Red light traffic cameras that photograph drivers who break the law when they run red lights could bring much-needed revenue to Point Pleasant while making our streets safer for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.
Such cameras are already being used in Brick, Staten Island and Arizona. Streets are safer and towns are realizing increased revenues during extremely difficult economic times. The cameras have repeatedly proved to be a win-win for municipalities.
Mayor Schroeder told Boro Independent that the cameras may be a good idea for Point Pleasant, stating, “I believe they are the BEST way to control local highways. They don’t except PBA cards and/or any excuses.”
The revenue generated from the traffic camera tickets could support the programs and personnel currently facing reductions or, in some cases, elimination.
Typically, when first installed, the cameras capture many locals running red lights. But, as residents get used to the cameras and enjoy the increase in safety, ticket recipients tend to be people who live elsewhere who are passing through or visiting the town. Additionally, a 30 or 60-day amnesty could be put in place to help acclimate drivers to the new traffic cameras.
Ultimately, it’s a win-win for towns because roads are made safer and revenues increase without having to increase manpower or hours worked. We urge Point Pleasant to continue exploring red light traffic camera installations…for our residents and for our municipal budget.
Do you know if the cameras that were installed at 88 and Beaver Dam operating yet?
Bonnie – Thanks for your question. It’s my understanding that those cameras are operating, but are not tied to a ticketing/traffic enforcement system.
Interesting idea. Philadelphia uses these cameras as well. It’s my understanding that in Philadelphia, there’s some procedure for securing amnesty if drivers “run red lights” during a funeral procession and receive a ticket in the mail later.
Keefe Communications – Thanks for your comment and additional insight. There would certainly be a set of amnesties and exceptions, but this could be a revenue generator for our town that also keeps our streets safer.
Brick is presently part of a pilot program to determine if this is a viable option for municipalities in the State of New Jersey. My understanding is there are only four municipalities involved in the pilot program. At this time Point Pleasant could not apply to have the cameras installed, even if they wanted to. Also, an officer would have be assigned the job of reviewing the video to determine if the ticket is enforceable, thereby taking an officer off the road to perform this task. Lastly, my understanding is there are usually an increase in the number of rear end accidents caused by drivers slamming on the brakes for fear of going through the red light. All things that need to be considered should the state allow municipalities to use the cameras.
Chief Williams – Thanks for your comment. It’s our understanding that some towns allow clerks or other administrative staff to review/confirm the violation that occurred in the photo, so there may not be a need to take any officers off the street.
Regarding an increase in the number of rear end accidents, we’d be interested to see any associated data. According to 3-years of data in Jackson, Tennessee, traffic accidents there decreased 10%. The city of Tempe, AZ saw a 16% reduction in traffic accidents in just one year after the cameras were installed. Here’s the link to the story about Jackson, TN: http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20110104/OPINION01/101040303/1014/OPINION
In addition, the traffic safety cameras in Tempe, AZ helped crack the case in the death of Kyleigh Ann Sousa. “Good old fashioned police work coupled with the image pulled from our safety camera were useful pieces in solving the investigative puzzle,” said Sergeant Steve Carbajal, Tempe Police Department’s Media Relations.
As you know, people tend to follow the law when they know someone is watching. That’s one of the reasons the cameras are effective. Drivers know they’re being watched and will be ticketed if they break the law. That’s a strong deterrent.
Here is a link to five seemingly credible studies regarding safety issues associated with the use of Red Light Cameras. I myself have seen several at the Brick Blvd/Chambersbridge Rd intersection……
http://blog.motorists.org/red-light-cameras-increase-accidents-5-studies-that-prove-it/
Mr. Coleman- In the State of New Jersey it takes the eye-witness of a sworn law enforcement officer to issue such fine. Brick PD has officers in their Traffic Safety Unit to review such violations, the size of their Department allows them to conduct such work. They confirm speed and time in regards to each summons. It is a semi-lengthy process. I cannot speak for other states as to who is granted authority to issue such summons. Red Light cameras are a good tool for law enforcement and vehicular/pedestrian traffic if utilized properly.
