NYC violation code guide

Violation Code 7: Red light camera

On the Department of Finance schedule, code 7 is the camera-issued red-light violation: a camera recorded a vehicle entering the intersection after the light turned red. The ticket is mailed to the vehicle's registered owner — it is not an officer-issued moving violation.

Dismissal figures: NYC Department of Finance, FY2025 (appeal stage). A historical rate across all appeals — not a promise about your ticket.

What the fine and exposure actually are

The fine for code 7 is $50 everywhere in NYC. This ticket is typically camera-issued to the registered owner and carries no license points. The exposure that surprises people is what stacks on top: late penalties of +$10 at 30 days, +$20 at 60 days, and +$30 at 90 days — a $50 ticket left alone for three months carries $60 in penalties alone. At around 100 days the unpaid ticket enters judgment, and once a vehicle's judgment debt reaches $350, it can be booted — and towed within 48 hours of booting.

What contesting a code 7 ticket involves

You dispute a parking or camera ticket with the NYC Department of Finance — online through the city's dispute portal, by mail, or in person — and the city takes 30–60 days to rule. In FY2025, 19.41% of appealed code-7 violations were dismissed (53 of 273). Red-light camera tickets win on unreadable plates, or when the car was sold or the plates were lost/stolen.

Before you pay, check the ticket itself against the city's own requirements. Dismissals usually start with a defect:

• The plate in the photo is readable and yours
• You owned the car on the violation date
• The signal was actually red
• The location and date on the ticket are correct

TicketBeat checks your code free — up to 3 free lookups a day per visitor — counted by network address and browser — and shows the dismissal rate and the defect checklist for it. If you want the dispute written for you, a dispute letter is $9.99 one-time; if tickets keep coming, Watchdog covers dispute letters for up to 3 plates for $6.99/mo while you're subscribed. TicketBeat drafts the letter — you submit it to the city; we do not file it for you, and no one can promise a dismissal.

Code 7 questions

How much is a code 7 ticket in NYC?

The fine for code 7 (failure to stop at red light) is $50 everywhere in NYC. If it goes unpaid, late penalties add $10 at 30 days, $20 more at 60 days, and $30 more at 90 days — $60 on top of the fine before the ticket enters judgment at around 100 days.

Does a code 7 ticket add points to my license?

No. Camera-issued tickets in New York are mailed to the vehicle's registered owner and do not add points to a driver's license. The real exposure is the fine, the late penalties, and boot or tow risk once tickets reach judgment.

How often are code 7 tickets dismissed?

In the city's FY2025 data, 19.41% of appealed code-7 violations were dismissed — 53 dismissals out of 273 appeals (NYC Department of Finance, FY2025). That is a historical rate across all appeals, not a prediction for any individual ticket.

What happens if I ignore a code 7 ticket?

Penalties stack at 30, 60, and 90 days, and at around 100 days the ticket enters judgment. With $350 or more in judgment debt, your vehicle becomes eligible for booting — and a booted vehicle can be towed within 48 hours. Ignoring it is always the most expensive option.

Other violation codes

Code 38 · Code 14 · Code 21 · Code 40 · Code 20 · Code 36 · Code 5 · Code 46

Related guides

• How to dispute a parking ticket in NYC
• NYC parking ticket fines and deadlines
• What happens if you ignore a parking ticket
• How to fight an expired meter ticket in NYC

TicketBeat is not legal advice. Odds are historical statistics from published city data, not predictions or guarantees about any individual ticket.