Cameras Cut Red Light Running in Clearwater
The number of citations mailed to red light running vehicle owners is decreasing, according to Clearwater Police.
The number of citations mailed to red light running vehicle owners is decreasing, according to Clearwater Police.
There were 807 violations in November, down from 1,145 in August, the first month the camera tickets were issued.
The cameras were used during July but only warnings were issued to drivers running red lights at eastbound Gulf to Bay at Belcher Road; westbound Gulf to Bay at Belcher Road; and eastbound Chestnut Street at Ft. Harrison Avenue.
The decrease in citations could be attributed to awareness of the cameras at those intersections.
“Drivers who know the cameras are there are less likely to take a chance because they know they’ll get a citation in the mail,” said Police Chief Anthony Holloway. “We hope that awareness will continue to cause a decrease in red light running and increase safety at those intersections.”
Since citations started to be issued, the number of violators has decreased. There were 1,036 in September, 907 in October and 807 in November, according to Clearwater Police.
Those tickets come with $158 fines — although the city collects less than a third of that.
The state gets $100 of every ticket, and the city splits its revenues with the Arizona company that installs and maintains the cameras. Clearwater pays Redflex Traffic Systems $13,000 a month.
Citations by the numbers:
807 - November
907 - October
1,036 - September
1,145 - August
Related Coverage:
- Clearwater Red-Light Cameras Spy More Than 1,000 Violators in August
- City Approves Red Light Camera Proposal
- Red Light Camera Locations in Clearwater
- Red Light Cameras Running in Clearwater
- Red Light Camera Violator of the Week: On a Boat
- Red Light Camera Violator of the Week: Cadillac Careens Through State Road 60
- Video: How Do Red Light Cameras Work?
- Red Light Camera Violator of the Week: Green Might Not Mean Go
- Red Light Cameras: Legal or Unconstitutional?
Bob Gaynor
4:07 pm on Monday, December 10, 2012
If my back-of-the envelope calculations are right, and the month-to-month decreases continue, the city will start to pay more to the vendor than they collect in fines after about six months. How long does their contract run?
Paul Henry
9:14 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Once again we have the exact number of "violations", yet not one mention of crashes. Were the automated for-profit devices installed for safety or revenue? If for safety, it is important to realize that a "violation" without a crash never damaged a vehicle or injured anyone. If they were installed for revenue, then as Mr. Gaynor figured out, the city will go into the red if the reported trend continues. This has taken place in South Florida and if the devices are effective is another negative consequence of for-profit law enforcement.
It would be interesting to look at "violations" three months after the city revised their amber light timing to proper lengths. This would not cost thousands of dollars per month, but of course it would not produce any revenue- just safer intersections.
This is yet another reason why:
Automated for-profit law enforcement is a bad idea, and it is un-American. Support the 2013 Florida Motorist Rights Restoration Act.
Barbara Lamar
7:20 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
A yellow light does not mean "run through me because I'm going to turn red!" It means stop !