Court rules against red light cameras

ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - In 2014, Attorney Kelli Hastings got a red light ticket. She then went to court to appeal it, not because she didn't run the red light, but because she thought the company that gives out the tickets -- American Traffic Solutions -- did so unjustly.

"It would be different if the city kept all the power, and the city maintained the cameras, and the city decided whether there was a violation or not, but this out-of-state company is making that decision, and the Constitution doesn't allow for that," she said.  "It's called an improper delegation of police powers."

She said the system is flawed, because it gives American Traffic Solutions too much power. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed.  Hastings claims, when it comes to the court's opinions, the legal reason she won applies to everyone who gets a red light camera ticket issued by American Traffic Solutions, on behalf of the City of Orlando.

"If people don't know about this opinion, then they may just pay the tickets, but with this opinion in hand, the Ninth Circuit has spoken, and they are not going to uphold these tickets."

The city disagrees, issuing the statement, "This ruling only applies to this case. It just dismisses this individual's specific violation. The City does not agree with this decision and is evaluating our options with regards to appeal."

To see locations of red light cameras within Orlando city limits, click here (PDF).