TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pasco News

Red Light Cameras Have Busy First Months

Klint Lowry/SUNCOAST NEWS

The automatic camera system watching the southbound U.S. 19 lanes at Ridge Road in the city of Port Richey produced 427 red light violations in its first month in operation.

ADVERTISEMENT

By KLINT LOWRY | The Suncoast News

Published: June 6, 2008

Updated: 06/06/2008 05:21 pm

PORT RICHEY - The lights and cameras have been in place for two months, and there's still plenty of action at U.S. 19 and Ridge Road for them to record in the way of drivers who run red lights.

But now that violators are getting slapped with fines, the Port Richey Police Department is hoping word will spread and one of most dangerous intersections in Pasco County will get a little less so.

"The whole idea of this program is deterrence," Officer John Schwarz, who is the system's local point man, said.

On April 1, a camera system began monitoring southbound traffic on U.S. 19, looking specifically for drivers who run red lights at Ridge Road.

"We want you to know it's there," said interim Police Chief David Brown.

From April 1 through May 1, written warnings went out to car owners for 427 red light violations. As of May 2, the system went "live," meaning instead of a warning violators got real tickets and a fine for $125. Through May 27, there were 321 such tickets issued for people running red lights at the intersection.

It also doesn't include southbound drivers who ran red lights in the right or left turn lanes, doesn't include speeders or any other moving violations. Schwarz, the officer responsible for reviewing the images captured by the cameras, explained how the system works:

The cameras are operated by American Traffic Solutions. At U.S. 19 and Ridge Road, there are three cameras and a flashing light that acts as a timing mechanism. One camera records a constant video stream of the intersection. Another is trained on the traffic light. When the light turns red, the camera sends a signal that starts a timer that gauges how much times elapses before violators actually enter the intersection.

ATS reviews the images. The incidents they determine to be clear-cut violations are then sent to the Police Department here. Florida law requires a certified law enforcement officer reviews the images before a ticket can be issued. Cases can be rejected at either step, Schwarz explained. During that same May 2 - 27 timeframe, he rejected 25 incidents ATS sent him.

Schwarz said they aren't using the system like instant replay in football, deciding if an infraction occurred by a matter of inches.

"Essentially what they send me, there's no question," Schwarz said.

Once it's agreed an infraction has occurred, ATS sends out the ticket, which includes three photos: a close-up of the license plate, a shot of the vehicle about to run the red and a third showing it passing through the intersection.

The ticket provides the Web address of an ATS site where drivers can watch a video replay of the incident.

If drivers are still unconvinced, they can request a hearing. If they lose the hearing, however, they have to pay an additional $10 court fee on top of the ticket. Florida Department of Transportation figures suggest how dangerous that intersection potentially is.

Between 80,000 and 100,000 vehicles pass through U.S. 19 and Ridge Road every day. In 2006, there were 26 major crashes there, with 13 serious injuries. In the first six months of 2007, there were 20 major crashes.

Already, Brown said, there has been a noticeable reduction in accidents at the intersection.

Ideally, sometime in the future Brown would like to see camera systems at two other dangerous intersections in the city:

•U.S. 19 and Grand Boulevard, about a mile south of Ridge Road.

•Ridge Road and Leo Kidd Avenue, a block east of U.S. 19.

"I don't care if we never see a dollar if we prevent crashes," Brown said. "All we're trying to do is make you a better, accountable responsible driver."

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT