Photo Enforced tickets from red-light cameras dropped an amazing 75% in April after West Palm Beach stopped enforcing right-turn violations. The city issued 665 citations in April, down from 2,675 in March, assistant police chief Dennis Crispo said. This is not surprising as these cameras have become the "cash cows" for cities across the US because they often catch people by surprise by lack of signs and normal drive habits.
After numerous complaints from drivers, West Palm Beach decided to stop issuing fines for right turns April 5. Mayor Lois Frankel was among the right-turn violators fined in March. A new state law that takes effect July 1 officially discourages fines for "prudent" right turns. Turning right on red without coming to a complete stop remains illegal, but the issue is how strictly to enforce it.
West Palm Beach became the first city in Palm Beach County to start issuing fines from three intersections with red-light cameras Feb. 21. The city issued 841 citations in the last eight days of February. Read more
Right Turn on Red Tickets Dropped
Wednesday, May 26, 2010 | failure to stop, Florida, red light cameras, Removing, Right Turns, rolling right turnsFlorida Red Light Camera Fines Increasing
Tuesday, May 18, 2010 | Fines, Florida, revenue, Violation Fines
Its not surprising to see cities getting desperate to raise fines as their violation numbers begin to drop as citizens get smarter about navigating around the locations. The US is in arguably the deepest and longest recession in decades yet government feel like they are free to double fines for violations. Some might call this 100% inflation in economics. I have heard rumors of other cities around the US doing this as well in order to keep camera operations profitable. However, my speculation is the State government of Florida wants a piece of the City and County revenue.
Drivers in Florida who fail to stop for red lights will be facing a steeper fines according to this news report. The fine for getting caught on camera running a red light is going up and other Florida counties may join Collier County. Governor Charlie Crist has signed the bill making the red light cameras legal statewide. The fine has been raised to $158. Currently, the fine price varies between $60 and $100. Read more: Watch the News Report
Please send us an email or let us know in the comments section below if your city, state or county is planning to raise fines.
See our related articles:
State of Florida Wants A Piece City Revenue
Drivers in Florida who fail to stop for red lights will be facing a steeper fines according to this news report. The fine for getting caught on camera running a red light is going up and other Florida counties may join Collier County. Governor Charlie Crist has signed the bill making the red light cameras legal statewide. The fine has been raised to $158. Currently, the fine price varies between $60 and $100. Read more: Watch the News Report
Please send us an email or let us know in the comments section below if your city, state or county is planning to raise fines.
See our related articles:
State of Florida Wants A Piece City Revenue

Austin intersections with red-light cameras have seen a 30 percent drop in wrecks, city officials say. Police Lt. Brian Gruetzner , who oversees vehicular homicide and the red-light cameras, says the 30 percent decrease in wrecks " is pretty substantial for anyone."
The cameras were phased in at nine intersections — with more than one camera at some — beginning in May 2008. They have brought in more than $100,000 in citations. Each citation is $75, but that fine can increase if people pay late.
50 percent of the photos of red-light violators are thrown out after the vendor and an officer review them because the pictures don't clearly show the driver running the red light.
The Austin City Council approved a 15-year, $15.8 million contract with Redflex Traffic Systems Inc. to install and maintain the cameras and to do initial processing of violations. There is no plan to expand the program. The city pays Redflex $4,870 per camera per month to cover the operation, maintenance and monitoring of the cameras. Read More.
Red Light Cameras are Cash Cows
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 | Fighting Tickets, Florida, revenue, Right Turns, rolling right turns
Driving in congested cities throughout the US can be tough enough; dealing with bad drivers, road rage, and stop and go traffic. But the growing use of red light cameras is starting to rub drivers the wrong way. And as the growing need for revenue hits communities everywhere, drivers are stopping and protesting their use.
In February, Priam Rosenburg got a ticket after he was caught on a red light camera. The only problem is he wasn't driving the car. "I was here in my office at the time," Rosenburg said. "I have two witnesses that state that I was in my office."
So Rosenburg spent two hours in front of Aventura's code enforcement protesting the ticket. Out of the twelve people that were there with similar issues, none won their case.
"Unless you have a death certificate saying that you died somewhere before that ticket was issued; maybe then you might have a chance of not paying this," Rosenburg said. And he's not alone in his frustration.
"I hate to say that I told you so but now more people have come to say this is a fee and it's unfair… it's a revenue grab," said Hallandale Commissioner Keith London.
London said Hallandale's lone red light camera is on track to bring in $1.2 million in just one year. Almost all of the citations aren't for speeding, instead London said, "Over 90 percent of those infractions are for right turn on Red." Read More
In February, Priam Rosenburg got a ticket after he was caught on a red light camera. The only problem is he wasn't driving the car. "I was here in my office at the time," Rosenburg said. "I have two witnesses that state that I was in my office."
So Rosenburg spent two hours in front of Aventura's code enforcement protesting the ticket. Out of the twelve people that were there with similar issues, none won their case.
"Unless you have a death certificate saying that you died somewhere before that ticket was issued; maybe then you might have a chance of not paying this," Rosenburg said. And he's not alone in his frustration.
"I hate to say that I told you so but now more people have come to say this is a fee and it's unfair… it's a revenue grab," said Hallandale Commissioner Keith London.
