Got a photo enforcement ticket in Arizona? Here are your options

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Photo enforcement is expected to appear in two more Valley cities by the end of this year, likely resulting in many more traffic tickets for residents.

Arizona’s Family Investigates found that with the existing network of cameras, more than 100,000 drivers receive tickets for running red lights and speeding every year.

Data from those cities shows some trends that could help you if you get one of these tickets.

“Mr. Walton, you’re found not responsible,” a Mesa Municipal Court judge said, dismissing the speeding ticket for Kristopher Walton.

In November, the 21-year-old was cited for speeding in Mesa. A camera part of the city’s photo enforcement program captured him doing it, and there’s even a photo of him driving.

Arizona’s Family Investigates asked what it was like being in court. “Yeah, it was definitely nerve wracking. It was definitely. But I know I had to come in there with confidence,” Walton said.

So, how did he beat the ticket? First, let’s review how the process works and your options if you get one of these citations, which police often tout as beneficial for the community.

“The ability to reduce collisions, reduce injuries at the collisions, and reduce the overall speed that traffic is traveling in Scottsdale,” said Alex Ristuccia, the Scottsdale Police Department’s photo enforcement manager.

Arizona’s Family Investigates looked into it and found that data mostly backs that up. “The system will capture front and rear photos of the vehicle, from there is undergoes several quality control and processing checks in order to show the driver of the vehicle,” Ristuccia said.

Valley cities are handing out a lot of them. In 2024, Paradise Valley issued 52,000 compared to 39,000 in Mesa. In 2023, Scottsdale filed nearly 73,000.

Once you get that ticket in the mail, you have four options.

• Attend a defensive driving school. A four-hour online class means not having to pay the fine and not getting points on your license, but you can only take the class once per year.
• Pay the fine and accumulate points on your license. (Earn too many and you could be sent to Traffic Survival School or have your license suspended)
• Fight the ticket in court.
• Simply ignore it.

“If you ignore it, the next question is are they serving you,” said David Enevoldsen, an attorney who has fought these cases for over a decade.

Arizona state law requires that a city prove you received the ticket, hence the process server. Arizona’s Family Investigates asked Enevoldsen how often cities follow up a citation with a process server.

“It’s a significant number and it depends also on what the jurisdiction is,” he explained.

Cities have 90 days to serve you. If it doesn’t happen, the ticket is dismissed.

Data obtained by Arizona’s Family Investigates shows that this happens about 60% of the time in Paradise Valley. But if you’re served and continue to ignore it, you could get those points on your record, and the fine would go to collections.

“It could affect your ability to re-register your car and it would also put a default judgement of responsible unto your record,” Ristuccia said.

In Mesa, the numbers look a little different. According to their data, half of every ten tickets that reach the courthouse are paid or taken defensive driving. The other half are dismissed, meaning a process server isn’t sent out, or the driver wins in court.

Arizona’s Family Investigates asked Enevoldsen if it’s worth fighting.

“It kind of depends on the scenario. My experience is it’s extremely difficult to win one of these,” he responded.

Walton already received one of these tickets, so taking the defensive driving class wasn’t an option. He was caught going 11 miles over the speed limit. He argued that he was driving responsibly and that no other cars were on his side of the road.

“I’m finding the state has not met its burden of proof that it’s more likely than not that you committed this violation specifically because I don’t think you’re driving unreasonably,” the judge said.

“I was able to reason with the judge, get some facts going and he helped me out with my case,” Walton said.

He took the day off work and drove an hour to appear. He said it was worth it. “I don’t want anything to mess up my job and what I have going on,” Walton said.

If you ignore that first notice in the mail and get served, you’ll also have to pay for that. It costs upwards of $80 on top of the citation itself, anywhere from $200 to $400.

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