Maitland red-light runners will pay

Red-light runners in Maitland who contest their tickets and lose will now owe the city upward of $400 in total fees.

In amending the city’s traffic and safety code to keep in compliance with new federal mandates, City Council members voted to raise the legal fee faced when contesting a citation and losing to the max $250 limit, which is owed on top of the original $158 ticket.

This, Police Chief Doug Ball said, will help cover the estimated $205 cost the city will face in providing a hearing officer to preside over the cases, per changes in state-mandated protocol. Ball said the $250 figure could be lowered later if deemed too high, but that he’d rather red-light runners pay more than for unforeseen costs to fall on taxpayers.

Last year, Ball said, the city netted $500,000 from its estimated 19,000 issued red-light tickets. “I believe it’s a very positive thing for the city,” Ball said. “… And it’s simple, if people want to avoid getting a violation, stop at the red-light.”