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Appeal a Red-Light Citation
The SafeLight program provides an appeal process for individuals who feel unjustly cited for a red-light violation. Appeal forms must be received no later than thirty (30) days from the date of issuance of the ticket.
Photos and videos of the infraction are available online. You must have your citation number and pin to access the photos/videos.
Appeal Request
A Request for Adjudication Hearing form must be received no later than 30 days from the mail date on the front side of the citation. This form is included on the back of the initial citation.
Please send the hearing request form to:
Safelight Raleigh
PO Box 27408
Raleigh, NC 27611
- Payment of the $50 citation fine is required to serve as the deposit.
- Deposits are fully refunded if the adjudicator rules in your favor.
- The registered owner of the vehicle will be mailed the citation.
- Vehicle owners are responsible for violations unless they can show that someone else was in the "care, custody or control" of the vehicle when the violation occurred.
- The City will accept affidavits as allowed by law. An affidavit transferring responsibility is included on the back of the initial citation.
- Instructions on how to appeal a SafeLight citation also appear on the back of the initial citation.
- Appeals will be heard virtually by an administrative hearing panel.
- The driver of the vehicle (even if not registered owner) should be prepared to respond to questions from the hearing panel.
Virtual Hearing Procedures
Hearings are scheduled on the first Wednesday of each month.
- Virtual hearings are performed either over the phone or through video conferencing programs (such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom).
- Hearing dates typically occur on the first Wednesday of each month. Hearings will not be scheduled until enough appeal requests have been received to fill time slots on the designated dates.
- The associated Requests for Adjudication Hearing forms must be received within 30 days of citation mail date.
- Hearings are informal and typically last about 15 minutes.
- You will be given an opportunity to state your circumstances and present supporting evidence such as photographs or diagrams. Such evidence should be provided to the Customer Services representative prior to the hearing date.
- Photos and video from the red-light camera as well as any pertinent records will be presented by the Hearing Officer during hearing conducted through video conferencing.
- The Hearing Officer will render a written decision within 10 working days of the hearing.
- The written decision will be provided to the SafeLight Program and staff will mail the decision to all parties.
- The decision of the Hearing Officer is subject to review by proceedings in the nature of certiorari in Wake Superior Court within 30 days of the final decision of the appeals panel.