A D.C. Superior Court judge ruled that fining the owners of cars caught on camera breaking traffic laws in the city does not violate the Constitution.
Two people sued the city, saying electronic enforcement systems violate citizens right to due process because a person is considered guilty automatically. Their attorneys wanted to expand the suit into a class action, including people who were fined based on traffic cameras going back to 1999, when the system was put into place.
Judge Melvin R. Wright disagreed with the motorists and their attorneys. He threw out the suit. He said the city can legally presume the owner of the car is guilty as long as he has time and opportunity to fight the charge.
