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Hernando Today

Warning Period Commences For Traffic Camera

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By KYLE MARTIN

Hernando Today

Published: April 1, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Here's your official warning.

The traffic camera at the northbound intersection of Broad Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard began taking snapshots of red light runners on Monday. The next 28 days, however, are just a warning period.

Once the 30-day warning period expires, citations will cost an offender $125. The citations are civil infractions, so there will be no penalties on a driver's license or effect on insurance.

The cameras at the intersection take a still snapshot and video of any car that runs through a red light. That information is sent to American Traffic Solutions, which screens the photos for legitimate violators.

Disqualifiers would include improper timing on the traffic lights or if the license plate isn't registered to the vehicle.

That batch is sent to the Brooksville Police Department, where an officer scans each violation. Part of what he looks for is context. For instance, a person might run the light to make way for an emergency vehicle.

"We will err on the side of the driver," Police Chief George Turner said Tuesday.

After a ticket is issued, a violator can take a look at the pictures and video against them online. They have the right to challenge the violation and request a hearing.

Four more cameras will be in place by June 23 at the following intersections: northbound and southbound lanes of State Road 50 and Cobb Rodd; northbound lanes of Broad Street at S.R. 50; northbound lanes of Broad Street at Wiscon Road.

The public will be notified each time a warning period begins with a new camera.

Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com

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