Have you gotten a ticket from one of 51 red light cameras in the city of St. Louis?
If a new court ruling stands, you might not have to pay the $100 fine.
The challenged the city's red light camera ordinance on constitutional and statutory grounds. Though from Circuit judge extensively discussed the constitutional issues, he ultimately ruled the statute violates Missouri law.
Why?
State law sets the rules of the road, including that you have to. In state statutes, running a red light is a misdemeanor that leads to points on a license.
The - and most other municipalities - moves the offense to municipal courts and levels a fine.
The lawsuit argued - and Judge Neill agreed - that state law preempts local law unless otherwise specified. Because the state hasn't authorized the use of red light cameras, they aren't allowed in any municipality, including St. Louis. It is believed to be the first that challenged red light laws on statutory grounds.
No word yet on whether the city intends to appeal the ruling.
