The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
When the city began installing cameras at intersections in March, the hope was to make drivers think twice before speeding through red lights.
So far, the cameras seem to be working, officials say. Now the program is expanding to Chesapeake and Newport News.
During the first six months of Virginia Beach's PhotoSafe Program, several monitored intersections saw red light violations decline as much as 69 percent, according to statistics released by the Police Department on Friday. Officers approved 13,987 citations through the program between March 13 and Sept. 30.
"At every location that we have the cameras in operation we are seeing a reduction," said Officer Brian Walters, the PhotoSafe Program coordinator. "We're very happy to see that."
However, officials won't be able to make a true assessment of whether the cameras are having an effect until the spring of 2013, when they can compare three years of data, said city traffic engineer Mike Shahsiah in a news release.
The city has approved installation of 20 camera systems at 13 intersections. Eleven received cameras in the first six months.
The final system, which will be at Independence Boulevard and Baxter Road, will go live in November.
"Our goal is to reduce crashes and right-angle collisions, which are the most severe," Walters said. "Our goal is not to catch people running red lights; the goal is to stop them from doing it."
During the first six months of the program, the cameras captured 27,407 red light violations but officers rejected nearly 30 percent of them, according to police data. Officers review each infraction and throw out those involving emergency vehicles, funeral processions, safe right-hand turns or illegible license plates.
Drivers received 13,987 $50 fines and 5,341 warnings, police said. Warnings are issued for the first 30 days after a camera activates.
As of Sept. 30, 40 percent of fines had been paid, a total of $280,119, police said. Sometimes it can take several months to collect payment, especially if a driver's address has changed, Walters said.
He said more than 90 percent of the money collected so far will go to Redflex Traffic Systems Inc., the Phoenix company that pays to install, maintain and monitor the cameras, to pay its monthly fee of $4,500 per camera system. Any extra will go to the city's general fund.
Virginia Beach was the first city to install red light cameras after the General Assembly approved their use in 2007.
"If anything, the message we want to tell people is, 'Please stop,' " Walters said. "In the long run, it's not worth taking a few seconds off your drive."
Kathy Adams, (757) 222-5155, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com
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Check ticket carefully
I work in the traffic industry, specifically with traffic signals. Several years ago, I ran the light at Indian River and Kempsville. It seemed like the yellow clearance time was very short. When I received the "bill" from the company in Akron, Ohio, I looked at the picture carefully. At the top is a set of data which includes the amount of yellow displayed before the red. The time shown was 3.0 seconds, which is the lowest amount that the equipment will allow. This is well below the amount of yellow that should be displayed for an intersection of this size. I contacted the city traffic engineer and requested the plans for this intersection. When asked why, I told him. I was told that this was not the correct timing for this signal. I then called the VB PD and relayed this to the officer in charge of the cameras. He verified this information and told me to disregard the citation.
What I think happened here is the company that had installed the system, or someone else, had reduced the yellow time. Possibly to induce red light running and increase profits. I have no proof of this, but it seems like a odd coincidence.
If you receive a citation for a running a red light, look a
Ordering prints
Is there any way to order prints of photos taken by the red light cameras? I was nabbed wearing one of my favorite hats that, sadly, I lost later that day. I'd love to have a glossy 8 X 10 to remember it by.
Yea,Right!
I love watching bogus numbers used to get rid of red lights. How about calculating the fact that the lights can be monitored 24/7? How much overtime is that? Or a red light camera does not need a 401k or a vacation.A red light camera works in all types of weather conditions, doesn't complain, and has instant proof. How much is a life worth?, as you did not include that in your computations. Not to mention insurance claims etc. Or maybe you are a Chiropractor that loves red light crashes because they bring in so many patients as one Virgina Delegate that was so against them.
What about accident data?
The story states they have to have 3 years of data to assess the impact of the program. yet the statement is made that red light running has gone down by 69% since the program started. So how many accidents of each type have occurred at these intersections in that same 6 month period compared to the average ?
Doing the math assuming 13,987 $ 50 fines in 6 month that would put the annual intake of this program at almost 1.4 million dollars with almost 1.26 million of this going to an out of state company. That is a lot of money going out of the area.
Assuming a police officer costs the city 60k a year in salaries and benefits you could hire 21 officers for just the money going to the out of state company. I would rather see the city hire the additional officers and put them in a traffic task force for red light running, DUI,s and speeding. During the summer it is well known that the city moves large numbers of officers to the 2nd prec. leaving the 1st, 3rd and 4th understaffed. Perhaps this would be a better answer than supporting an out of state company and its economy in a recession.
Good ideas, but . . .
Typically when stats are run on systems such as this it is best to get three years to check for accuracy of the data. Six months is nothing: you need to get a full year's worth to begin with to see if there are trends and to check the accuracy of the data. Six months can show up too many variables.
The money issue goes with the same thing: this is just what is showing up for six months. If violations go up or down, that figure can change greatly.
The costs per officer or for any employee are typically higher than just their salary and benefits. As another poster pointed out, there are many other things that have to be added such as more patrol cars, uniforms, equipment, training of those officers . . . the list goes on and on. What if an officer quits or takes another job? What if they get seriously ill? Then you have to replace them and go through all the training and equipping them, short a few things of course, all over again.
Put 'em on STOP signs next
It's a darn shame it's come to this, but since the cops, courts, localities, not to mention the scofflaws themselves, have allowed/caused red light running to get so out of hand, draconian measures like this are necessary. Far to many lives have been shattered & properties destroyed.
I also hope cops are being fined when caught, as I've seen dozens if not hundreds by now, guilty of these & other infractions. Along with their other duties, I think they should be setting good examples.
I love them
Call it a "money makinging scam" but if I remember correctly, the city is actually losing money on these cameras. It cost more to operate them than what they bring in in fines.
I think they are a great idea. If there weren't so many jackasses on the road who drove with so little regard to the safety of others we woulnd't need them. If it saves even one life because someone thought twice before running a red, it is completely worth it. I'm sure the ones complaining are the ones who are either running lights or not smart enough to realize the benefits of the cameras.
Where's the Pilot's Road Warrior
The Warrior once had a bumper sticker that stated - I Stop for Red Lights - that could be had from the Pilot, upon request. Need something similar for the idiots using cell phones while operating their vehicles.
What did you expect
What did you expect to hear them say...."The cameras had no effect, and I have wasted your money"??
Ask the Fox if the Chicken fence is too low!
Fortunatly no
There is no money being wasted. The contract with RedFlex expires in 2013. The contract stipulates that the city will not lose money, RedFlex will. So if there is an outstanding balance owed, the company will forfeit the money. No risk to the city.