How to Fight a Red-Light Camera Ticket in Tampa, FL (2026)
Florida authorizes red-light cameras only — no general speed cameras statewide. The Tampa Bay area has two distinct Hillsborough County programs that differ in vendor, review structure, right-turn enforcement, and launch date. The City of Tampa operates the dominant program: 55 Verra Mobility cameras at 22 intersections, managed by the Tampa Police Department Special Operations Division, which issued 121,431 Notices of Violation and collected $14,493,411.54 in FY2024-2025. Tampa's entire review pipeline — pre-issuance image review, contested NOV review, and UTC issuance — is conducted exclusively by sworn TIEO-certified law enforcement officers. Hillsborough County (unincorporated) launched a new program during FY2024-2025, growing from 0 cameras on July 1, 2024 to 9 Redspeed cameras at 8 intersections by June 30, 2025, issuing 7,677 NOVs and collecting $639,039. Hillsborough County's pre-issuance review and UTC issuance are handled exclusively by the Redspeed vendor contractor — no sworn law enforcement officer is involved at those stages, a potential TIEO defect under FL §316.640. Also active in the Tampa Bay metro (outside Hillsborough County): Clearwater in Pinellas County (3 cameras, 15,464 NOVs) and New Port Richey in Pasco County (5 cameras, 7,234 NOVs). Source: FLHSMV FY2024-2025 Individual Jurisdictions' Survey Responses.
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Tampa Red-Light Camera Fines
| Violation | Fine |
|---|---|
| Notice of Violation (NOV)Statewide uniform fine under FL §316.0083(1)(b)3.b. Applies identically in City of Tampa, Hillsborough County, Clearwater, and New Port Richey. | $158 |
| Uniform Traffic Citation (UTC) — if NOV unpaid/uncontested within 60 daysBase $158 plus Hillsborough County Court costs and surcharges for Tampa/Hillsborough County NOVs. 3 driver's license points attach on conviction. | $262–$277+ |
| Hearing cancellation fee (if you request then withdraw before hearing)Under FL §316.0083(5)(c), if you request a hearing and then pay before it starts, $50 administrative costs are added to the $158. | +$50 |
| Additional county/municipal costs if upheld at hearingUnder FL §316.0083(5)(e), the hearing officer may require payment of county or municipal costs not exceeding $250 on top of the $158 if upheld. | Up to $250 |
How to Contest a Tampa Red-Light Camera Ticket
Where: Local hearing officer (NOV stage) → Hillsborough County Court, 13th Judicial Circuit (UTC stage)
How / where to file: City of Tampa: follow contest instructions on your NOV; Tampa Police Department Special Operations Division oversees the program. Hillsborough County: contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. UTC stage: Hillsborough County Court (13th Judicial Circuit, hillsclerk.com) for both Tampa and Hillsborough County NOVs. Clearwater NOVs → Pinellas County Court. New Port Richey NOVs → Pasco County Court.
Tampa Deadline
60 days from the date the NOV was mailed — count from the postmark date on the notice, not from when you received it. Missing the 60-day window triggers automatic UTC issuance. Source: FL §316.0083(1)(b)1.a.
The Mark Wandall Act (FL §316.0083) creates a two-stage system. Stage 1 (NOV, 60 days): pay the $158, submit a non-responsibility affidavit (five statutory grounds: vehicle under another's care/custody/control; emergency vehicle; police officer direction; UTC already issued at scene; owner deceased), or request a local hearing officer hearing. If you request a hearing and pay before it starts, $50 cancellation fee added. If upheld, county/municipal costs up to $250 may also be added. Stage 2 (UTC, if NOV lapses): UTC converts the matter to Hillsborough County Court with 3 points on conviction. Tampa-specific defenses: right-turn NOVs apply a 20 MPH approach speed threshold — a vehicle turning at 20 MPH or below with no traffic hazard in close proximity does not meet Tampa's own stated enforcement standard (FLHSMV Q33). Of 69 resolved right-turn NOV contests in Tampa in FY2024-2025, 45 were dismissed and 24 upheld (65% dismissal rate at hearing). Tampa placed 315 registration holds in FY2024-2025. Hillsborough County-specific: does NOT issue right-turn NOVs (FLHSMV Q31 = No); pre-issuance review and UTC issuance by vendor contractor only — potential TIEO defect under FL §316.640.
