Photo Enforced

10 Questions about NAVTEQ's Speed and Red Light Camera Database

2009-06-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

We would like to alleviate some of the confusion in the marketplace. Navteq is NOT currently a customer of PhotoEnforced.com and we have no idea where they have acquired their data from.

However, PhotoEnforced.com has been the #1 sole source and pioneer of gathering red light camera and speed locations in a free open database since 2001. There are many databases in the market described above who copy our data and use this data and sell it. If you are considering licensing or using the NAVTEQ speed and red light camera locations database you might want to ask them the following questions first . . .

1) Why are you missing about a 1000+ locations?
2) What sources for acquiring the original 5000 locations?
3) Are your sources for the data stealing content?
4) Sources for updates on new locations and changes?
5) Proprietary research (?) when PhotoEnforced.com is free?
6) Any right turn and red light camera / speed combo cameras?
7) Why did it take you so many years to release a product?
8) Can you deliver updates to the locations in real time?
9) How do you charge for the database?
10) Publishing fines with the location be a copyright violation?

NAVTEQ, the leading global provider of digital map, traffic and location data for in-vehicle, portable, wireless and enterprise solutions, announced today at Telematics Detroit 2009 speed and red light camera locations are now available for the NAVTEQ(R) map of North America. NAVTEQ Camera Alert(TM) includes up-to-date information about the exact location of speed limit cameras, red light cameras, as well as combined speed and red light cameras in 5,000 locations throughout North America.

"Automated cameras are proliferating across North American cities," stated Cindy Paulauskas, vice president Americas map and content products, NAVTEQ. "And our proprietary research indicates that these types of warnings are a highly valued feature in countries where this navigation system functionality is available. Providing our customers with quality North America camera location information helps enable solutions that give drivers better knowledge of maximum speeds and traffic signals - with alerts at the right place and at the right time."

See related posts.
Cobra Electronics Licensing Data to Navteq?

Cobra Electronics Licensing Data to Navteq?

2009-10-28T17:11:00.000-07:00

We are also pleased to announce that we have executed an agreement with a major manufacturer of mobile phones and mobile navigation products to include the AURA (TM) database in their North American and European navigation products that will be released early next year." said Jim Bazet, Cobra's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

"This is a significant step in our plan to make AURA the preeminent provider of photo-enforcement alerts globally and is expected to contribute to revenues and earnings in the second half of 2010. Moreover, PPL generated an increase in sales due to the strength of their new product introductions - mobile navigation products tailored to the needs of the professional driver and the recreational vehicle owner. Cobra has recently launched in the U.S. a mobile navigation product for the professional driver that utilizes this successful PPL platform. We are aggressively pursuing new opportunities and expect a substantial improvement in fourth quarter results."

Cobra Electronics (Ticker: COBR) Reports Third Quarter Results | Reuters:

How much due diligence did the "licensee" (Navteq owned by Nokia Ticker: NOK) do on where Cobra acquired the AURA database information and how they plan to keep the information fresh?

See our previous article on this topic from June of 2009:

10 Questions about NAVTEQ's Speed and Red Light Camera Database

Google Maps & Red Light Cameras

2008-02-04T19:31:00.000-08:00

I think our photo enforced data could be a killer application if syndicated on Google Maps. However, my emails are never answered and still sense there is a lot of "NIH" at Google. Data transparency of photo enforced locations is a big problem and is primarily a local issue in the U.S. A complete and accurate data set of these locations will always be hard to find as long as local U.S. governments lack the transparency necessary to track all of the thousands of locations. Google could play a big role in management and tracking of these locations if they simply decided to get behind our vision and help us syndicate the data. It has taken me eight years to build the database of locations and will not stand for the all of the mapping giants copying our data!

PhotoEnforced.com Launches Red Light Camera Google Maps

2006-07-03T23:18:00.000-07:00

PhotoEnforced.com has launched new regional maps of Red Light Camera locations for Washington DC, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County and Riverside. More regions will be launching soon.

Google Maps Navigation for Android is Going to Be Great!

