Cedar Rapids Automated Speed Enforcement Program Question

My grandmother died a few weeks ago. She lived in Marion. My wife and I traveled back to Cedar Rapids from Michigan for the funeral. Today, I received a Notice of Violation for speeding on I380 NB at J Avenue in Lane 1. The only problem is neither I nor my wife were driving. Our 19 month old was teething and my brother in law was driving our car while my wife and I were trying to soothe our daughter in the backseat. The notice we recieved in the mail has both her name and my name on it. I wouldn't mind paying it, but I'm frankly a little ticked off at the whole system. I usually drive in CR anytime we are back for family events, but my brother in law is a much faster driver than I am. I could ask him to pay the fine, but he obviously has no legal obligation. I could try to fight it, but I can't prove that he was driving. At the same time, it ticks me off that they can't prove that either my wife or I were driving.
What do you all think?
Has anyone dealt with this system before and can offer any helpful tips or advice?

It's a civil issue, it won't go on your record. You can try to get your BIL to pay it, but ultimately the city will hold you responsible.

just tell him to pay up since its his fault

It is based on the license plate of the vehicle, has nothing to do with the actual driver. The violation is considered a civil violation. You should be able to view the violation at the website listed below.

https://www.viewviolation.com/login.aspx

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Originally Posted by ljhlax

My grandmother died a few weeks ago. She lived in Marion. My wife and I traveled back to Cedar Rapids from Michigan for the funeral. Today, I received a Notice of Violation for speeding on I380 NB at J Avenue in Lane 1. The only problem is neither I nor my wife were driving. Our 19 month old was teething and my brother in law was driving our car while my wife and I were trying to soothe our daughter in the backseat. The notice we recieved in the male has both her name and my name on it. I wouldn't mind paying it, but I'm frankly a little ticked off at the whole system. I usually drive in CR anytime we are back for family events, but my brother in law is a much faster driver than I am. I could ask him to pay the fine, but he obviously has no legal obligation. I could try to fight it, but I can't prove that he was driving. At the same time, it ticks me off that they can't prove that either my wife or I were driving.
What do you all think?
Has anyone dealt with this system before and can offer any helpful tips or advice?

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Unfortunately I would guess you are stuck. It is just like a car accident, the insurance always follows the vehicle. So even if your brother is the driver of your vehicle and is responsible, ultimately the accident goes on you/your insurance on the car as the primary coverage.

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Originally Posted by HardcoreClone

Unfortunately I would guess you are stuck. It is just like a car accident, the insurance always follows the vehicle. So even if your brother is the driver of your vehicle and is responsible, ultimately the accident goes on you/your insurance on the car as the primary coverage.

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The ticket has no effect on your insurance. I see your point though. Just wanted to clarify.

Yeah, these things are crap. My dad got a red light ticket in Sioux City when I let him drive my car for a road trip. Imagine my surprise when I got a ticket in the mail a couple weeks later. and for $200 none the less!! there's research showing that red light cameras actually increase accidents from people slamming on their brakes. what a money grab...

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Originally Posted by reignofthetiger

Yeah, these things are crap. My dad got a red light ticket in Sioux City when I let him drive my car for a road trip. Imagine my surprise when I got a ticket in the mail a couple weeks later. and for $200 none the less!! there's research showing that red light cameras actually increase accidents from people slamming on their brakes. what a money grab...

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Not just a money grab from the city too. They contracted the service to a company in Latham, New York and I just wonder how much of a cut that they get. I think I would have less problem if I was actually sending my check (or BILs) to the Cedar Rapids Police Department or even the county or state, but New York? WTF!

You won't be able to fight it with the argument "I wasn't driving." They get around that with the "civil issue" as others have stated.

Iowa Supreme Court has already ruled on it. Right or wrong, you're out of luck.

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Originally Posted by HardcoreClone

Unfortunately I would guess you are stuck. It is just like a car accident, the insurance always follows the vehicle. So even if your brother is the driver of your vehicle and is responsible, ultimately the accident goes on you/your insurance on the car as the primary coverage.

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it's more like a parking ticket. If someone else parks your car illegally, you still owe the ticket, but it doesn't go on your record. Same deal here.

The system in CR is really well done, IMO. Its fair, the tickets are written by a cop who reviews the tape and there is a good (from what I've heard) appeals process. Of course, none of that will help in this case. My advice is to tell your BIL to pay the ticket and stop driving 12+ over the speed limit.

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Originally Posted by ljhlax

Not just a money grab from the city too. They contracted the service to a company in Latham, New York and I just wonder how much of a cut that they get. I think I would have less problem if I was actually sending my check (or BILs) to the Cedar Rapids Police Department or even the county or state, but New York? WTF!

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This is common practice around the country (including traffic cameras in Davenport). Cities don't want to purchase and install the equipment because it's ridiculously expensive, so they lease it from a company.

The company manages everything but who the tickets go to. Some dude in CR police force gets to look through all the possible violations and decide which ones constitute a ticket.

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it's more like a parking ticket. If someone else parks your car illegally, you still owe the ticket, but it doesn't go on your record. Same deal here.

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Exactly this.

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Originally Posted by Incyte

The ticket has no effect on your insurance. I see your point though. Just wanted to clarify.

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Right, this does not actually involve insurance, but just making the comparison that the penalty goes on the vehicle, not the driver.

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Originally Posted by HardcoreClone

Right, this does not actually involve insurance, but just making the comparison that the penalty goes on the vehicle, not the driver.

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But if it isn't paid then it goes on the vehicle owner's credit rating.

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Originally Posted by ljhlax

...The notice we recieved in the male ...

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Apparently Cedar Rapids is giving a new meaning to taking it in the ***.