph Money explains when a traffic violation punishment could be deemed unfair and give you the tools you need to fight it. When do I have to pay for a parking ticket? What are the different types of parking tickets? Can I just ignore a private parking ticket? Reasons for appealing a parking ticket Can I challenge a speeding ticket? When do I have to pay for a parking ticket? The short answer: when you have broken the clearly stated terms and conditions of the car park where you left your car. The long answer: it's complicated. Sometimes the terms and conditions are not made clear enough, or there might have been a mistake on the part of the firm enforcing the ticket. If this is the case, then you may have a case to challenge it. But how you do this will depend on the type of ticket – and who has issued it. What are the different types of parking tickets? Broadly speaking, there are two categories of parking ticket: those issued by an official body, usually a local authority, and those issued by private companies. Councils and other official bodies tend to issue fines as a 'penalty charge notice', 'fixed penalty notice' or 'excess charge notice'. Expect to receive these at council-run car parks or for double yellow line offences. Private parking firms typically issue fines called something like a 'parking charge notice' – note the copycat acronym with an official 'penalty charge notice'. These are dished out at locations such as hospitals, retail parks and supermarkets. As Telegraph Money's resident solicitor Gary Rycroft pointed out, parking charge notices from private firms are not actual fines, but instead 'invoices' to collect payment for a perceived breach of the conditions. He said: 'Parking tickets issued for private land are very often made to look like the notices issued by a local authority. They are often put in yellow plastic covers and are called names similar to the official notices. But they are imposters, with no official legal status.' What is the five-minute rule? Motorists now have more time to pay for car parking as the controversial five-minute rule has been scrapped. Private car park users were commonly ticketed for failing to pay within a certain time – usually five or 10 minutes – after arriving at a car park. A woman was taken to court last year by a private parking company which demanded she pay £1,906 after poor mobile phone signal meant she repeatedly took more than five minutes to pay after entering a car park in Derby. However, in early 2025, the industry's two trade associations said their code of conduct would be updated to provide a 'safeguard' when motorists experience delays in making parking payments. The British Parking Association (BPA) and the International Parking Community (IPC) said drivers should no longer be issued tickets for using privately owned car parks where a fixed camera monitors when cars enter and exit, as long as they pay before they leave. The change does not apply to council-run car parks or those where wardens are deployed. Can I challenge an unfair local authority parking fine? Local authority-issued tickets are legally enforceable, meaning you do have to pay. You will usually receive a discount if you pay within a set time period, often two weeks. However, if you do feel you have a legitimate reason for arguing that the ticket should be nulled then the council or official body will have a clear procedure for processing appeals. They will usually be fairly reasonable if you can prove your case. If your appeal is rejected then you will have to pay up, but most councils will honour the early payment discount if you appealed within the time limit. Challenging an unfair private parking ticket While parking tickets issued by private companies are not legally enforceable, making a challenge is still only worth doing if you genuinely feel that the ticket was issued unfairly. If you simply overstayed at a car park and the time limit was clearly stated then you are unlikely to be successful. However, there are reasons that the ticket may be unfair, including mistakes on the ticket or a lack of signage. Collect as much evidence as you can. This could include photographs of unclear signage, or that your car parked within designated bays. Next, it is worth reporting the unfair ticket to the landowner, which will have contracted the company to run the car park. It may not be aware of the issue and this could be the quickest way to a resolution. For example, one Telegraph Money reader was on holiday in the Lake District and had parked in the hotel car park. The hotel had failed to tell him clearly enough that he needed to register his vehicle to avoid a charge, and a week later he received seven parking tickets worth £700. He contacted the hotel manager to explain the situation, and provided proof that he had told hotel staff that he had a vehicle in the car park, and his parking tickets were subsequently cancelled. Lodging an appeal The next step is to check whether the company issuing the ticket is part of a registered trade body: the British Parking Association or the International Parking Community. If the answer is yes, then the best course of action is to follow the official appeals route. Firstly, complain directly to the company, stating your case and giving supporting evidence. If this is unsuccessful then the trade body will have an independent appeals process. If the company is not part of a trade body then the picture is a little murkier. Some experts argue that you should not use the company's appeals process as there is no independent oversight. Instead, you could send a letter to the company, firmly stating your case and informing it that you do not intend to pay the fine. Be aware that, if you choose to take this route, then the firm could choose to take you to court which, even if you are successful, will be costly and time consuming. Mr Rycroft said: 'In any court action it is possible to make an offer of settlement before the hearing date and always remember pursuing a court claim will be costing the company time and money. 