2009-10-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

Google announces turn-by-turn GPS navigation today for the Android. It’s currently in beta testing, and will be available for FREE on phones using Google’s Android 2.0 operating system. The GPS navigation includes a tons of unique features (many of these are part of the features you’d see planning a route using Google Maps through a regular web browser).

Google just forced the traditional GPS navigation companies to rethink their business models releasing what may be a far superior product for free. It is not a standalone navigation app. Rather it taps into a lot of the resources Google makes available on the Web, including Google Maps, Streetview, voice recognition, and sophisticated search. Google is happy to give its navigation app away for free because it leverages many existing technologies it has already built for the Web, and it encourages more people to use Web-capable phones and do local searches on them. Its strategy is to give the software away for free, and make money on the search ads.

GPS navigation apps are among the most expensive, and most lucrative, of all mobile apps. However, these paid navigation apps (Navigon, TomTom, CoPilot, MapQuest, GoKivo and Sygic Mobile) are at an immediate disadvantage. Maybe the race will become which company starts licensing the most useful third party data to differentiate themselves? The big question is when does Google Maps start incorporating points of interest features from users? PhotoEnforced.com is an example of a map data source where the advertising business model is completely aligned with Google Maps.

Google could very well make it available to other phones as well, and that is what has investors worried. The new Google Maps Navigation app will be included on Motorola's upcoming Android phone, the Motorola Droid, and will provide turn-by-turn directions based on up-to-date maps and business listings from Google Maps. The Google Maps Navigation software will also be made available to other Android devices running the newly unveiled Android 2.0 software.

Shares in GPS manufacturers Garmin and TomTom fell today following the annoucement from Google that upcoming Android handsets will include free navigation software. Following the announcement shares of Garmin fell 17.2% to $31.88 and TomTom shares fell more than 20% to €8.11.

Red Light Cameras on Google Street View Maps

2009-10-22T17:49:00.001-07:00

PhotoEnforced.com would like to help Google Street View and contribute our database of fixed red light camera locations for the U.S. We have built the database organically over the last 8 years since 2001 and think the Google Map users would like to have access to the data. I was originally hoping to verify locations contributed to our open database on Google Street View. It then became apparent that some of the Street View images are not up-to-date. For example, I did a Google Street View search for Rosecrans Ave & Hindry Ave., Hawthorne, CA 90250 and was unable to locate the red light camera that is currently installed. I drew an image of where the camera location should be located below ocated.

PhotoEnforced.com/US already has thousands of red light cameras already published on a Google map for view and it would be great to get this data syndicated onto Google Maps so I could use the data on my Google Android phone on T-Mobile.

in reference to: 90254 - Google Maps (view on Google Sidewiki)

Shorter Yellow Lights A Safety or Business Issue

2006-07-26T21:56:00.000-07:00

San Diego reduces half a second to one tenth of a second to help prevent collisions at intersections resulting from drivers running red lights. The city council claims they could have issued 65% more ticktes if the time was reduced. Is this a saftey issue or business issue? Shortening the time will generate the city $191,000 annually in added revenue, city staff told the council. The program is slated to generate $1.52 million in total revenues in fiscal year 2007. The city's red-light camera program was first initiated in 1998, but halted in 2001 after lawsuits were brought over the way the program was run. The city restarted the program in 2003.

Red Light Camera System Manufacturers

2006-06-01T08:42:00.000-07:00

Redflex - 1494 Cameras with $50M in Revenue 2008, Redflex Traffic Systems is the longest consistently-operating company in the photo enforcement industry. The company, with operations based in Arizona USA and Australia. http://www.redflex.com As the industry leader, Redflex has more contracts in more states than any other vendor. Public safety programs range from those in smaller cities with only a few camera installations to larger cities where red light or speed-enforcement cameras are employed at dozens of intersections. The REDFLEXred® and REDFLEXspeed® photo enforcement technology innovated at Redflex provide unsurpassed accuracy in reducing red light- and speed- related traffic collisions. Statistics in most Redflex-protected cities show significant reductions in most collisions, injuries and costs associated with unlawful driving.

