It’s considered a “parking ticket” in most jurisdictions because a private company runs the cameras. When an officer issues the ticket, it’s a criminal offense.
You will find that places using the cameras have changed their laws to allow traffic violation to be prosecuted either way, civil or criminal.
It is not a “criminal offense” to disobey a static symbol. Check again.
—It’s considered a “parking ticket” in most jurisdictions because a private company runs the cameras.—
I understand that in some states you can ignore them and there is really nothing they can do. The private company will even send it to collections but because you never agreed to pay, there is really nothing, legally, to collect.
In other states, the situation is similar, but the state will revoke your drivers license if you ignore these tickets. IIRC.