Red-light cameras catch 400-plus
Over 400 drivers will soon be getting their warning tickets in the mail.
After a warning period began on June 15 over 400 warning tickets are being prepared to be sent through the mail from ATS (American Traffic Solutions) who have started monitor three separate intersections.
The number of warning so far has been surprising to Milton Police Capt. Tony Tindell, who is overseeing the red light cameras.
“We started getting images from ATS on the 18th of June,” Tindell said. “I knew we would get a few, but I didn’t expect to see the numbers this high.”
The five cameras are located at three separate intersections:
· North bound traffic of Dogwood at Hamilton Bridge Road
· East and West bound lanes of Highway 90 at Parkmore Plaza Drive
· East and West bound lanes of Highway 90 at Glover Lane.
While some are very opposed to these cameras, it was an act by the Milton City Council, which established the cameras along with the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act (HB 325) passed by the Florida Legislature.
This act makes the owner of a motor vehicle liable for payment of a minimum civil penalty of $158 if the owner’s vehicle proceeds into an intersection equipped with a photographic traffic control monitoring system if the light is showing a steady red signal.
The ATS System activates when motion is detected just prior to the stop bar after the traffic signal has turned red. It captures two images of the alleged violation from the rear.
The first image shows the vehicle at the white stop bar and the illuminated red light. The image shows how long the yellow had been displayed, the date and time of violation, and how long the light had been red before crossing the stop bar.
The second image shows the violator in the middle of the intersection with the red light illuminated.
The license plate image is close-up from one of the images captured.
Cameras also record a 12-second digital video of the violation, which includes six second prior to and after running the red light.
According to Tindell the yellow or warning light must be displayed for a minimum of four seconds to make it a valid ticket.
“We have four officers who review each instance after we get them from ATS,” Tindell said. “ATS reviews all images based on our agreement and then we will go through them a second time and either accept or reject them.
“Some are rejected for improper plate, funeral escorts, directed through the intersection by an officer, or any of the 33 categories in the system.”
Tindell indicated of the tickets reviewed so far the longest time a light had been red when it was ran was nine seconds.
“We are not wanting to write tickets we are wanting to correct driver behavior,” Tindell said.
The City of Gulf Breeze has just recently reactivated their red light cameras at Gulf Breeze Parkway and Daniel Drive.
Gulf Breeze Deputy Chief Robert Randall indicated they are having more violations than expected.
“The numbers are really climbing,” Randall said. “The first part of the year we hardly had any, but with more traffic from spring break and all the traffic we are having the numbers are still pretty high.
“I was expecting four to six violations a day, but we are getting 10 to 15 a day.”
Despite recent national news reports on red light cameras causing more accidents, Randall said that was not the case in Gulf Breeze when they first installed red light cameras.
“We had a downturn in accidents,” Randall said. “I am not saying it was solely because of the cameras, but we did experience a decrease for several years.”
Questions and Answers on Red Light Cameras
Q: If I cross or stop on the stop bar (white line), but do not go though the intersection will I get a ticket?
A: You will not get a ticket. The video will confirm that you did not proceed through the intersection.
Q: Will getting a ticket put any points on my driver’s license or cause me any issues as a driver other than the fine?
A: If the fine is paid on time, no. The notice of violation will become a Uniform Traffic Citation if the fine is not paid and a court date will be assigned. The fine for a UTC is $264 and points could be assessed to your license.
Q: What is my recourse if I was not driving the car at the time or if I want to challenge my ticket from the camera?
A: If you are not driving, you can:
· Pay the fine.
· Complete an affidavit identifying the driver and a UTC will be issued to them.
· Choose not to pay the fine and a UTC, with a court date, will be issued.
Q: How much is the fine and where does the money go?
A: The fine is $158. The fee is divided between the state and ATS, with the state getting $75. If the cost of the cameras is met, the remainder at the end of the fiscal year will go to the city. If there is a deficit, it will be waived and the city is not liable.
Q: Dopes this mean the Milton Police Department will stop doing red-light enforcement due to the placement of these cameras?
A: The Milton Police Department will continue red-light enforcement
Q: How many rear-end accidents have occurred since the cameras went active on June 15 with warning tickets being issued?
A: Three accidents have occurred. There have been a total of 427 violations processed for officer review as of June 29.
Q: Can you explain how the merge works at Glover Lane and Highway 90 with the cameras?
A: the merge lane from Glover Lane onto Highway 90 is not effected by the cameras.
Q: Some residents are reporting they are seeing the camera flash them while they are driving. Is this true and if so why?
A: ATS conducts tests on the cameras, which may result in drivers seeing a flash on a green light.
Q: How many accidents/tickets were there at these intersections prior to the installation of these red light cameras?
A: Between Jan. 1 and June 15 of this year there have been 19 accidents and three uniformed traffic citations were issued during this time.
