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Village of Rockdale
Automated Red Light
Enforcement Program
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How much is the fine?
The fine is $100.00 for each violation.
How much time do I have to pay my Red Light Violation Notice?
You must pay the civil penalty on or before the due date on your Violation
Notice. The due date for payment is located on the top and bottom right of
your Notice of Violation.
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Two Options are available: PAY THE FINE OR CONTEST THE VIOLATION
OPTION I. Pay the Fine
Pay Online: Logon to www.RedLightViolations.com by entering the
Violation Notice Number and License Plate Number noted on the top
and bottom right of your Notice of Violation. There is a $3.50
convenience fee for paying on-line, assessed at the time of payment.
Pay By Mail: Mail your check or money order (payable to the Village
Rockdale Photo Enforcement Program) in the return envelope
provided. Be sure to include the payment stub from the bottom of the
notice you received along with your payment. Please do not send cash.
Pay By Credit Card: A Toll Free number has been established for the
Village and is noted on the violation. Payments will be accepted
between the hours of 9am – 4pm. We accept VISA and MasterCard
and there is a $3.50 convenience fee for the service. A transaction
confirmation number will be provided as well as an email confirmation
for your permanent records if you wish.
In-Person Payments are not available.
OPTION II. Contest the Notice of Violation:
Please make sure that the basis for your contest is one of the following
four options (these are also listed on the back of the notice of violation)
a. Police officer already issued you a uniform traffic citation for
the same violation (the citation issued by the police officer
takes precedence over the Violation Notice).
b. Vehicle or license plates were stolen and not recovered at the time
of the violation
c. Vehicle was leased or rented to another party, and a written affidavit
of the lessee of the vehicle and a lease agreement were submitted
d. Vehicle was an emergency vehicle or lawfully participating in a
funeral procession
Contest By Mail:
Fill in the CONTEST BY MAIL circle on the notice stub
and on the self-addressed return envelope.
Enclose a letter signed by the registered owner of the vehicle
setting forth facts that establish a defense.
Enclose any supporting evidence, such as affidavits, photos,
state vehicle registration, official police vehicle theft/or
recovery reports with the Violation Notice Number indicated.
Be certain these documents are legible and complete.
Send copies, original documents will not be returned.
Enclose all evidence to support your defense as the
Hearing officer’s decision is final.
All Contest By Mail materials must be submitted using
the enclosed return envelope and must be received by
the Pay or Contest By Date.
Requests to Contest Received AFTER the Pay or Contest By Date:
The Registered Owner (no one else) must send a document to the Police
Department and
(1) Explain why a reply was not sent prior to the Pay or
Contest by Date and
(2) State why the request to contest should be heard.
ROCKDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT
79 MOEN AVENUE
ROCKDALE, IL 60436
Request An In-Person Hearing:
Fill in the IN PERSON HEARING circle on the return
stub and on the return envelope. Mail the stub in the
return envelope.
Requests will only be honored if received by the Pay or
Contest By Date (within the first 21 days of the initial
violation notice).
Why has the Village of Rockdale decided to implement an
Automated Red Light Photo Enforcement Program?
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a recent
nationwide study of deadly crashes at traffic signals indicates that 22
percent failed to obey the signal. In 2006, the fatality rate approached
900 and 144,000 injuries where recorded, all a result of red-light
running. It is the Village’s belief that implementation of an Automated
Red Light Photo Enforcement Program will reduce the number of red
light collisions and injuries associated with such crashes. The goal of
this program is to increase traffic safety in Rockdale by reducing red
light running violations, red light crashes and red light injury crashes
without impacting Village funds.
What is a Red Light Violation?
There are Two Types of Red Light Violations:
Right Turn on Red without coming to a complete stop.
You may be cited with a Red Light Violation if you fail to bring your
vehicle to a complete stop before turning right when the light is red.
Turning right on red, after bringing your vehicle to a complete stop, is
only allowed at intersections that do not have signs prohibiting such
turns. For exact wording, please check Illinois’ Rules of the Road, or
visit the Secretary of State’s website, www.cyberdriveillinois.com
Entering an intersection after the traffic signal has turned red.
If I am in the intersection when the light is yellow and the light
changes to red, will I receive a Notice of Violation?
