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Courtesy Notice - This Is Not a Ticket

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user2017

Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

Hello. I received a "Courtesy Notice - This Is Not a Ticket" in the mail for a photographed red light traffic control signal violation - failing to stop for an official red light signal - in Los Alamitos, CA - Orange County.

The letter says to "Do not call the court regarding this notice." There is no court address or phone number, anyway. Says I'm "encouraged to view the video of the violation and to respond to the notice" and to mail the "Notice of Non-Liability" back to the Photo Enforcement Program in Phoenix, Arizona.

My questions are:

1) What should I do with this notice? Am I legally obligated to respond and send the notice back? The notice was addressed to the registered owner of the car, even though they weren't the one driving. I've read online that this is what's called a "Snitch Ticket." The advice online says to just ignore the notice, but I want to make sure that I can ignore it. Has anyone had this happen to them? If so, what did you do and what happened thereafter?

2) If I ignore this Snitch Ticket, will a real ticket usually follow? If so, how long does that take? Will they keep sending the notice till I respond? The notice says I'm given 60 days to view the video online. Will they pursue this after the 60 days? Will the photo company or police department continue looking into the violation and ultimately send out a real ticket sometime within the one year limit? Has that happened to anyone?

3) This notice won't affect my license and vehicle registration, correct?

Thank you SO MUCH for helping. (From what I've read online and on this forum, I'm not too worried... but still worried enough to need some kind of reassurance, especially from those who have had these types of courtesy-this-is-not-a-ticket mailed to them before. I've read some threads regarding this, but no one has followed up on what happened after they ignored the notices.)
 
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CdwJava

Senior Member
While you are not legally obligated to respond to this notice, it is possible that the photo could be reviewed and a citation could be issued for you or a member of your family if no further information is provided. It is also possible that no further action will come of it if no driver can be tentatively identified.

I know that in some jurisdictions, they cite the registered owner all the same and the R/O has to go to court and essentially say, "Not me." Though, it is also possible that the court might then ask the R/O who the driver was.

If you do nothing, the state has one year from the time of the incident to file any charges.
 

user2017

Junior Member
Thank you CdwJava for your reply!

it is possible that the photo could be reviewed and a citation could be issued for you or a member of your family if no further information is provided.

I know that in some jurisdictions, they cite the registered owner all the same

If you do nothing, the state has one year from the time of the incident to file any charges.

Have these happened to anyone who has received a Snitch Ticket, especially in Los Alamitos, CA?
 

wonizm

Junior Member
Thank you CdwJava for your reply!







Have these happened to anyone who has received a Snitch Ticket, especially in Los Alamitos, CA?



Hello Is there any update? I just got the notice from same location and I do not what that is. did you get any notice from Police or DMV. Is it like warning? Or Actual ticket will be following.
Please let me know if you have anything update.
 

quincy

Senior Member
Hello Is there any update? I just got the notice from same location and I do not what that is. did you get any notice from Police or DMV. Is it like warning? Or Actual ticket will be following.
Please let me know if you have anything update.

This thread is an older one, so you are unlikely to get a response from the original poster. In addition, what happened to one person may not be relevant to the facts of your own concern.

If you have a question, you will need to start your own thread. When you repost, be sure to include the fact that you reside in California.

Thanks.
 

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