Some supporters want to keep the sign rules, but give cities and states more time to comply with the new rules.  U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood during the summer proposed dropping deadlines for cities and states to meet minimum “retro reflectivity” standards for signs. The deadlines called for signs such as stop and yield signs to be replaced by 2015 and street name signs by 2018.  Those who favor replacing signs with brighter ones argue that without a deadline, municipalities and states will delay making the changes and thereby put motorist in danger. For full story click here.

In Florida statute 316.0745 states the Department of Transportation (DOT) shall adopt a uniform system of traffic control devices–“All devices and signals shall conform with the manual and specifications published by the DOT”.  The Florida Department of Transportation has adopted the Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) as the state standard (Rule 14-15.10).  If Florida doesn’t comply with the new rules are there signs illegal?  Can they be enforced?  If you have gotten a traffic ticket in the Central Florida area (Orange, Seminole, Osceola Lake, Brevard, Volusia or Polk counties) and need help or just have questions contact The Malone Law Firm at (407) 872-7888 or email us at tmalone@malonetickethelp.com.  You can also visit our website at malonetickethelp.com.

Aided by new high-tech cameras and a better tracking system, the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority is ticketing more drivers and the result is twice as much money recovered from toll violations in the past year.  The Expressway Authority projects that this year it will recover 2.6 million dollars from violators.  The Expressway Authority made less than 1.3 million dollars in 2010.  Also, the Expressway Authority is going after violators sooner.  They now send a notice after two missed tolls in a month, rather than the prior practice of three. 

A dime surcharge is added to each violation, plus a $3.00 administration fee to the overall tab. If the toll goes unpaid after a second notice the Expressway Authority puts a hold on the car’s registration.  Previously, the agency suspended the driver’s license if tolls went unpaid.  The policy was changed after a series of stories in the Orlando Sentinel detailing cases of motorists whose licenses were suspended without their knowledge.   

The new cameras have increased the number of readable images of license plates from 13.5 million in 2009 to almost 17.7 million in 2010.  That has been combined with an upgraded computer network that allows officials to find and contact more motorist who have moved.  The number of unpaid toll notices that go out every month has increased from fewer than 10,000 a month in July 2009 to almost 70,000 in February 2011. 

If you have received a toll ticket in the Orange, Seminole, or Osceola County, or the Orlando area contact the Malone Law Firm to preserve your privilege to drive.  Remember that each toll ticket carries four (4) points.  Protect your privilege to drive-keep points off your license, contact the Malone Law Firm at (407) 872-7888, toll free at 1-877-DONT PAY, or email us at tmalone@malonetickethelp.com, or malonelawfirm@gmail.com.

Labels: Toll tickets, Toll violations, Toll Citations, Toll Ticket Attorney

Receiving a Red Light Camera Ticket (as opposed to the old fashioned tickets issued for running red light) is becoming more and more common.  Attorneys are challenging the red light camera tickets, groups are protesting them, and congress people are debating them.  But how do they work?  This blog will try and shed a little light on the answer to that question.

1. The system activates when motion is detected just prior to the cross walk, after the light has turned red.

2. The cameras capture two pictures of the alleged violation from the rear of the vehicle.

3. The first picture shows the vehicle at the white stop bar and the red light illuminated.

4. The second picture is of the vehicle in the middle of the intersection and the red light illuminated.

5. The image of the license plate is a close up taken from one of the two pictures mentioned above.

6. Data is also recorded including the time, date and duration of the yellow and red lights.

7. A twelve second digital video of the violation is also recorded that includes six seconds before the violation and six seconds after running the red light.

Anyone who receives one of these tickets can probably surmise what is written above from the paperwork sent to them with their ticket.  If you have received one of these tickets or any other ticket(s) you can contact the Malone Law Firm for assistance at (407) 872-7888, toll free at 1-877-DONT PAY, or email us at tmalone@malonetickethelp.com or malonelawfirm@gmail.com.

Labels: Red Light Camera, Ticket, Violation, citation, attorney, lawyer, Orlando

Red Light Camera Statute. F.S. 316.0083

F.S. 318.14

For more information about Red Light tickets and any other traffic ticket, visit our website.

Visit our website for more information.

During the last legislative session the Florida state house and senate did not pass a state wide red light camera law; however, there are a number of  municipalities in the state of Florida that are installing red light cameras and issuing traffic infractions based on the photographs they take.  There are at least four red light cameras in Ocoee, Florida now.  There is one at S.R. 50 and Maguire Road, two along Clarke Road and one at Blackwood Avenue and S.R. 50.  Red light cameras and the tickets issued as a result of them have sparked a lot of controversy in the state of Florida.  Proponents say the red light cameras save lives and help prevent accidents.  Others disagree with these statements and say the red light cameras actually cause accidents.  One thing is for sure–these cameras generate a lot of revenue for the local governments that install them.  There are a number of challenges through out the state to the use of these cameras and the Infractions they generate.  Generally, the legal objections have been that the red light camera laws enacted by local governments, such as the city of Ocoee, conflict with State laws (an infraction must be witnessed by a police officer, and traffic laws must be uniform throughout the state).  The cities argue that their ordinances are not subject to state traffic law because they are code violations and the cameras are not installed on land controlled by the state.  Some of these arguments against red light camera tickets may become moot if the State enacts a red light camera law. 

Whether the Infractions presently issued by the cities are actually tickets or are code violations one thing appears to be true, because cities, such as Ocoee, have written their ordinances to make the infractions code violations, the same rights that a person enjoys for contesting a state law violation do not exist for these city “code violations”.  Pursuant to Ocoee ordinance 168-19 (G) “Formal rules of evidence shall not apply. . .”.  Therefore the city can consider almost any evidence it wants against a person who has appealed their citation without regard for the rules of evidence that are set out in the Florida evidence code.  As stated above, these issues and others, could be resolved if the state enacts red light camera legislation in the coming session.  In the mean time, these infractions can be appealed.  If you have any additional questions, please contact the Malone Law Firm via email at  tmalone@malonetickethelp.com or by phone at (407) 872-7888, or toll free at 1-888-9MALONE.

You may also visit our Florida traffic ticket website: http://www.malonetickethelp.com

Labels: Orlando, Red light camera, Red light violation, ordinance, ticket, infraction, citation