Are Red Light Cameras Legal in Orlando? (The Saga Continues)

By: John Guidry

Good news for those of you who believe we have way too many laws. Orlando’s red light camera ordinance has been struck down. One down, many more to go.

Have you seen how many laws are enacted by Congress every year? A zillion, I think. But let’s not blame the Federal government for all that wasted time and money—Florida’s lawmakers do their fair share of making things inefficient as well.

Received a Red Light Camera Ticket in the mail?

The laws are constantly shifting. Call John today at (407) 423-1117.

The 2012 Victory: City of Orlando v. Udowychenko

Here’s the problem: where is the line crossed when it comes to government agencies coming up with new ways to fine and punish citizens?

The answer came in a well-written opinion by Judge Recksiedler in City of Orlando v. Udowychenko (Fla. 5th DCA, 2012). The court upheld a ruling striking down Orlando’s ordinance because it was preempted by state law.

The Logic: Florida has “uniform” traffic laws (Chapter 316) to prevent confusion. The State law already says you must stop at a red light. The Orlando ordinance prohibited the exact same thing. Judge Recksiedler correctly reasoned that cities cannot create “separate and additional penalties” for things the Legislature has already covered.

Basically, how many different government agencies can punish us for the exact same behavior? The court said: Just one.

The 2016 Shift: Jimenez vs. Arem

Note: As I checked my old notes in August 2016, the courts started shifting against the citizen.

The fight eventually turned into a battle over who runs the cameras.

• In City of Hollywood v. Arem (4th DCA, 2014), the court dismissed a citation because the third-party camera vendor (a private company) had “unfettered discretion” to decide who got a ticket.
• However, in State v. Jimenez (3rd DCA, 2016), the court found that as long as a police officer “reviews” the vendor’s work, the cameras are legal.

I predicted back then that cities would just rewrite their policies to look like Jimenez “on paper” to keep the revenue flowing.

John’s 2025 Update: The Empire Strikes Back

Unfortunately, my prediction in 2016 was too optimistic. The legal battle is over, and the drivers lost.

1. The Supreme Court Ruling (2018) The conflict between the different courts went all the way to the Florida Supreme Court. In 2018, they issued a final ruling in Jimenez v. State, siding with the cities. The Court ruled that red light cameras are constitutional and legal as long as the city has specific guidelines and a police officer makes the final decision to issue the ticket (even if a private company does the initial screening).

2. The 2025 Expansion With the legal green light from the Supreme Court, Orlando didn’t just keep the cameras—they doubled down. In late 2024 and 2025, the City of Orlando approved a massive expansion, adding roughly 55 new cameras to intersections across the city.

The Bottom Line Today: Red light cameras are legal, active, and multiplying in Orlando. However, you still have rights.

• The “Not Me” Defense: If you weren’t driving, you can submit an affidavit naming the actual driver.
• The “Right Turn” Defense: Many cameras are trigger-happy on “Right on Red” turns. If you stopped (even briefly) before turning, you may have a defense.

Don’t just pay the $158 without checking your options. Call me at (407) 423-1117.

About John Guidry II

John Guidry II is a seasoned criminal defense attorney and founder of the Law Firm of John P. Guidry II, P.A., located in downtown Orlando next to the Orange County Courthouse, where he has practiced for over 30 years. With more than three decades of experience defending clients throughout Central Florida since 1993, Guidry has successfully defended thousands of cases in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, and Volusia counties. He has built a reputation for his strategic approach to criminal defense, focusing on pretrial motions and case dismissals rather than jury trials.

Guidry earned both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University in 1993. He is a member of the Florida Bar and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His practice encompasses the full spectrum of Florida state criminal charges, with a particular emphasis on achieving favorable outcomes through thorough pretrial preparation and motion practice.

Beyond the courtroom, Guidry is a prolific legal educator who has authored over 400 articles on criminal defense topics. He shares his legal expertise through his popular YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, where he has built a substantial following of people eager to learn about the law. His educational content breaks down complex legal concepts into accessible information for the general public.

When not practicing law, Guidry enjoys tennis and pickleball, and loves to travel. Drawing from his background as a former recording studio owner and music video producer in the Orlando area, he brings a creative perspective to his legal practice and continues to apply his passion for video production to his educational content.