Red LIght camera - license plate blocker?

[redredwine]

Yah, I know, they may be illegal depending on state, so that's not what I'm asking. 

I just got my 3rd camera ticket in 18 months, so my insurance will skyrocket...all from those video red light / speeding cameras.  Each time it's for speeding, not red lights. All on two main roads that are 30mph, and it's 11 over every time. It's a road that it's a main 4 lane road, with a middle turnout area, so it feels like it should be 35 or 40mph, so I don't feel like 41mph feels outrageous. I get why they do it, to make it a point for people to slow  the F down, but they surprised me how slow as I really didn't know until I got the ticket that it was that low of a speed limit. 

ANyway, I can't get another ticket this year! Any luck with the license plate covers or spray stuff? I know they can be hit or miss but thought I'd ask. 

[10outof9]

I mean, have you considered just...not speeding?

[pandora89]

Jul 22, 2019 10:36:15 GMT -5 redredwine said:

Yah, I know, they may be illegal depending on state, so that's not what I'm asking. 

I just got my 3rd camera ticket in 18 months, so my insurance will skyrocket...all from those video red light / speeding cameras.  Each time it's for speeding, not red lights. All on two main roads that are 30mph, and it's 11 over every time. It's a road that it's a main 4 lane road, with a middle turnout area, so it feels like it should be 35 or 40mph, so I don't feel like 41mph feels outrageous. I get why they do it, to make it a point for people to slow  the F down, but they surprised me how slow as I really didn't know until I got the ticket that it was that low of a speed limit. 

ANyway, I can't get another ticket this year! Any luck with the license plate covers or spray stuff? I know they can be hit or miss but thought I'd ask. 

What?
I think the solution here is to just not speed, especially in areas where you consistently get caught, if you want to avoid tickets. Not finding ways to hide your license plate.

It doesn’t matter what you think the speed should be.

[Deleted]

I mean, not to state the obvious, but if you've gotten a ticket three times on the same road for speeding, wouldn't it make more sense to just, I don't know, not speed?

[wildrice]

I've never heard of a blocker, but I'd double check about your insurance. I don't think they are reported to insurance. I recently got one in Washington DC and it specifically said on the ticket something about it not being reported for points (or whatever - I don't recall the specific language but the point was that it was just a fine and nothing more).

I think those tickets are shady though. Mine was for 11 over too. I feel like that happens a lot, what are the chances that so many people are going exactly 11 mph over? I got mine in a speed trap where the speed limit drops from highway speeds to 25mph immediately once you exit and apparently the sign isn't super prominent and the camera is right there. The camera that caught me earned the city 20 million dollars in 2016 so it is clearly easy for people to mess up. I am not a speeder and was shocked when I got the ticket.

Personally I'd just try to avoid speeding in those areas and/or take another route if you feel like you just can't avoid messing it up. I used to regularly drive on a road with a speed camera and I just got in the habit of using cruise control through that area, so that I didn't accidentally hit the gas too hard or let me speed creep up when I wasn't paying attention.

[karinothing]

I also suggest not speeding. Are you sure that your state is one that puts points on the license for speeding cameras. I think many states don't.

[redredwine]

Jul 22, 2019 10:38:34 GMT -5 10outof9 said:

I mean, have you considered just...not speeding?

Yes, I have. I didn't know the speed limit before I got the tickets, I thought I was going a reasonable speed. If an officer pulled me over and asked me what the speed limit was on the roads, I would have said "35? 40?". If I had seen the speed limit posted as 30mph, I would have adjusted my speed. I didn't see it until I got the ticket in the mail and was really surprised, I thought I was going with what I thought was the flow of traffic. The most recent one is posted on my Nextdoor often as many people have an issue with it and think it's a speed trap.

All three were at different points/intersections. I'm sure I'll get people here to pile on top of me, but I don't consider myself an unsafe driver.

[icedcoffee]

Usually tickets issued by a camera are not reported to insurance and not eligible for points. They're pretty much just a fine.

[Deleted]

Jul 22, 2019 10:47:03 GMT -5 redredwine said:

Jul 22, 2019 10:38:34 GMT -5 10outof9 said:

I mean, have you considered just...not speeding?

Yes, I have. I didn't know the speed limit before I got the tickets, I thought I was going a reasonable speed. If an officer pulled me over and asked me what the speed limit was on the roads, I would have said "35? 40?". If I had seen the speed limit posted as 30mph, I would have adjusted my speed. I didn't see it until I got the ticket in the mail and was really surprised, I thought I was going with what I thought was the flow of traffic. The most recent one is posted on my Nextdoor often as many people have an issue with it and think it's a speed trap.

All three were at different points/intersections. I'm sure I'll get people here to pile on top of me, but I don't consider myself an unsafe driver.

But if you're consistently speeding in different places you are being unsafe. 

Speed trap or not the solution is to pay attention to signs and not speed. 

[redredwine]

Jul 22, 2019 10:39:22 GMT -5 @sameoldstory said:

I mean, not to state the obvious, but if you've gotten a ticket three times on the same road for speeding, wouldn't it make more sense to just, I don't know, not speed?