No. The automated system only becomes active once the red light is
showing. It will not capture a vehicle that enters the intersection prior to
the light changing to red. If you entered the intersection on yellow, it is
legal to clear the intersection if the light turned red while you were still
in the intersection. In the violation notice, the first photo shows your car
at the white line when the stoplight was red. In the second photo the
stoplight was still red when the car proceeded into the intersection.
Will the red light cameras take a picture of the driver of the vehicle?
No. A violation of the Rockdale Ordinance is a civil violation assessed
against the owner of the vehicle; it is not a criminal violation. Similar to a
parking ticket, there is no need to identify the driver and therefore, no
need to capture the image of the driver. This violation will not affect your
driving privileges or insurance rates.
Where can I go to view my video and images?
To view your violation video clip and images, log on to
www.redlightviolations.com. To log on to the site you must enter your 16
digit Notice Number and License Plate information located at the top right
of your Violation Notice. If you do not have Internet access, you may
visit any public library for Internet access to view your video.
What if I was not the operator of the car at the time the violation took
place…am I still liable?
Under Illinois State Law, HB 4835 effective May, 2006, the registered
owner of a vehicle is liable for any automated traffic law violations that
occur to the vehicle. It does not matter who was driving the car, the law
clearly states that the registered owner is liable.
The car was a rental, why did I receive the Violation Notice?
Under the law, the person(s) designated on the rental or lease agreement
of a vehicle as the driver(s) of that vehicle is responsible for any assigned
violations during the rental period. Your name and address were provided
to us by the rental car agency.
What happens if I ignore the Violation Notice?
Failure to pay the civil penalty or to contest liability prior to the Pay or
Contest Date on the Notice will result in a Determination of Liability
being entered against you. You will be given another 14 days to pay, at
which time, if payment has still not been received, a Final Determination
of Liability will be issued. If the Final Determination of Liability is not
paid, a late payment fee will be imposed and the fine increased. If this
Second Notice remains unpaid, collections and an entry of a judgment
against you may proceed.
Failure to pay Five (5) Violations may result in the Owner’s Drivers
License Being Suspended.
My payment has already been sent; will I still be charged late fees?
Payment must be received on or before the Pay or Contest by Date
indicated on the violation notice. Postmarked dates are not considered as
payment received, and payment extensions are not granted.
I paid the violation; why did I receive another Violation Notice?
The Notice you just received could be for additional violations or it may
just be a second notice which crossed your payment in the mail.
Payments are posted the same day they are received, but you may call the
toll free number on the notice for assistance and to confirm receipt.
If I pay the fine, can I then contest it or ask for a hearing?
No. Once you have paid a fine it is considered an admission of liability
and requests to contest or schedule a hearing will not be granted.
How do I know these violations are valid?
Images of your vehicle were captured and recorded by an Automated Red
Light Photo Enforcement System. Your images and an actual video of the
occurrence are available online for your review at:
www.redlightviolations.com.
The images and video passed a two part review process by qualified
technicians before being submitted to the Rockdale Police Department for
final review and approval. The alleged civil infraction notice was then
mailed to you as the registered owner or identified driver. Confirmation
of your name, address and vehicle registration information was provided
to the Rockdale Police Department by the Illinois Secretary of State’s
Office.
The Red Light Camera
is located at:
IL Route 7 (Larkin Ave.)
&
Moen Avenue
Southbound
Red Li ght P hoto
Enforce me nt
Changing Driver Behavior
One Intersection at a Time
Re d Light Ph oto
Enfor ceme nt
Is Red Light Running
really a problem?
Each year in the United States,
Red Light Running results in
nearly 200,000 crashes, more
than 800 deaths and 180,000
injuries.
Four in five crashes happened
within 150 feet of an intersection.
Someone runs a red light every5
minutes in rush hour.
Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Why does Rockdale need Red
Light Cameras?
Traffic studies show that Red Light
Running is a problem at several
intersections within the Village. The
goal of the camera program is to
change driver behavior by
encouraging compliance with traffic
signal laws through around-the-
clock enforcement.
Why aren’t Police Officers
monitoring these
intersections?
The Rockdale Police Department is
committed to the safety of their
residents, but no community can
afford to police every red light
intersection 24 hours a day.
Traditional enforcement also creates
a safety hazard for the violator,
other drivers, pedestrians and the
officer when police chase a violator
through a red light. This technology
frees up officers to assist and
protect residents in other ways.