ATS - 1000 Cameras with $40M in Revenue 2008. American Traffic Solutions, Inc. (ATS) is a leading provider of technology and business solutions for photo traffic safety and electronic toll enforcement programs worldwide. Our President and CEO, James Tuton, pioneered the automated photo traffic enforcement industry in the United States, with the first speed-camera program implemented in Paradise Valley, Arizona in 1987. The red-light camera industry followed nearly 10 years later. As the market has matured and grown, so has ATS. ATS has grown more than 500% since 2003 and is now the largest provider of traffic enforcement programs to America’s big cities including: New York City, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri; San Diego, California; Seattle, Washington; Houston, Fort Worth, Irving and Arlington, Texas; New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Glendale and Scottsdale, Arizona. ATS also provides Canada’s largest digital red-light camera and speed enforcement program in Calgary, Alberta. ATS serves more than 125 municipalities and government agencies (both large and small) with red-light and speed camera enforcement programs. We have installed nearly 1,000 cameras around the country, with hundreds more in various planning stages.

Nestor - 400 Cameras
ACS - 300 Cameras

RedSpeed - 300 Cameras
Laser Craft - 250 Cameras

Gatso - 250 Cameras and big in Europe

Traffipax -
Transol -
Peek Traffic -

170,000 Injured Each Year By Drivers Running Red Lights

2007-02-14T22:31:00.000-08:00

More than 850 people die and and about 170,000 are injured each year in crashes caused by drivers running red lights, the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration says. The Philadelphia study, conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), an industry group, examined red light violations using a two-step approach. First, researchers found that violations dropped by 36% after yellow lights were extended to give drivers more warning that the light was about to turn red. After red light cameras were added, remaining violations dropped by 96%. The popularity of the cameras is growing rapidly despite oppostion that centers on constitutional grounds. About 250 communities around the USA use the devices, according to the Insurance Institute. Just 10 years ago, only New York and San Francisco had them.

Accidents increase after red light cameras are installed

2007-02-21T11:15:00.000-08:00

Studies throughout the U.S. show accidents actually increase after red light cameras are installed. From what I read there are fewer "T-bone" crashes and more occurrences rear end "fender benders". Here are a few cities and their reported increases:

Greensboro, N.C. -- 40 percent increase
Anne Arundel County, Md. -- 41 percent increase
Marietta,Ga. -- 51 percent increase
Ontario, Canada -- 15 percent increase
Winnipeg, Candada -- 58 percent increase

Views From Both Sides On The Use Of Red Light Cameras

2008-07-10T15:11:00.000-07:00

Thank you to our friends at Beat The Traffic Blog for putting together this info . . .

Supporters of red light cameras say…

According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), drivers who run red lights account for 22% of all traffic accidents in the United States.
An IIHS study in Oxnard, California showed that red light running violations dropped 42% after red light cameras was introduced. A similar study in Fairfax, Virginia showed violations declined 40% after one year after.
Publicity of red light cameras deters violations.
Red light cameras don’t have biases and therefore drivers cannot be unfairly profiled.
Privacy issues are null because of the public setting. Also, only people violating the law are photographed.
They make lots of money for cities in need of the revenue.

Those who oppose the use of red light cameras say . . .

The owner might not have been driving the car, yet they are mailed owner the ticket.
Cameras increase other types of accidents, such as rear ending collisions, when people notice the camera and make hasty decisions to avoid ticketing. A Virginia Transportation Research Council study shows an increase of accidents with the installment of red light cameras.
Longer yellow lights can make intersections much safer, in an easy and inexpensive way (check out the findings of the Texas Transportation Institute)
There is no standardization of yellow light duration and several cities have been caught shortening them around a red light camera to increase revenue.
Insurance companies (including IIHS) support red light cameras because more tickets mean they can raise insurance rates
The accused receive notification weeks after the violation and there are no human witnesses to analyze the whole situation.
They are expensive to operate and service the tickets in our court system.
There are not stands to the fines through the U.S. which range from $50-$400.

Red Light Cameras - About Money or Safety?

2008-02-02T13:09:00.000-08:00

5 Studies have shown that red light cameras increase accidents. I have always contented that driving through an intersection that has a red light camera changes your behavior. It makes you more hesitant to go through the intersection if you sense the light is going to change and also makes you want to speed up if you think you might be on the long side of a yellow light. Nervous driving does not create a safer driving environment for everyone.

