Local News in Brief : More Photo Radar Tickets Dismissed

A Pasadena Municipal Court commissioner Friday dismissed more than 1,200 speeding tickets given motorists caught by the city’s controversial photo radar.

The order from Commissioner Kevil Martin still leaves unresolved the fate of about 900 motorists who have already paid their fines or applied for traffic school.

Ever since another commissioner dismissed one ticket last week on the grounds that the vehicle containing the device was painted the wrong color, Martin has been refunding the fines and allowing motorists to cancel their traffic school class if they appear before him.

But Assistant City Prosecutor Christopher Smith said he believes those motorists have already pleaded guilty and should not be allowed to avoid their punishments.

State vehicle codes require that traffic-enforcement vehicles be all white or white and a sharply contrasting color, such as black. Pasadena’s vehicle was painted white and gold. The car was repainted all white this week and was back out on the streets Tuesday.