Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

I have a red light camera ticket which I never even realized I got, for a right hand turn on a red arrow; but I never opened my mail to know I had gotten it until AFTER my deadline to pay or appear. My own fault for not opening my mail, but what concerns me is I was driving on a suspended license (suspended due to a DUI 3-4 years ago); I had completed all court requirements, but just never renewed my driver's license due to extreme cost. I recently was arrested for ANOTHER DUI (low BAC, no property damage, injury or accident) which was compounded by my suspended driver's license. I was surprised, nothing has yet to come up regarding the red light ticket given that the deadline for failure to appear was 7 1/2 months ago; nothing regarding it has come up either in my background check for the recent DUI, nor those performed personally, and one performed annually by my employer. Given the seriousness of my current DUI repeat offense (still not arraigned, coming in September) I am worried that the red light ticket will eventually be the proverbial "other shoe that drops", and compound my current legal situation. Unfortunately, I have no real information about the red light ticket other than a citation number, and before I go "wake a sleeping dog", I want to know if I should disclose this to my professional licensing board.(I am a Health Care professional)? I am required to report the DUI of course, but do not want to add insult to injury by mentioning the red light ticket if it is going to some how continue to fall thru the cracks. Should I go to the local police station & request additional information on the alleged offense (again, I never even knew I had gotten it, nor realized if any cameras went off) or is it possible I'll be arrested right then when I inquire & draw attention to the matter? On background checks nothing currently shows up, (such as failure to appear, bench warrant, etc), but I am living in fear of this other shoe finally dropping, and would like to obtain additional information about the citation (i.e. time of day it occurred). Can I go to the police station & request info, or is that too risky? And should I report the red light ticket to my professional license board when I notify them of this current DUI; or keep it to myself for now? Keeping in mind, the Deadline to Pay or Appear for the Redlight ticket was back in December I am confused about my options. Any suggestions or advice any one can provide is greatly appreciated.


Asked on 8/04/12, 3:44 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Joshua Hale Hale Law Group

Best advice, seek counsel now. This is beyond what a BBS online is designed for. Your situation is dire, and getting an answer from a random attorney.

Call me if you would like to discuss it in depth.

619 663 9384

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Answered on 8/20/12, 3:40 pm


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