'That said, they may feel compelled to see it through so they are not seen as a soft touch. Like any legal case, only defend it if you feel very confidently you have grounds to.' Can I just ignore a private parking ticket? If the parking firm is a member of a trade body, then it can apply to the DVLA for the details of the registered keeper of a vehicle to track you down, so ignoring the ticket is not advisable. If it is not a member, then it won't be able to make an application to the DVLA. However, that does not mean it doesn't have access to other ways to track you, so think very carefully before simply ignoring a ticket. Reasons for appealing a parking ticket If you feel hard done by, there are reasons to appeal your parking fine: The parking signs or road markings were unclear: The terms and conditions of using a car park should be made clear on nearby signs. You should provide a photo to show the lack of road markings or signs, or if they were confusing. There was no way to pay: Sometimes machines are broken. Your ticket should be cancelled if a parking meter was out of action and there was no other way to pay. You'll need to provide evidence of this. You were charged too much. According to Citizens Advice, the amount you're charged will fall into a higher or lower band. Parking on a double yellow line heralds a higher band, while overstaying is a lower band offence. Make sure to challenge if you've been put in the wrong band. Your car broke down. The ticket issuer should be lenient if your car has an issue and cannot leave the car park You were only just out of time: You should be given a few minutes after your parking runs out. This grace period means it could be worth appealing if your overran by less than 10 minutes. Can I challenge a speeding ticket? If you receive a speeding ticket, you will be offered a fine and a speed awareness course if it is your first offence. Nick Freeman, the solicitor dubbed Mr Loophole, has successfully defended a number of celebrity clients in overturning fines for traffic violations. However, he said: 'If you are offered a course I would take it. It's cheap and quite instructive, and you avoid the hassle of going to court. You get one chance every three years.' If it is a case of mistaken identity, he said you should simply contact the enforcement body with evidence of this. There could also be technical grounds to challenge a ticket if it was not issued within 14 days of the offence, or if the camera was not correct in tracking your speed. However, he warned that your case could take as long as a year to come to court and could be costly. 'If you are convicted you will have to pay the fine and a victim surcharge.' Speeding myths Contrary to popular belief, the police do not need to tell you when they are conducting speed traps, Mr Freeman said, and he advised using the Waze navigation app which will flag any upcoming patrols, which will have been reported by other Waze users. Similarly, your speedometer being inaccurate is not an excuse for speeding, but if this is the case then you could apply for an absolute discharge to at least avoid the points being added to your driving licence. Temporary speed limits on motorways are enforceable just like any other limit, so you should follow the rules. And while Mr Freeman says that most police forces will not prosecute drivers who are up to 10pc + 1mph over the official limit, it is still a good idea to stick within the law. What if I get a ticket for using my mobile phone? The laws regarding mobile phone use behind the wheel have been toughened up in recent years. It used to be the case that your phone had to be used for 'interactive communication' for it to be an offence. But now, you could be prosecuted for any mobile phone use and handed six points. Mr Freeman says the new law makes it much harder than it was to challenge this kind of ticket.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
City starts crackdown on noisy vehicles in residential, commercial areas
The city says it's cracking down on noisy vehicles by increasing monitoring in residential communities and specific commercial areas like 17th Avenue. Using calibrated decibel meters and noise sensors, the city's traffic safety team will document violations, focusing on areas with high traffic complaints and noise reports. "The overall goal is to reduce it… to make them a little bit quieter, make them a little more comfortable for people that are being impacted and affected by this across Calgary," said Bradley Johnson, head of the traffic safety team. Fines include $270 for operating a vehicle over the legal noise limit and $300 for failing to comply during a noise level test. Common noisy vehicle violations include: loud exhausts and mufflers, excessive engine revving, squealing tires, roaring or explosive sounds, loud stereos, amplification equipment, and vehicle alarms. Modifying a vehicle to increase its noise — such as installing aftermarket mufflers — is also a violation of the Traffic Safety Act and will be subject to fines. "Alongside a decibel reading, we also take into consideration, you know, the time of day, the location of the noise ... how many people are around, what's going on, to kind of incorporate a full look at what is going on in the area and the impact that this noise may be causing for citizens," Johnson said. The traffic safety team launched back in March, and is a 12-month pilot program focused on tackling noisy vehicle violations, enforcing speed limits in playground zones and promoting traffic safety education. The team includes eight peace officers and two sergeants, building on the Calgary Police Service's ongoing work. Ernie Tsu, president of the Alberta Hospitality Association and owner of Trolley 5 Restaurant and Brewery on 17th Avenue, said loud vehicles have always been a problem on the busy street, and while it seems to have gotten better over the last couple of years, it is still an issue. "All of us businesses are kind of holding our breath back to see how