CLEVELAND -- Red-light cameras installed at Cleveland intersections have become controversial.

5 On Your Side chief investigator Duane Pohlman said flashes are oftentimes the only clue the cameras caught cars speeding or running red lights.

Confirmation arrives later as a ticket in the mail, with a $100 fine.

The cameras are triggering key questions before Ohio's highest court.

"We are starting to lose our freedom," one motorist said.

At the very least, motorists said these devices are just plain unfair.

"I think we should get rid of them," another motorist said.

For the past six months, 5 On Your Side has been investigating the red-light cameras and found, from the sophisticated electronics to the system that supports it, the cameras not only can make mistakes -- they do, Pohlman said.

NewsChannel5 spoke with Dave Hatala, a 5 On Your Side videographer.

"Something's wrong with the whole system," Hatala said.

He got a ticket in the mail saying he was speeding on Chester Avenue at East 71st Street. He was cited for going 48 mph in a 35 mph zone.

The only problem is that Hatala insisted he never went that fast

"This was wrong, and I'm willing to fight that," he said.

Along with his ticket, Hatala got pictures showing his van and another car that appeared to be going faster.

"I immediately could see they ticketed the wrong lane," Hatala said. "A car going faster than me that you can clearly see is overtaking me."

Could the ticket be a mistake?

To get answers, Pohlman went to Chris Butler, a math professor at Case Western University.

"If you know the distance and you know the time you can calculate the speed," Butler said.

Hatala brought the measuring device. Butler measured the location using markers from the pictures.

He determined Hatala's real rate of speed.

"Dave Hatala was traveling 40.5 mph," Butler said.

He also found the real speed for that other car, too -- 48 mph.

Hatala brought the findings to court to challenge his ticket.

"Becomes pretty clear that it wasn't your vehicle that was speeding," the judge said.

He didn't have to argue much. Pohlman said the court admitted the ticket was issued to the wrong car, in the wrong lane.

"So based upon the testimony provided we are going to find you not liable for this violation," the judge said.

Pohlman reported a different problem at that same location on Chester Avenue at East 71st Street.

Bill and Sue Faber of Massillon said they haven't been in Cleveland for six months, but the city sent them a ticket.

"No way we could be in Cleveland," Faber said.

"Do you have witnesses for that?" Pohlman asked.

"Yes, we do," Faber said.

Yet Cleveland sent the ticket showing a car speeding, but the plate belongs to the Faber's truck.

Pohlman said you can't read the license in the picture at all. He said it appears Cleveland guessed and sent the ticket anyway.

"I always thought we were always innocent until proven guilty and now I find it's guilty until I can prove I'm innocent," Faber said.

After NewsChannel5 got involved, the city backed off, writing a letter informing the Fabers that the city made a mistake.

"I thought it was ridiculous," Faber said.

NewsChannel5 has received hundreds of e-mails about the red-light cameras and Pohlman continues his investigation at 11 p.m.