Los Angeles did away with its controversial red light camera program this week. It turns out L.A. courts were not following up on the citations. But some ticketed car owners are still wondering whether or not they should pay the hefty fines.

Twenty-nine-year-old Nelson Moran says his trouble with the cameras began last December after making a right turn at a red light — something that’s legal in California, unless a driver fails to make a complete stop first.

“I looked, there were no cars coming, so I figured I had my right of way. I made a right turn, and that was it. A couple months later, I received a ticket through the mail,” Moran says.

Moran says the ticket included a photograph of him at the wheel, along with a shot of his license plate.

“They’re asking for close to $500, which is a lot, considering how tough times are now with the economy,” he says. “And unfortunately, I do not have the money that they’re asking for.”

Read entire article here: http://www.npr.org/2011/08/03/138962399/l-a-does-away-with-red-light-camera-program?sc=tw