All three were at different intersections - 2 of them were on a main road that's actually considered a Highway and cuts through 2 large cities, but they were miles apart. The second was a totally different road. There are short sections that are 30mph, then a 1/2 mile later are 40mph... All of them are 2 lanes of traffic each, with a middle lane for turning. I know it doesn't matter what I think it should be, I was going with what I thought was a normal flow of traffic and I assumed that the mph was going to be higher than my quiet neighborhood 2 lane road, which is 35mph. 

I'll pay my ticket, I'm not going to argue it and I know I'll take a big insurance hit. I'm not arguing that it shouldn't be 30mph, I'm just saying I really wasn't aware and now I now and I'm just asking a question.

[goldengirlz]

Jul 22, 2019 10:47:03 GMT -5 redredwine said:

Jul 22, 2019 10:38:34 GMT -5 10outof9 said:

I mean, have you considered just...not speeding?

Yes, I have. I didn't know the speed limit before I got the tickets, I thought I was going a reasonable speed. If an officer pulled me over and asked me what the speed limit was on the roads, I would have said "35? 40?". If I had seen the speed limit posted as 30mph, I would have adjusted my speed. I didn't see it until I got the ticket in the mail and was really surprised, I thought I was going with what I thought was the flow of traffic. The most recent one is posted on my Nextdoor often as many people have an issue with it and think it's a speed trap.

All three were at different points/intersections. I'm sure I'll get people here to pile on top of me, but I don't consider myself an unsafe driver.

OK, you didn’t know for the first one but you know now. You’re asking us to find you a contraption so you can continue to break the law and risk lives.

You sound like an entitled brat right now.

[redredwine]

Jul 22, 2019 10:52:03 GMT -5 @princessbubbleyum said:

Jul 22, 2019 10:47:03 GMT -5 redredwine said:

Yes, I have. I didn't know the speed limit before I got the tickets, I thought I was going a reasonable speed. If an officer pulled me over and asked me what the speed limit was on the roads, I would have said "35? 40?". If I had seen the speed limit posted as 30mph, I would have adjusted my speed. I didn't see it until I got the ticket in the mail and was really surprised, I thought I was going with what I thought was the flow of traffic. The most recent one is posted on my Nextdoor often as many people have an issue with it and think it's a speed trap.

All three were at different points/intersections. I'm sure I'll get people here to pile on top of me, but I don't consider myself an unsafe driver.

But if you're consistently speeding in different places you are being unsafe. 

Speed trap or not the solution is to pay attention to signs and not speed. 

Ok, thanks. You're right. 

[redredwine]

Jul 22, 2019 10:53:25 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Jul 22, 2019 10:47:03 GMT -5 redredwine said:

Yes, I have. I didn't know the speed limit before I got the tickets, I thought I was going a reasonable speed. If an officer pulled me over and asked me what the speed limit was on the roads, I would have said "35? 40?". If I had seen the speed limit posted as 30mph, I would have adjusted my speed. I didn't see it until I got the ticket in the mail and was really surprised, I thought I was going with what I thought was the flow of traffic. The most recent one is posted on my Nextdoor often as many people have an issue with it and think it's a speed trap.

All three were at different points/intersections. I'm sure I'll get people here to pile on top of me, but I don't consider myself an unsafe driver.

OK, you didn’t know for the first one but you know now. You’re asking us to find you a contraption so you can continue to break the law and risk lives.

You sound like an entitled brat right now.

Your'e right. Thanks.

[wildrice]

Jul 22, 2019 10:53:08 GMT -5 redredwine said:

Jul 22, 2019 10:39:22 GMT -5 @sameoldstory said:

I mean, not to state the obvious, but if you've gotten a ticket three times on the same road for speeding, wouldn't it make more sense to just, I don't know, not speed?

All three were at different intersections - 2 of them were on a main road that's actually considered a Highway and cuts through 2 large cities, but they were miles apart. The second was a totally different road. There are short sections that are 30mph, then a 1/2 mile later are 40mph... All of them are 2 lanes of traffic each, with a middle lane for turning. I know it doesn't matter what I think it should be, I was going with what I thought was a normal flow of traffic and I assumed that the mph was going to be higher than my quiet neighborhood 2 lane road, which is 35mph. 

I'll pay my ticket, I'm not going to argue it and I know I'll take a big insurance hit. I'm not arguing that it shouldn't be 30mph, I'm just saying I really wasn't aware and now I now and I'm just asking a question.

But DO you know this? I don't think this is true nearly anywhere. I'd check into that before anything else.

[cmeon]

I am against camera monitoring of speed/red light runners- they are incredibly biased and difficult for consumers to fight/correct mistakes.

THAT said, it sounds like you need to pay a whole lot more attention to the speed limit signage. Is there a problem- are those sections not clearly marked?

[eclaires]

Camera tickets in my state are from a 3rd party and not enforceable in any way. no credit hit, insurance hit, etc. It says it clearly on the ticket. Even if you don't pay them, which I wouldn't.

