CHESAPEAKE
The City Council voted
8-0 Tuesday to install red-light cameras at five or six intersections by next year.
The move follows a similar action by Virginia Beach, which will install 20 cameras at 10 of its most dangerous intersections.
Chesapeake leaders said the cameras will help protect residents from crashes that result from red-light running.
"This is safety," Councilwoman Rebecca Adams said. "That's the reason we're doing this."
While Virginia Beach drivers may see the first cameras by July 15, it could be 2009 by the time Chesapeake installs cameras.
City officials said one monitored intersection will most likely be in the city's Greenbrier section, and others will be chosen based on intersection accident rates and the number of traffic violations.
A driver caught running a red light in either of the cities could face a penalty of $50.
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Question
I remeber reading a few years back that Va Beach had red light cameras installed at the busy intersections but when someone challeged them in court for invasion of privacy the city took them down. So is the city Chesapeake ready to go to court everytime someone challenges these red lights? In my opinion I think the cameras are a great idea and make the fines a high amount so people would think twice of running them and make them increase e.g. 1st offense 250, 2nd 500, 3rd 750....etc but its just an idea.
cboath
It is not the "2 second rule", it is 1 car length for every 10 miles per hour. Example, if you are going 40, stay 4 car lengths behind the car in front. If someone cuts in front, then slow down. Also, I would rather be rear ended when slowing down for a red light than broadsided by an idiot running a red light.
Alright!
It's about time. Hampton Roadians, especially residents of Chesapeake, are terrible about red light running. I agree with fairlane_68 in that the fines should be/could be raised as well. Many drivers shun laws and rules that raise their chances of getting to their destination alive, including the light running, so by all means bring the whip down. Especially since the empty squad cars at intersections didn't deter a thing. All in all, Chesapeake City Council is thinking properly with this issue.
Project is a waste of time and money
When Chesapeake SHOULD be re-building the steel bridge to add 45 feet so most boats can safely pass under it and traffic DOESN'T have to be stopped every 15 minutes, it is spending money on traffic light cameras. I'm really surprised that Va Beach is doing it again- They did this as a test once, and decided to take all of them down because it didn't work.
How can Chesapeake be so close to Va Beach, and yet be so BACKWOODS???
Lawyer Windfall
This is going to be a windfall for the Hampton Roads lawyers. I expect the number of rear end collisions to increase substantially when these cameras go up. And yes I know the 2-second rule, but it doesn't really apply when the person in front of you slams on their brakes.
Why not raise the fines?
Why not raise the fines for running a red light also? Careless people aren't so careless when it starts to hurt them in the wallet.