Councilman Remig – Thanks for your comment and additional insight…very helpful! The cameras are indeed good tools for law enforcement. Let’s face it…the police cannot be on every corner every hour of every day. But a traffic camera can. That’s powerful.
Chief,
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, there are 22 municipalities in the pilot program.
There are many pros and cons to this system as stated above. Although it may not seem like it, it takes a lot of manpower to operate such system as the Chief stated. The best way to enforce traffic law is to do exactly that, enforce it. Police omni-presence is the key to safe streets. Our PD does a great job carrying this task out, on top of the multitude of other matters they handle on a day to day basis. Lets wait and see how the studies play out… PS, those “camera looking” devices at Route 88 and Beaver Dam Rd./ Herbertsville Rd. are actually sensors for the traffic signal cycle process as explained to me by the State Road Dept.
Towns the use red light cameras do not allow right turns on red on the intersections with cameras. Almost all lights in Point you can turn on red. In order for cameras in Point you would have to prohibit right turns on red. I don’t think too many people would like that.
I only hope that the Mayor was not stating that law enforcement officers can not be trusted because they give “breaks” to only those with “PBA cards.”
Kim – I’ll let the Mayor speak for himself, but in no way did he state that any law enforcement officer was not to be trusted. Regardless, PBA cards are a fact of life. Heck, I have a few squirreled away in my wallet as I write this!
Traffic light cameras are nothing more than a money generating scheme by government. When a government raises fees or fines they are doing nothing more than raising taxes.
Look at all the studies done on traffic cameras intersections – most famous one for the DC cameras. Instances of accidents went UP at intersections with cameras – why? Rear end accidents sky rocketed due to people slamming on their brakes when the light turned yellow. That is an absolute fact. The statistics banded about for Tempe and Jackson are for accidents CITY WIDE, not at controlled intersections. Statistics can be bent anyway you like.
Chief Williams – thank you for pointing that out, as well as the need to have a police officer assigned “desk duty” rather than patrol duty to review the camera picture “violations”. Does anyone really want a city clerk issuing traffic tickets based upon a single photograph? Beyond that, does anyone want a police officer bound to a desk issuing a ticket based upon a single photograph?
Arizona is removing speed cameras, and is moving towards banning traffic light cameras, because the citizens realized it was nothing more than a new way for the government to raise money (TAXES).
If you follow a car into a controlled intersection, and that car stops leaving your car in the intersection while the light turns red – you get a ticket.
It is not the place for government to raise fines and fees, it is the place for government to CUT COSTS and TAXES. Don’t look for ways to raise money, look for ways to cut costs, and government.
SpaceForThePoppa – Thanks for your comment. I have yet to any data that someone is willing to share on this site showing that accidents go up where traffic safety cameras are installed. If such data exit, please feel free to link to it from here.
Arizona’s Governor is unilaterally removing the cameras, much to the chagrin of local elected officials and residents who know the streets are safer with the cameras installed. It’s simply a power-grab from the capitol in Phoenix, much like similar power-grabs in NJ that originate from our own shining example of state government, Trenton.
You said, “Don’t look for ways to raise money, look for ways to cut costs, and government.” I agree 100%. Can we find some politicians that agree as well?
Traffic light cameras are nothing more than a money generating scheme by government.
…and towns are realizing increased revenues during extremely difficult economic times..
We cannot ignore the fact that an “automatic ticket generation system” like this is potentially a financial windfall for a town. However, is it the place of law enforcement to generate an income stream for a municipality? Fines are meant to be deterrents, not an income stream.
There is nothing wrong with the concept of traffic safety cameras, in a passive sense to help law enforcement (the comment on the AZ police using them to help solve Sousa’s case is apropos here), but to use them to automatically ticket people is “armchair” police work.
… it takes a lot of manpower to operate such system …
Let our officers be where they are needed most, patrolling our streets, not a desk. We already cannot afford the police staff we have, to add more or take officers off the streets to man a camera seems to a very poor use of personnel.
…(r)ear end accidents sky rocketed due to people slamming on their brakes…
I have no idea if this is true or not, but how many times have you come to a yellow light at point where you think you are unable to stop safely and run it to have the light change to red as you pass through? It doesn’t happen often, but it can. With ticket generating traffic cameras, I could easily see people slamming on their brakes to avoid going through a yellow.
