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Hernando Today

Learning the ropes of red light cameras

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By JEFF SCHMUCKER

Hernando Today

Published: October 28, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Officer Norm Cartwright knows traffic violations when he sees them. And see them he does - by the thousands.

Day after day, he reviews hundreds of photos and videos of possible red light violations from just five camera locations within the city. By the next day, about a thousand more cases are waiting for him.

From vehicles barely slowing down before turning right at a red light to others speeding on through intersections as if there wasn't a traffic light in place, both Cartwright and Police Chief George Turner have viewed their share of incidents and excuses.

But after more than six months of having the red light cameras operational - the fifth being installed in September now the chief has heard them all, from whether a driver made a legal or illegal turn at a red light to one driver claiming he couldn't see whether a light was red because he or she was following behind a large truck.

Turner said turning right at a red light is legal - as long as drivers stop first. He added tickets will likely not be issued for drivers who drive through a yellow light and have it turn to red when they're already half-way through the intersection.

But as for other excuses, he said most of the time the photos and video of the incident tells the tale - including speed when drivers went through the intersection.

"People will come to me and claim they were wrongly ticketed and I usually just tell them, 'Well lets go look at the tape," Turner said. "After they watch it and see themselves running the red light, then their next response is usually to explain why they did it or, 'Well I should just get a warning.'"

But the chief already believes violators are getting a break with the program. A fine given for a recorded violation costs $125 - about $89 less than if an officer pulled a driver over. Then the fine is $214 plus four points added to a violators' driver's license. For a month, 768 warnings were issued to drivers recorded driving through a red light before moving toward tickets.

He added that the pictures and video make it easier both for law enforcement to prove a violation took place and for drivers to argue their cases. When tickets are sent out to owners of a car recorded running a red light, copies of photos are sent along with it. A link to a Web site is also provided to view the video of the violation. If a computer isn't available, Turner urges for drivers to view the footage at the police station.

So far Turner said the program seems to be working. Although exact numbers aren't available as of press deadline, Turner said fewer traffic notices were issued between April and June, from 795 to 613. So far, there have been no intersection accidents this year, although there are a few near misses.

Although the expected amount of revenue to be generated by the program has decreased to roughly $800,000 - compared to the originally projected $1.071 million - Turner said he believes revenues will be much higher contrary to beliefs that incidents will decrease as drivers become more aware of the cameras.

"Even if we have fewer people driving through them than when we first put these cameras up, we still have a lot of people doing it," Turner said. "But if it helps make even a few people more aware, it'll save lives in the long run."

Reporter Jeff Schmucker can be reached at 352-544-5271 or jschmucker@hernandotoday.com.

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