Wait...Those WEREN'T Mandatory?

City officials released news this week that has left many Californians very unhappy. Drivers who were ticketed for running a red-light and were caught by a camera... didn't have to pay the fine. Officials said authorities can't force violators to pay the fine if they don't want to. The tickets are technically "voluntary".

The controversial news came out because the city is deciding whether to drop the photo enforcement program. According to the LA Times, Councilman Paul Koretz said motorists should not expect refunds. "There are many reasons to get rid of the red-light cameras, but one of the most compelling is the way the court system handles the tickets," Kortez said.

According to the Times, "The court may seek payment via collection agencies, but failures to pay do not show up on a personal credit reports, court officials said. The policy applies to tickets received throughout the Los Angeles County, said Greg Blair, the court's senior administrator for traffic operations."

Close to 200,000 motorists have been cited because of the red-light cameras since they were first implemented in 2004.

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Have you ever received a traffic citation from a red-light camera?
Did you pay for it?
What do you think are some pros and cons of the City of LA's plan to take away the photo enforcement program?