No, I cannot support the idea of traffic cameras generating tickets. As a passive safety system, that’s open for debate, but that’s a far more palatable use.
And this is what is disheartening – those in favor a new government programs to “raise revenue” ie -RAISE TAXES, refuse to do their own homework, instead take the word of the government, government studies, government funded studies done by companies that directly benefit from the revenue generating programs. And then they will continue to cite these studies in the face of the facts that disprove them.
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2008/03/new-study-says/
Do a google search. That was one of a hundred or more articles citing a number of studies disproving the “safety” of traffic light cameras.
This is how a “safety” camera works at an intersection:
1) light turns red
2) picture is taken
3) any car “in the box” is ticketed for going through a red light.
You can see this in action at the corner of Chambers Bridge and Rt 70. Go on a cloudy day to the McDonald’s. Grab a cup of coffee and a burger and watch the the timing of the picture flash. It has to be cloudy so the flash is used and you can see the timing of the flash. And this intersection is a prime example of the “car in front stops and car behind is caught in the box.” Cars turning north onto Chambers get caught up in the traffic for the Kohl’s/Shop-Rite light. The traffic backs up and causes cars that legitimately got through the Rt 70 light to get caught behind traffic for the Kohl’s turn and get a ticket for being in the box.
The last thing this town needs is to look towards anything Brick does as an example of something we should do. The town traffic, over commercialized business district, poorly designed roads, horrible traffic engineering leads to what they think is a “fix” but it is nothing more than a band-aid – a band-aid that will eventually fall off, showing the ugly scar beneath. They haven’t fixed anything. Traffic is still a mess, accidents still happen, the town is still financially in the hole because the revenue from the traffic camera system isn’t making enough money, so they will look to other ways to “raise revenue” … TAXES. Raise fees, fees … but never cut government.
I don’t like the idea of “big brother” in our town. I think our local police do a fine job of enforcing our traffic laws. Also, I have heard a couple of things about these traffic camera’s that make me nervous. I heard that as much as 30% of the fine goes to the camera company. In some instances the timing of the yellow light is decreased in order to catch more red light runners. Who will appear in court for the camera when I decide to use my right to face my accuser? Even if I go to court to face my accuser, I will have to pay a court fee. Either way it is going to cost me money. How many times per month will these cameras be calibrated? Will the department have to hire someone to review all of these cases, since our police force is already on the verge of being understaffed? My opinion is that these cameras will cost the township and citizens more than they are worth.
Another great article, citing specific studies that prove both the speed and traffic light cameras are nothing more than a revenue generator, and not a “safety” feature:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/feb/2/turn-out-the-red-lights/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS
SpaceForThePoppa – Yeah, but we REALLY need some revenue generators in this town!
I think that fixing up downtown will really attract some good businesses, which in turn will attract more consumers, who will spend more money, which will be taxed. Besides, it would look nice too.
Mike – Thanks for your comment. I hope you’re right.
Yeah, but we REALLY need some revenue generators in this town!
This is not the way to go about it. I’ll repeat my previous statement: fines are meant to be deterrents to breaking a law, not a means of revenue generation.
Do you really want to create safety at intersections? Lengthen yellow light intervals. Increase the interval between a red light on one road to the green light to the crossing road. Provide a safer means that insures traffic can clear the intersection safely.
I find it interesting that no responses (including the chief) condemned PBA cards.
This state is so corrupt that bribery of a police officer is accepted and approved. You should all be ashamed of the lessons you are teaching your children. It’s no wonder that driving down the road is like being in the “Wild West”. There are no consequences for breaking the law as long as you’re “connected” and have a “get out of jail free card. Let’s see if it helps the Bay Head chief.
Another thing to consider, I drive though the intersection of Brick Blvd and Cedar Bridge every day, and every day for the past 2 weeks there has been a maintenance truck with 2 police cars in front and back at the pole with the cameras on it. Seems this technology may not be 100% reliable, or possibly some locals are rebelling and vandalizing the cameras.