Q: Red Light Courtesy Notice - Sacramento County
My wife received a red light courtesy notice, but I was the driver. We went to our local police department today to see if it could be dismissed. The person responding to the visitors, told us that if we submit the form, we'll receive a ticket in two weeks, but if we don't, we won't receive a ticket. I'm unsure of the best course of action and need to know if the law requires us to respond to the courtesy notice, or if it's optional. Is responding to the notice mandatory, or are we given the choice by the law not to respond?
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- California
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A:
When you receive a red light courtesy notice in Sacramento County, it's essentially an informational letter letting you know about a violation that has been recorded. The courtesy notice is not a formal ticket, but it does give you a heads-up that a citation could follow if you are identified as the driver.
Submitting the form is typically used to correct the record if someone else was driving, like in your case. However, if you submit it, this could lead to the issuance of a formal ticket in your name. If you choose not to respond, it's possible that no further action will be taken, as the courtesy notice itself does not always require a response by law.
That said, there can be consequences if they later confirm that you were the driver and you didn’t address it. If you're unsure, it might be helpful to review the notice closely or consult local resources to make an informed decision.
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