Published On: July 18th, 2019Categories: Uncategorized


WESH 2 News first reported Tuesday night that Orange County has dismissed thousands of red light camera tickets.That resulted in a loss of more than a half-million dollars in revenue.WESH 2 News decided to dig deeper to look at how the state’s red light camera law may have to be changed to make it fair for everyone facing tickets and fines.Since 2011, Orange County has dismissed nearly 4,100 red light camera tickets totaling more than $647,000 — money that will never be spent to benefit state and local taxpayers.WESH 2 News discovered the county directed its red light camera vendor, American Traffic Solutions, or ATS, to “dismiss” red light running violations by drivers with “out of country” addresses, specifically drivers outside the U.S., Canada or Mexico, who typically rent cars and run red lights.”It is something that we are grateful that you brought up, and that we are reviewing, because we want to make sure that we are being the best stewards possible of the public’s money,” said Orange County Spokesperson Jane Watrel.Watrel explained it might be expensive or legally tricky to collect the $158 fines, but that does not sit well with domestic drivers.”If you can’t enforce it, you can’t have the law. Because it’s not enforced for everyone, equally,” tourist Charlene Clarke said.”I have to pay, so why not someone from Great Britain?” said Larry Smith, a tourist from Las Vegas.While the WESH 2 News investigation has the county demanding answers from ATS, WESH 2 News checked Orlando’s red light program. It uses the same vendor, ATS, but unlike the county, Orlando makes the “administrative” decision on “out of country addresses” and decides whether or not to mail dismissal letters.Also, in Orange County’s agreement, it directed ATS to handle rental car company customer violations.In the city’s agreement with ATS, “Orlando handles these.””We don’t believe it’s a consultant’s or contractor’s business to be making policy decisions for the city,” City of Orlando Transportation Director Billy Hattaway said.Records show Orlando dismissed less than 100 rental car company red light tickets in the past two and a half years.The city of Kissimmee uses a different vendor called Redflex. Since January 2017, Kissimmee has dismissed seven “original rental car” violations while getting paid for 718 “original” tickets from rental car companies or their customers. Kissimmee officials said the city does not accept notices from rental car companies assigning blame to its international customers.”If that address that is submitted is out of country, then it’s not processed, and it remains with the registered owner. They are the ones responsible for paying the ticket,” said Melissa Zayas-Moreno, city of Kissimmee spokeswoman.But here’s the catch: State law does not allow cities or counties to order rental car companies to go after international customers.”This law is silent as to out-of-country drivers,” attorney Steve Kramer said.Kramer says it’s no wonder cities, counties and their vendors are all handling red light violations by many internationals differently. The law doesn’t address foreign drivers.Unless and until the red light camera law is changed, international drivers, especially those in rental cars, may keep running red lights and will not be fined. Rental car agreements obtained by WESH 2 News clearly show those companies have a legal right to charge customers’ credit cards to satisfy toll and traffic infractions, but that’s not spelled out in the state’s red light camera law, so it’s unclear if some are and some are not.ATS and Redflex referred WESH 2 News to the local governments running red light camera programs.

WESH 2 News first reported Tuesday night that Orange County has dismissed thousands of red light camera tickets.

That resulted in a loss of more than a half-million dollars in revenue.

WESH 2 News decided to dig deeper to look at how the state’s red light camera law may have to be changed to make it fair for everyone facing tickets and fines.

Since 2011, Orange County has dismissed nearly 4,100 red light camera tickets totaling more than $647,000 — money that will never be spent to benefit state and local taxpayers.

WESH 2 News discovered the county directed its red light camera vendor, American Traffic Solutions, or ATS, to “dismiss” red light running violations by drivers with “out of country” addresses, specifically drivers outside the U.S., Canada or Mexico, who typically rent cars and run red lights.

“It is something that we are grateful that you brought up, and that we are reviewing, because we want to make sure that we are being the best stewards possible of the public’s money,” said Orange County Spokesperson Jane Watrel.

Watrel explained it might be expensive or legally tricky to collect the $158 fines, but that does not sit well with domestic drivers.

“If you can’t enforce it, you can’t have the law. Because it’s not enforced for everyone, equally,” tourist Charlene Clarke said.

“I have to pay, so why not someone from Great Britain?” said Larry Smith, a tourist from Las Vegas.

While the WESH 2 News investigation has the county demanding answers from ATS, WESH 2 News checked Orlando’s red light program.

It uses the same vendor, ATS, but unlike the county, Orlando makes the “administrative” decision on “out of country addresses” and decides whether or not to mail dismissal letters.

Also, in Orange County’s agreement, it directed ATS to handle rental car company customer violations.

In the city’s agreement with ATS, “Orlando handles these.”

“We don’t believe it’s a consultant’s or contractor’s business to be making policy decisions for the city,” City of Orlando Transportation Director Billy Hattaway said.

Records show Orlando dismissed less than 100 rental car company red light tickets in the past two and a half years.

The city of Kissimmee uses a different vendor called Redflex.

Since January 2017, Kissimmee has dismissed seven “original rental car” violations while getting paid for 718 “original” tickets from rental car companies or their customers.

Kissimmee officials said the city does not accept notices from rental car companies assigning blame to its international customers.

“If that address that is submitted is out of country, then it’s not processed, and it remains with the registered owner. They are the ones responsible for paying the ticket,” said Melissa Zayas-Moreno, city of Kissimmee spokeswoman.

But here’s the catch: State law does not allow cities or counties to order rental car companies to go after international customers.

“This law is silent as to out-of-country drivers,” attorney Steve Kramer said.

Kramer says it’s no wonder cities, counties and their vendors are all handling red light violations by many internationals differently.

The law doesn’t address foreign drivers.

Unless and until the red light camera law is changed, international drivers, especially those in rental cars, may keep running red lights and will not be fined.

Rental car agreements obtained by WESH 2 News clearly show those companies have a legal right to charge customers’ credit cards to satisfy toll and traffic infractions, but that’s not spelled out in the state’s red light camera law, so it’s unclear if some are and some are not.

ATS and Redflex referred WESH 2 News to the local governments running red light camera programs.


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