City authorities in Mesa, Arizona, have announced they will not dismiss or provide refunds for more than 40,000 automated photo radar traffic citations issued during 2020 and 2021. This decision comes despite the discovery of a significant clerical error where the digital signature on the tickets belonged to a judge who had already retired from the city's bench.
Officials Defend Legal Validity of Citations
Assistant City Manager Ken Cost confirmed that a city clerk identified the discrepancy after noticing the automated system continued to apply the retired judge's name long after their departure. "It's legally valid. The name is inconsequential. Totally understand where people are coming from with their concern, but people need to understand their tickets were valid in the city of Mesa. It was a process error, not a legal error," Cost told Arizona's Family.
How the Photo Radar System Works
Automated photo radar systems in Mesa are designed to capture comprehensive data when drivers violate traffic laws:
- Images of vehicles committing infractions
- Vehicle speed measurements
- Other relevant violation data
This information is transmitted to city authorities, where a judge's digital signature is applied before notices are mailed to vehicle owners. The system failure occurred when it continued using the retired judge's signature without updating to current judicial personnel.
Historical Precedent and Future Solutions
City officials revealed this wasn't the first occurrence of such an issue. A similar problem with photo radar traffic citations emerged in 2024, but was promptly corrected once identified. To prevent future occurrences, Mesa is pursuing a petition with higher courts to eliminate the requirement for a judge's signature on photo radar citations altogether.
Broader Implications for Traffic Enforcement
The city's stance raises important questions about automated enforcement systems:
- The balance between administrative efficiency and procedural accuracy
- Public trust in automated traffic enforcement methods
- The legal standing of citations with technical errors
Despite the clerical mistake involving the judge's signature, officials maintain all 40,000+ tickets remain legally enforceable and valid under Mesa's municipal codes.
