Standing issue thwarts red light camera challenge

Luis Garcia got a ticket from the City of Willis for running a red light. The ticket was automatically issued due to a red-light camera. Garcia paid the fine and then challenged the red-light ticket in court. This was a fatal error.

The Supreme Court of Texas, in Garcia v. City of Willis, et al., on Friday held that Garcia did not have standing to challenge the red-light ticket system because he had paid the fine and thus any declaratory judgment would be an advisory opinion. His claim for reimbursement was barred by governmental immunity, and he failed to exhaust administrative remedies before bringing his constitutional taking claim. Alas, the legitimacy of the red-light cameras awaits adjudication in a different case.

The case can be found at http://www.txcourts.gov/media/1444024/170713.pdf.