the city's going to enforce it and if it actually happens," he said of the crackdown. "We're hoping that, you know, when we have older couples for their anniversaries or families out for brunch, that… the level of volume from the cars or the motorbikes is brought down." Tsu says the noise is particularly a concern for patio-goers during summer months. Last year, city officials deployed acoustic monitoring devices on 17th Avenue, among other locations, to gauge the amount of excessive noise. Johnson reminded Calgarians with performance vehicles to be mindful of others, especially now as people are out enjoying the weather. "It doesn't mean we don't want you driving them. Absolutely, we want you to enjoy what you have. Just be respectful with it. Not everyone wants to hear that when they're out on a patio," he said. "You don't need to do that excessive engine revving. You don't need to peel out, you know, in a crowded area or anything else like that that's just above and beyond what you need to do." Residents can report noisy vehicles to 311.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Trial postponed for alleged driver in fatal McKinley hit-and-run
Trial for the man charged with negligent homicide in the Feb. 15, 2023, hit-and-run that killed 16-year-old Sara Yara and injured her schoolmate, has been postponed for another 10 weeks. Circuit Judge Trish Morikawa granted the motion Thursday and ordered the trial week for Mitchel Miya shiro to be continued to Sept. 8 from July 7. The case of Miyashiro, who had 164 prior traffic citations, had incensed the public because he had never been jailed for any of his previous driving offenses. Deputy Public Defender Reiko Bryant requested the continuance Tuesday on Mitchel Miyashiro's behalf by written motion. She said in the motion that she is still investigating potential witnesses and waiting for medical records from The Queen's Medical Center. 'Given the severity of the instant charges and possible consequences /punishment stemming there from, counsel requests a continuance of the trial week to complete our ongoing investigations, ' Bryant said. However, Deputy Prosecutor Landon Patoc objected to a continuance. Miyashiro will be tried on first-degree negligent homicide for operating a vehicle in a negligent manner, collisions involving death or serious bodily injury, collisions involving bodily injury and driving without a valid license. At the time Miyashiro was charged in December 2023, Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm said he would try to use Kaulana's Law, which allows enhanced sentencing of up to 20 years for drivers who do not remain at the scene of a fatal crash and render aid. Yara and another girl were struck in a marked crosswalk at 6 :40 a.m. Feb. 15, 2023, at the intersection of Kapiolani Boulevard and Kamakee Street near Mc Kinley's athletic field. Miyashiro fled the scene and turned himself in to police the following day. Miyashiro has been held in lieu of $250, 000 bail at the Oahu Community Correctional Center since December 2023. He was sentenced in April to one year in jail for a Jan. 5, 2023, citation for driving without a license, and given credit for time served. The charge was upgraded from a petty misdemeanor to a misdemeanor after the Feb. 15, 2023, crash. He pleaded no contest Sept. 20, 2023, to the misdemeanor.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shedeur Sanders Has Been Stopped Twice By Police
Shedeur Sanders Has Been Stopped Twice By Police originally appeared on The Spun. The hits keep coming for Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Sanders, a fifth round NFL Draft pick, was reportedly pulled over by police in Ohio on Tuesday morning. Shortly after midnight, Sanders was reportedly pulled over for allegedly driving 101 MPH in a 55 MPH zone. He was reportedly given a citation and could appear in court, if he chooses to fight the ticket. Advertisement However, this was not the only time that Sanders has been pulled over by police. ESPN reported on Thursday, June 19 that Sanders has actually been pulled over twice for speeding. He was pulled over for speeding 91 MPH in a 65 MPH zone. From the report: According to a Medina [Ohio] Municipal Court record that was filed June 6, Sanders was pulled over by the Ohio State Patrol earlier this month. In that alleged violation, which took place June 5 in Brunswick Hills, Ohio, The Ohio State Patrol told WKBN-TV that Sanders was stopped for driving 91 mph in a 65-mph zone. According to the record, Sanders failed to appear for an arraignment for that citation on Monday and faces $269 in fines and court costs. He was then stopped by an officer for the Strongsville (Ohio) Police Department at 12:24 a.m. Tuesday morning for driving 41 mph over the posted 60 mph speed limit in a black Dodge TRX truck. The Browns are standing by Sanders, for now. "He is taking care of the tickets," team spokesman Peter John-Baptiste told Meanwhile, while the Browns are sticking by Sanders, Fox Sports 1 host Colin Cowherd is not. BEREA, OHIO - MAY 09: Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns walks off the field after rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 09, 2025 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images "Shedeur Sanders got caught speeding over 100 MPH. Don't minimize it, don't pander. This is not good for a quarterback," he said on his "The Herd" show on Thursday afternoon, June 19. Advertisement "I do not cling to opinions. New information, new opinion. I don't think about him the same. When you fall to (pick) 144 in the draft, and then you try to match that number behind the wheel of a car, I don't think the same. "You ignored signs about Manziel and Baker. And, apparently, based on the traffic violation, Shedeur was avoiding some signs, too - that say stop. I'm not sure he's mature enough. Now I'm going to have to like Kenny Pickett." Shedeur Sanders Has Been Stopped Twice By Police first appeared on The Spun on Jun 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
