Typically a civil infraction.

If you weren't driving, there is usually an option (box to check) to indicate that.
You typically do not have to "rat out" the actual driver either. They will simply compare the infraction photo to that of your ID. If they don't mach, the ticket is usually dismissed. However, some municipalities are notorious for upholding the infraction unless it is unquestionably obvious that it wasn't you (like man vs. woman, etc.).

If the municipality where the infraction occurred does not employ "alternative service" then the ticket will usually be dropped if you can successfully dodge a few service attempts by a process server until after the service deadline expires. If they do employ "alternative service" then you can still try to dodge the process servers, and maybe get lucky if they pass the deadline for alternative service. Chances are they will get you though.

If you do end up "alternatively served" (and you can't prove it wasn't you driving), then you are usually better off taking an online driver-safety course if available. If you choose to fight the ticket, the option to take a driver safety course (or any other deferment) is taken off the table in most cases.

Again, check your local statutes...

Supposedly they voted them out her, and I got one for turning on red.
Paid the fine, no points and I got a couple of cool pictures and video of the Carrera.

I believe the "courtesy warnings" are required for a certain period of time after a new camera is installed. I got one of those warnings within a couple weeks of the camera @ FLW & Hayden going up.
Also, a I am pretty sure a ticket will be generated, regardless of the photo. You basically have to "prove it wasn't you" to get it dropped (as opposed to them being required to prove it was you before issuing the citation). It's ridiculous.

Didn't work out that way in many of the SoCal cities. People were quick to challenge the ticket in court and eventually judges capitulated. Revenue was split between city, county and state with only the city paying the fees to maintain the cameras. It got to the point that there wasn't enough to bother and the courts were pleased to let it go.

Furthermore rear end collisions went up in number as drivers tended to slam on the brakes more rather than proceed through a legal yellow light. Adding yellow light time helped, but the goose was already in the pan.

Funny thing is, the private companies that installed, reviewed and maintained the equipment let it stay up there. Must have been a quiet agreement on that.

People also didn't understand if the cameras allowed right-turn-on-red where allowed and parked there until a green. Lots of horn honking.

Some ideas are just plain fooking stupid.

We do not have them at all in Oklahoma, and never have.

When I was in Chicago area (actually St. Charles) they had them everywhere. In Oklahoma we have no front tags. I am pretty sure one of the cameras got me making a right turn through a light that was a very short yellow. I never heard a thing from them. Since my face is not in their database, and with no front tag, I slipped through the sticky fingers of justice. In fact I have never had any type of device send me a ticket of any sort, and I have driven my 911 in over 40 different states.

We don't have front tags in AZ either, but the cameras all exist in pairs to get the driver and rear tag at the same time.

Those tickets aren't enforceable. You can ignore them. No ability to go after your license or issue a warrant for your arrest.

Look it up.

^^^^ This. Here, they only had a pic of your rear plate, no pic of the driver. Sent to the vehicle's owner....pay or "rat" on who it was. The "red light vendor" received 90%, the city 10%. Plus...they reduced the duration of the yellow light at some intersections. Pure B$ :(

....and the horse you rode in on ;)

They didn't last a year....they sent one to an atty....gone soon after :)

They are enforceable when you get hit with a failure to appear after having been served or hit with "alternate service." At that point, it's no longer a DMV issue, but rather a court issue, and it will cost $$ to fix. If you can dodge the process server for 120 days and that locality doesn't have "alternate service," then you're in the clear.

Here....it was not tied to the DMV, nor court...there was no "appearing" to ignore.

They absolutely are enforceable in many places. Ignoring them after being served (in person or "alternatively") will have consequences in plenty of municipalities (bench warrant, suspended license, inability to renew license/registration, etc.).
Hence the "check your local statutes" I posted above. It's a BS money-grab for sure. That part is true in all cases/locations. ;)

That can’t prove crap anyways with everyone wearing a face mask and hoodie.

Toss the front plate (seldom enforced rule) and add in a strategically-placed trailer ball hitch off the back bumper, and you're good to go.

“Judge, that wasn’t me”

They can’t ticket the car, only the driver.

Rent-seeking ninnies abound. Municipalities get a cut. ...

Thankfully this State has a law that says cameras are not allowed to ID drivers.

And, iirc, Seattle allows bicyclists to run reds at their own risk.

Seems that easy revenue (not safety) motivates a lot of ticket cams

In NYC they just passed a new law. 15 Red Light Camera tickets or 5 Speed Camera tickets in one year and they confiscate your car. I am not a lawyer but this does not seem legal to me. There are red light, speed and bus lane cameras everywhere here. If you do a lot of driving you are almost assured to get a ticket. I got cut off by a taxi in Manhattan and forced to go into the bus lane to avoid an accident, got a ticket for $115 in the mail.

Easy revenue (not safety) motivates just about all traffic laws and enforcement.

If the concern were really safety, why don't they bother going after unsafe vehicles or really aggressive driving behavior?

Oh, that's right - it's racist / profiling. GMAFB.

I was in Colorado. NY is a different country.

Here in Canada, they enforce them by not allowing plate or license renewal with an outstanding balance. Total revenue generating scheme, as stated above has proven to increase rear end collisions at lights. No safety improvement has been shown from installing them at all. No front plates here in AB, they only ever photograph the rear. You can contest in court here, but to do so you either have to admit you were driving, then the ticket that was simply a fee is now a points offense automatically, or you can out who was driving and the ticket will be issued as a traffic infraction to that person with points attached.
And here I believe it is the same, the lion's share of the revenue landing in the pockets of the camera manufacturer not the city.

fify