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1. My rental car company notified me that I have a citation, what do I do?

The rental car company will notify us with the renter’s
information but it may take some time to receive and review the information
before we can issue a citation to you.  We will mail you a copy of the
citation with a page of options.  You can also review your options on the
court website: https://www.paradisevalleyaz.gov/274/Civil-and-Traffic-Tickets

2. I live outside of Arizona; can I still take a defensive driving course to have the citation dismissed?

Yes, you are still able to take a defensive driving class if
you are otherwise eligible.  You can attend an online class that has been
approved by the State of Arizona or return to Arizona to take the class in
person.  More information can be found here:  https://www.azcourts.gov/driveschoolinfo/home.aspx

3. I just drove through an intersection and the camera light flashed, has a citation been issued to me?

Maybe. It takes a few days for the incident to be manually
reviewed to determine if a violation has occurred.  If a violation has
occurred, the driver of the vehicle will receive a citation through the mail.
It is possible that the flash was triggered by another driver or was a test
flash used to ensure the system is working properly, and in those cases you
would not be issued a citation. 

4. What should I do if I’m not the driver?

If you were not the driver of the vehicle at the time of the violation, complete the section inside your citation and return it in the enclosed prepaid envelope before your court appearance date. You will need to include an enlarged, clear photocopy of your driver’s license to exclude yourself as the driver and nominate another driver. If your nomination is declined, you will receive notification from the court.

 

5. I lost my citation. How do I get another copy?

In the case of a lost citation, please contact the Photo Enforcement office at Paradise Valley Police Department via telephone at 480-348-3575 or email at PhotoEnforcement@paradisevalleyaz.gov. 

6. Why are speeders allowed a 10mph buffer?

The margin is intended to address language in the Arizona
Revised Statutes related to speed offenses that defines, "...reasonable
and prudent..." speed. It also provides a reasonable margin of error/grace
for inaccurate vehicle speedometers and short-term lapses of attention by
otherwise law-abiding and generally cautious drivers.

Our primary focus is on intentional, aggressive and
negligent drivers. Statistics tell us that at 10 mph over the posted speed
limit, the probability of being involved in a crash double. However, at
20 mph over, the probability increases to 11 times greater. We are trying
to change the driving behavior of those persons who are most likely to cause
crashes.

7. Are points assessed against my driver’s license for photo enforcement convictions?

Yes. In accordance with Arizona Administrative Code
R17-4-404, Driver Point System, points are assessed by MVD for each conviction
reported to them by the Court. Each red light conviction is assigned two
points, and each speed conviction is assigned three points.

8. Can I avoid points against my license by taking defensive driving school?

Yes. If you have not used the Defensive Driving School (DDS)
option in the past twelve months, you can avoid points being assessed against
your license. This alternative is fully explained on the options page of each
photo enforcement citation.

9. How much is the fine for my photo enforcement citation?

Please refer to the Fines/Fees Schedule at https://www.paradisevalleyaz.gov/161/Municipal-Court

10. Where does an intersection begin?

A vehicle must have ENTERED the INTERSECTION (red
box) before the signal turns RED.  In Arizona, the point of
violation can be simply defined as the connection or prolongation of the curb
lines.  This is a line from the curb face on one side of the street to the
curb face on the opposite side of the street.  
The crosswalk may not define the beginning of the intersection.