THE HIATUS is over for red-light running scofflaws in Virginia Beach.
And they can't claim they weren't warned.
Beach police officials announced that they plan to install 20 cameras at 10 of the city's most dangerous intersections, according to a recent article by The Pilot's Aaron Applegate. Officials have already identified 20 possible locations where the cameras would go, with some to be installed by July 15.
It's a proactive move designed to improve safety. In fact, police would be just as happy if they raised hardly any money and everyone obeyed the law.
"The goal is not to generate revenue but to reduce violations," said Police Chief Jake Jacocks Jr., a longtime crusader for the cameras. The department's announcement should put people on notice.
Hardheaded drivers, however, will be lighter in the wallets: Infractions cost $50. The cameras will snap photos of the vehicles and license plates of cars that enter an intersection after the light turns red.
The issue is important, because such drivers kill and maim people. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that red-light running causes more than 100,000 crashes and about 1,000 deaths nationwide every year.
Last week, for example, Beach police charged a 29-year-old man with manslaughter, DUI and disregarding a red light in a wreck at South Rosemont Road and Lynnhaven Parkway - one of the intersections where officials might place cameras.
The Beach was one of about a half-dozen localities in the commonwealth that operated a pilot program before it expired in 2005. It took new legislation, passed by the General Assembly last year, to allow Virginia Beach and other communities to erect the shutterbugs.
In Hampton Roads, Chesapeake is also considering the program, and the issue is on the May 27 City Council agenda. Newport News officials have discussed placing the cameras at several spots along Jefferson Avenue, one of that city's main thoroughfares.
The cameras are a hit with law enforcement, because instead of manning specific intersections, they can attack other crimes.
Drivers now have two options: Be patient and stop, or break the law and pay. We suggest the former.
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I SUPPORT IF...
IF the city doesn't shorten the yellow lights any more than they already have. Several cities in other states have been caught illegally shortening yellow lights when setting up red light cameras to enhance their income. They do not follow the Institute of Transportation Engineers formulas for yellow light duration timing based on the posted speed limit and the size of the intersection. If you are heading down Virginia Beach Boulevard at the posted speed limit of 45 miles an hour and see a yellow light you should not have to skid to a stop to keep from running a red light. The yellow light, if set correctly should allow you to get through the intersection before a red or give you enough "yellow" to stop safely without the worry of being rear-ended. It isn't only Virginia Beach that is guilty of this. Chesapeake on Greenbrier Parkway has some of the quickest yellow lights around. Maybe a class for the traffic engineers in is order and the lights properly set BEFORE the cameras go up again. Hey, if not and you get caught you have a defense - "The yellow light lasted one second to get through a 50 yard wide intersection at the posted speed of 35 miles per hour!!!"