Notable Red-Light Camera Locations in Tampa
- City of Tampa: 55 Verra Mobility cameras at 22 intersections — 5,671 right-turn NOVs in FY2024-2025 (4.7% of total); 20 MPH approach speed threshold; 315 registration holds placed; camera selection driven by pedestrian safety and crash data
- Hillsborough County (unincorporated): 9 Redspeed cameras at 8 intersections — newly launched in FY2024-2025; does NOT issue right-turn NOVs; vendor-only review chain (potential TIEO defect)
- Clearwater (Pinellas County): 3 cameras at 2 intersections — Redflex + Verra Mobility dual-vendor; does NOT issue right-turn NOVs; 0 registration holds in FY2024-2025
- New Port Richey (Pasco County): 5 cameras at 5 intersections — Verra Mobility; does NOT issue right-turn NOVs; UTC issuance by vendor contractor only (potential TIEO defect)
- Tampa Police Department Special Operations Division oversees City of Tampa program — all review stages conducted by sworn TIEO-certified officers (FLHSMV Q28/Q29/Q30 = Law Enforcement Officer)
Tampa Red-Light Camera — By the Numbers
In FY2024-2025 (July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025), the City of Tampa issued 121,431 Notices of Violation from 55 red-light cameras at 22 intersections, collecting $14,493,411.54 in revenue. Managed by Tampa Police Department Special Operations Division, vendor Verra Mobility (FLHSMV FY2024-2025 survey, Tampa response, pp. 344–352).
In FY2024-2025, Tampa escalated 38,644 unpaid/uncontested NOVs to Uniform Traffic Citations — a UTC escalation rate of approximately 32% of all NOVs issued (FLHSMV FY2024-2025 survey, Tampa Q14, p. 346).
In FY2024-2025, Tampa issued 5,671 NOVs for improper right turns on a red signal. Tampa defines a right-turn violation as one where the vehicle was traveling at greater than 20 MPH or where another traffic hazard was in close proximity (FLHSMV FY2024-2025 survey, Tampa Q32/Q33, p. 350).
Of the 69 resolved right-turn NOV contests in Tampa in FY2024-2025, 45 were dismissed and 24 were upheld (FLHSMV FY2024-2025 survey, Tampa Q32, p. 350).
The City of Tampa placed 315 vehicle registration holds as a result of red-light camera violations in FY2024-2025 — the highest among Tampa Bay area active programs (FLHSMV FY2024-2025 survey, Tampa Q18, p. 346).
Hillsborough County (unincorporated) launched its red-light camera program during FY2024-2025, growing from 0 cameras on July 1, 2024 to 9 cameras at 8 intersections on June 30, 2025, using Redspeed as vendor. The program issued 7,677 Notices of Violation and collected $639,039.00 in its first year (FLHSMV FY2024-2025 survey, Hillsborough County Q10–Q14, pp. 119–120).
Hillsborough County (Sheriff's Office) does not issue Notices of Violation for right turns on a red signal — it self-reported Q31 = No to FLHSMV (FLHSMV FY2024-2025 survey, Hillsborough County Q31, p. 123).
Hillsborough County's pre-issuance image review (Q28) and UTC issuance (Q30) are both performed exclusively by a Non-sworn Contractor Employee (Vendor — Redspeed), with no sworn law enforcement officer involved at those stages. FL §316.0083(1)(a) requires a traffic infraction enforcement officer under §316.640 for camera enforcement (FLHSMV FY2024-2025 survey, Hillsborough County Q28/Q30, pp. 122–123).
Under FL §316.0083, the recipient of a red-light camera Notice of Violation has 60 days from the date of the notice to pay, submit a non-responsibility affidavit, or request a local hearing officer hearing; after 60 days, a Uniform Traffic Citation is issued and 3 driver's license points attach on conviction (FL §316.0083(1)(b)1.a., (c)1.a.).
Which Florida defenses apply to your ticket?
All Tampa-area red-light camera programs run under FL §316.0083 (Mark Wandall Act), so every Florida state-level defense applies — including the 60-day NOV deadline, the non-responsibility affidavit, the 30-day NOV mailing deadline, the right-turn-on-red carve-out (§316.0083(1)(a) and (2)), the TIEO review requirement (§316.640), and the yellow-interval defense. The Florida state page covers those defenses in full. This page adds Tampa-area program data from the FLHSMV FY2024-2025 survey: Tampa's 20 MPH right-turn threshold (distinct from Orlando's and Miami's), Tampa's fully sworn-officer review pipeline (TIEO defect not applicable to Tampa), Hillsborough County's vendor-only review chain (potential TIEO defect on both NOV and UTC stages), and Tampa's 315 registration holds (the highest registration hold risk in the metro).