Is this simply a way for the
Village to make money?
The objective of this program is to
deter drivers from disobeying the
law, not catch them. There is no
cost to the Village for installing,
operating or maintaining the
system. The program is completely
violator funded.
The Village of Rockdale’s
Red Light Camera
is located at
IL Route 7 (Larkin)
& Moen Avenue
Southbound
For more information please
visit
www.rockdalepolice.com
Deaths caused by red light running are
increasing at more than three times the
rate of increase for all other fatal crashes.
Sadly, the victims are often occupants of
other vehicles or pedestrians who happen
to be in the intersection. Source: Federal Highway
Administration Safety Website. Safety.fhwa.dot.gov
The Village is asking the residents of
Rockdale to respect the rules of the road
and to consider not only their safety but
the safety of others.
The Red Light Camera System is designed
to encourage everyone to adopt safer
driving habits and eliminate unnecessary
injuries and deaths.
Re d Light Ph oto
Enfor ceme nt
What is a Red Light Violation?
There are Two Types of Red Light
Violations:
Right Turn on Red without
coming to a complete stop.
You may be cited if you fail to bring your
vehicle to a complete stop before turning
right when the light is red. Turning right
on red, after bringing your vehicle to a
complete stop, is only allowed at
intersections that do not have signs
prohibiting such turns.
Entering an intersection after
the traffic signal has turned
red.
Motorists already in the intersection
(waiting to make a turn for example)
when the signal changes to red will
not be cited.
What do I do if I receive a
Notice?
The fine is $100.00 for each violation.
How much time do I have
to pay my Red Light
Violation Notice?
You must pay the civil penalty on or
before the due date on your Violation
Notice. The due date is located on the top
and bottom right of your Notice of
Violation.
Violators may view their digital images
and video clip by logging onto:
www.redlightviolations.com
Common Misconceptions
“The red light cameras take a picture of
the driver of the vehicle”.
Not true. A violation of the Red light
Camera Ordinance is a Civil Violation
assessed against the owner of the
vehicle.
“I cannot dispute a photo enforced ticket
without expensive court costs”.
Not true. As of January 2011, Illinois law
prohibits any community from charging
additional fees to individuals wishing to
contest a photo enforced violation.
“Photo Enforced Violations do not allow
for due process”.
Not True. Photo Enforced Violations
provide more due process than Officer
issued violations. Individuals contesting
the citation may do so either in person
or via the mail, and the digital images
presented provided a far more accurate
account of the circumstances.
The camera flashes and automatically
sends out a ticket”.
Not true. Seeing a flash does not mean
a ticket is generated. The camera does
not automatically send out tickets. All
digital evidence (including video) is
reviewed by a trained Rockdale Police
Officer. No Citations are issued without
Police Officer approval and authorization.
“Photo enforcement is BIG BROTHER”.
Not True. Photo enforcement technology
has been applied all over the Chicago
and collar county area for several years.
To date, there is not a single instance
of alleged abuse of this technology that
would support any “Big Brother
Watching” claims.
I’ve received a Violation,
what are my Options?
Individuals receiving a Violation Notice have
Two Options available: Pay the Fine or Contest
the Violation. Payments may be made via mail,
thru a Village specific toll-free number or on-
line. Individuals wishing to contest may do so
either by mail or by requesting an in person
hearing.
The following are the only valid reasons for a
contest:
•
Police officer already issued you a uniform traffic
citation for the same violation (the citation
issued by the police officer takes precedence
over the Violation Notice).
•Vehicle or license plates were stolen and not
recovered at the time of the violation,
•Vehicle was leased or rented to another party,
and a written affidavit of the lessee of the
vehicle and a lease agreement were submitted,
•Vehicle was an emergency vehicle or lawfully
participating in a funeral procession.
What happens if I ignore
the Violation Notice?
Failure to pay the civil penalty or to contest
liability prior to the Pay or Contest Date will
result in a Determination of Liability being
entered against you. You will be given
additional time to pay, at which time, if
payment has still not been received, a Final
Determination of Liability will be issued. If this
notice goes unpaid, a late payment fee will be
imposed and the fine increased. If this Second
Notice remains unpaid, collections and an entry
of a judgment against you may proceed.
Failure to pay Five (5) Violations may
result in the Owner’s Drivers License
Being Suspended.