[followyourarrow]

This is some entitled shit. Just don't speed.

[scout8]

I don't really use it, but I'm pretty sure that Waze warns you about speed cameras. Maybe use it so you are more aware of the speed limit/cameras when you are driving.

[flex]

Depends on your state, but moving violations have been reported on my car insurance and my life insurance when I lived in AK. Thankfully they have all rolled off.

ETA: You would have had my sympathy if it was just one ticket, but three?  I'm sensing a pattern here.

[isabel]

I'm not going to berate you for going to 40 in a 30. I sincerely doubt these are being reported to your insurance though. I would look into that before stressing about it more. And, obviously, slow down and pay attention to the speed limit, especially in areas where you know there are cameras.

[NewOrleans]

it feels like it should be faster, so Imma keep doing it! lol

[clairebear]

My husband works for GEICO as a pricing analyst and this was his answer: No, they aren't considered for official driving records or insurance. They are literally just city or county income

I would double check, but I don't think it affects your insurance

[latte]

I won’t comment on the obvious, but where I live, they don’t go on your insurance. They said the reason it doesn’t is because it can’t be proven that it was you driving, since the picture taken shows the back of the vehicle and you can’t see the driver.

[kadams767]

Jul 22, 2019 11:20:16 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

it feels like it should be faster, so Imma keep doing it! lol

I'm not defending OP, because 3 tickets is a lot, but I sort of get where she is coming from.  I live near a major thoroughfare that had the speed limit reduced to 30mph and I am not joking when I say that going 30 feels more unsafe than "speeding" (ie. going 45 or so).  I follow the speed limit as best as possible, but at some points, it is ridiculous.  There was no taking into account the traffic flow or need to keep up with traffic on certain parts of the roadway when the state just switched the speed limit on the entire several mile long roadway to 30mph.  I have actually started avoiding taking this road if possible because of the situation.  I don't want to get a ticket, but I also don't want to have an accident because I am crawling along at 30 while probably 75% of other drivers are at the more reasonable speed around 45 or so.    

[redredwine]

Thank you to those who mentioned they may not go on insurance. I will look into that. Having Waze on is a really good suggestion, I usually only have it on when I'm driving to a new place and like that it posts the speed limit constantly, I will look into having it just "on" in my car more so I'm aware of speeds if I haven't seen a sign.

FWIW, I'm now aware of where these 3 sections are, am now more careful in these areas and understand why they have a dramatically reduced speed in comparison to similar main roads with a high mph.

I'm not asking for sympathy, I'm not saying I'm wrong. I'm not going to argue any ticket. I went too fast. In 3 different areas. I suck, I'm a shitty driver, I'm entitled. I get it. Thanks.

[ECB]

Jul 22, 2019 11:03:05 GMT -5 scout8 said:

I don't really use it, but I'm pretty sure that Waze warns you about speed cameras. Maybe use it so you are more aware of the speed limit/cameras when you are driving.

I use waze and one of the reasons I love it is that it actually displays the speed limit for the area you're in.  I know I absolutely don't always see all the speed limit signs - they can be easy to miss.  But Waze always has it in view.

And yes, an added bonus is that it will often warn you of camera's. 

[af1212]

Jul 22, 2019 11:49:12 GMT -5 ECB said:

Jul 22, 2019 11:03:05 GMT -5 scout8 said:

I don't really use it, but I'm pretty sure that Waze warns you about speed cameras. Maybe use it so you are more aware of the speed limit/cameras when you are driving.

I use waze and one of the reasons I love it is that it actually displays the speed limit for the area you're in.  I know I absolutely don't always see all the speed limit signs - they can be easy to miss.  But Waze always has it in view.

And yes, an added bonus is that it will often warn you of camera's. 

And if I remember correctly it also displays your speed and maybe even turns it red if you’re going over speed limit?

[ECB]

Jul 22, 2019 11:53:51 GMT -5 af1212 said:

Jul 22, 2019 11:49:12 GMT -5 ECB said:

I use waze and one of the reasons I love it is that it actually displays the speed limit for the area you're in.  I know I absolutely don't always see all the speed limit signs - they can be easy to miss.  But Waze always has it in view.

And yes, an added bonus is that it will often warn you of camera's. 

And if I remember correctly it also displays your speed and maybe even turns it red if you’re going over speed limit?

It does, which is great too.  I've looked down and have seen that I was going WAY over the speed limit and realized I need to slow down! 

[achi]

There's a lot of areas that I get annoyed by the speed limit, but then I try to remember that there are limits for a reason - you know young kids playing, school zones, senior centers, dangerous road conditions when raining/snowing, etc. Just slow down. Nine times out of ten you're not going to get where you're going any faster because of red lights, etc in the city.

Also, I highly suspect the ticket for getting caught with a plate blocker is going to affect your insurance WAY more than a simple speeding ticket.

[TR]

I don’t think you sound entitled. But this is ML where no one ever speeds or breaks any laws. Unfortunately, I don’t have any advice other than the suggestion to use Waze which is a good one.