See all Florida red-light camera defenses →Tampa Red-Light Camera Ticket FAQ
Which cities near Tampa have red-light cameras?
As of the FLHSMV FY2024-2025 survey, the following jurisdictions in the Tampa Bay area reported active red-light camera programs: the City of Tampa (55 cameras, 22 intersections, Verra Mobility), Hillsborough County unincorporated (9 cameras, 8 intersections, Redspeed — newly launched this fiscal year), Clearwater in Pinellas County (3 cameras, 2 intersections), and New Port Richey in Pasco County (5 cameras, 5 intersections). Temple Terrace, Plant City, and St. Petersburg do not appear in the FY2024-2025 survey. Source: FLHSMV FY2024-2025 Individual Jurisdictions' Survey Responses.
What is the fine for a red-light camera ticket in Tampa?
Every Florida red-light camera Notice of Violation carries a $158 penalty, set by the Mark Wandall Act (FL §316.0083(1)(b)3.b.). This amount is identical whether the notice comes from the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County, Clearwater, or New Port Richey. If you do not pay or contest within 60 days, a UTC is issued and the total increases to approximately $262–$277 or more when court costs are added, and 3 driver's license points attach on conviction.
How do I contest a Tampa red-light camera ticket, and what is the deadline?
You have 60 days from the date the Notice of Violation was mailed to pay, submit a non-responsibility affidavit, or request a local hearing officer hearing. Count from the postmark date on the notice. Missing the 60-day window triggers automatic UTC issuance, adding 3 points and increasing the amount owed. For City of Tampa tickets, follow the contest instructions on the NOV; the Tampa Police Department Special Operations Division oversees the program. Source: FL §316.0083(1)(b)1.a.
Can I fight a Tampa red-light camera ticket if it was a right turn on red?
Possibly. FL §316.0083(1)(a) and §316.0083(2) prohibit issuing a right-turn NOV for a turn made in a careful and prudent manner where right turns are permitted. Tampa issues right-turn NOVs but applies a specific threshold: its FLHSMV Q33 response states that a violation is issued when the vehicle was traveling at greater than 20 MPH or when another traffic hazard (vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist) was in close proximity. If the video shows your approach speed was at or below 20 MPH and no traffic hazard was present, Tampa's own stated enforcement standard was not met. Source: FLHSMV FY2024-2025 survey, Tampa Q33, p. 350. If your ticket is from Hillsborough County (unincorporated / Sheriff's Office), Hillsborough County self-reported to FLHSMV that it does NOT issue right-turn NOVs (Q31 = No).
What happens if I ignore a Tampa red-light camera notice?
If you do nothing within 60 days of the NOV mail date, the City of Tampa issues a UTC by certified mail. The UTC converts the matter to a Hillsborough County Court (13th Judicial Circuit) proceeding, adds 3 points to your Florida driving record on conviction, and raises the total owed to approximately $262–$277 or more. Tampa placed 315 registration holds on vehicles with outstanding violations in FY2024-2025 — the highest among Tampa Bay area active programs — so unpaid Tampa notices carry a meaningful risk of a registration hold affecting your vehicle's renewal. Source: FL §316.0083(c)1.a.; FLHSMV FY2024-2025 survey, Tampa Q18, p. 346.
Is a Hillsborough County red-light camera ticket the same as a City of Tampa ticket?
No. These are separate programs run by different agencies. A City of Tampa ticket is issued under Tampa Police Department authority, uses Verra Mobility cameras, has 55 cameras at 22 intersections, does issue right-turn NOVs (applying the 20 MPH speed threshold), and has every stage reviewed by sworn TIEO-certified officers. A Hillsborough County ticket is issued under the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, uses Redspeed cameras, launched during FY2024-2025, does NOT issue right-turn NOVs, and has its pre-issuance image review and UTC issuance handled solely by the Redspeed vendor contractor — a potential TIEO defect under FL §316.640. Source: FLHSMV FY2024-2025 survey, Tampa and Hillsborough County responses.
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ParkingFight is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Information is for informational purposes only and based on publicly available Florida statutes, Tampa program documents, and primary-source research as of 2026-06-05. Verify current rules with your court or a licensed attorney.