London said Hallandale's lone red light camera is on track to bring in $1.2 million in just one year. Almost all of the citations aren't for speeding, instead London said, "Over 90 percent of those infractions are for right turn on Red." Read More
Parking Ticket Photo Enforcement
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 | Camera Vans, License Plate, Parking Tickets, RedFlex, research, Tickets, traffic tickets
Drivers be warned: In the perpetual cat-and-mouse war between parking enforcement and motorists trying to park without getting a ticket in this city, the cat just got a powerful new weapon. The city of Newton, a suburb of Boston, is installing video cameras that can detect when a car has been parked in a metered spot too long. According to a story in The Boston Globe, the devices alert parking enforcement officers if a ticket needs to be written.
Automatic license plate recognition — a kind of RoboCop of the parking world that uses a panoramic video camera, laptop computer, and sophisticated software — detects cars that have been parked too long and sounds an alert to write a ticket.
The city bought three systems for $50,000 and plans to install them in parking enforcement vehicles this month. Officials believe the technology could double the number of parking tickets the city writes each year and sharply increase the $1.8 million in annual parking fees it collects. Read more.
Related posts:
Photo Enforced Parking Tickets Are Coming
Parking Ticket for Street Sweeping
Automatic license plate recognition — a kind of RoboCop of the parking world that uses a panoramic video camera, laptop computer, and sophisticated software — detects cars that have been parked too long and sounds an alert to write a ticket.
The city bought three systems for $50,000 and plans to install them in parking enforcement vehicles this month. Officials believe the technology could double the number of parking tickets the city writes each year and sharply increase the $1.8 million in annual parking fees it collects. Read more.
Related posts:
Photo Enforced Parking Tickets Are Coming
Parking Ticket for Street Sweeping
Arizona Freeway Speed Cameras Go Bye Bye
Thursday, May 06, 2010 | Arizona, Fighting Tickets, RedFlex, Shutting Down, speed camerasCameras Turned Off this Summer on July 15, 2010
The photo enforcement cameras on Arizona freeways that have caused much consternation for many Valley drivers will be turned off. The Department of Public Safety sent a letter to Redflex Traffic Systems, the company that operates the cameras, ending their contract. According to the letter sent to Redflex, "DPS wishes to be clear that its decision to not renew the contract is not a reflection of your company's services or performance of the contract, but a change in the agency's focus." While the 78 fixed and mobile cameras placed strategically along the freeways will be shut down, speed-enforcement and red-light cameras located on city streets will continue to snap offenders.
While the camera system was expected to bring in money for the state, former Gov. Janet Napolitano, who implemented the program, said that was never the primary objective. In any case, the projected $90 million never materialized. During an 18-month time span -- September 2008 through the end of March 2010 -- only about 30 percent of the 1.2 million issued citations were ever paid. Read more.
Can Red Light Camera Ticket Revenue Be Used to "Do Good"?
Would citizens be less angry if city's who used automated law enforcement donated 50% of the revenue to schools or other non-profit organizations? The industry is likely now over $1B in annual revenue and there are over 500 cities and 7,000+ cameras in use around the US. So far in my short eight year career of running red light camera database and watching the news I have only heard of one example of a city Wilmington, North Carolina that donates ticket revenue to schools. Ticket Proceeds Go To Local Schools.
We want to hear from you if there are any other positive examples that we can highlight in our newsletter.
DMV Driving Points & Fines
Monday, May 03, 2010 | Arizona, California, Chicago, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Los Angeles, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Phoenix, San Francisco, Speed Vans, Texas, Virginia, Washington DCState Map | Red Light Camera Fine $ | Red Light Camera Points | Speed Camera Fine $ | Speed Camera Points |
Alabama | $50 | |||
Arizona | $180 | no Points | $250-$250 | 2-3 Points |
Arkansas | $50 | |||
California | $446 | 1 Point | ||
Colorado | $90 | 4 Points | $40-80 | 4 Points |
Delaware | $75-$230 | |||
District of Columbia | $75 | 2 Points | $75 | 2 Points |
Florida | $75-$125 | |||
Georgia | $70 | 3 Points | ||
Hawaii | $77 | |||
Illinois | $100 | 20 Points | $250 or 25 | 20 points |
Indiana | $100 | |||
Iowa | $45-$150 | $45-$150 | ||
Kansas | $100 | |||
Louisiana | $100-$140 | No Points | ||
Maryland | $100 | 2 Points | $40 - $1,000 | No Points |
Michigan | $100 | |||
Minnesota | $130 | |||
Mississippi | $100 | |||
Missouri | $100 | |||
Nevada | $600-$1,000 | 4 Points | ||
New Jersey | $75 | No Points | ||
New Mexico | $70-$250 | $70-$250 | ||
New York | $50-$100 | 3 Points | ||
North Carolina | $75-$100 | 3 Points | ||
Ohio | $100-$200 | $100-$200 | ||
Oklahoma | $100 | |||
Oregon | $355 | $355 | ||
Pennsylvania | $100 | 3 Points | ||
Rhode Island | $85 | |||
South Dakota | $89 | No Points | ||
Tennessee | $50-$100 | $50-$100 | ||
Texas | $75-$200 | No Points | $75-$200 | |
Virginia | $100 - $200 | 4 Points | ||
Washington | $124 | $124 | ||
West Virginia | ||||
Wisconsin | $75 |
Please make suggested updates of information in the comments section below.