Cameras May Enforce Text Messaging Driving Laws

2009-02-02T16:20:00.000-08:00

The city of Scottsdale, Arizona may take it a step further and is considering using its photo enforced cameras to enforce distracted driver laws. Photo enforcement cameras in Scottsdale are capable of detecting behavior such as text messaging or other “distracted driving” behavior, in addition to capturing speeders and red-light runners. But whether Scottsdale pursues such enforcement as part of a proposed text-messaging and distracted driving law remains to be seen. “We’re able to see people clearly on their cell phones,” said Josh Weiss, spokesman for American Traffic Solutions, the company that operates the fixed cameras and camera-equipped vans on Scottsdale surface streets.

On September 24th, 2008 the Governor of California , Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 28 (SB 28) in to law. The new bill “Prohibits a person from driving a motor vehicle while using an electronic wireless communications device to write, send, or read a text-based communication." The new bill will impose a fine of $20 for the first offense and $50 for subsequent offenses starting January 1, 2009. No violation points will be given as a result of the offense and there are exceptions for emergency personnel.

The bill requires motorists to use hands-free devices while talking on a mobile phone when driving a motor vehicle. California motorists using cell phones have been required to use hands-free devices since July, and drivers under age 18 can't use any electronic devices. Seven other states and the District of Columbia ban text-messaging or the use of hand-held phones while driving, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The Wiki Of Photo Enforced Locations

2006-05-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

Wikipedia is the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit. Wikipedia, also started in 2001, has rapidly grown into the largest reference website on the Internet. The content of Wikipedia is free, written collaboratively by people from all around the world. This website is a "wiki", which means that anyone with access to an Internet-connected computer can edit, correct, or improve information throughout the encyclopedia, simply by clicking the edit this page link. PhotoEnforced.com operates under the same "wiki" principals however it uses a database to easily contribute and edit the information.

Red Light Camera & Speed Camera Fines and Locations

2006-03-05T16:50:00.000-08:00

Photo Enforced is a user contributed database of photo enforced street intersections and speed camera locations. Automated enforcement laws vary significantly from state to state; some authorize enforcement statewide, whereas others permit it only in specified communities. The use of red light cameras is used to "help" communities enforce traffic safety by automatically photographing the vehicles of drivers who run red lights. There are many differences in automated enforcement laws in each state and most locations are unpublished. It is our mission to locate and track photo enforcement areas and violation trends. Search the FREE database here

Spring Cleaning of Red Light Camera Database

2008-05-05T14:04:00.000-07:00

As of today we have a fresh new version of the database on the site that has taken into account all of our user updates and new locations. Thank you again to our loyal users who regularly supply updates. A number of cities have revised their fines upward in 2008 and some have taken down cameras. Our database currently has 3,700 active red light camera and speed camera locations in the database. Stay tuned for an exciting new map technology that we are in the process of implementing. We are considering using these new maps along with our database. See www.deadcellzones.com for a preview of the look an feel. We also have a number of local web sites who are using our data and we are happy to see it.

Stop Sign Photo Enforced Camera Locations

2007-12-03T16:38:00.000-08:00

Automated Stop Sign Photographic Systems will have cameras mounted at certain intersections that will record all vehicles that pass through. Unlike red light cameras, where a flash goes off when a car runs a red light, no flash will occur when a violation is committed at the stop signs. Instead, the tape will roll and at a later time be viewed by a police officer who will look for individuals going through without stopping. The fine is currently $100-200 and our database is now setup to accept these locations.

Red Light Camera Database Reaches 5500+ Locations

2008-07-02T17:31:00.000-07:00

Our crowd sourced database is rapidly growing as we raise the awareness of our database as a platform to share information about red light cameras, speed cameras or anything that is enforced using camera automation. We are talking to a number of potential licensees about using the data in our database to provide to their customers. Remember our database has the first mover advantage having been founded back in 2001. Unfortunately, a number of entrepreneurs have copied our data and used it to start their own POI data service. Our long term vision is to be the standard brand and source for photo enforced information and locations. Thanks to the community for your continued support!

100 MPH Speeders On Camera Getting Arrested

2006-03-13T08:29:00.000-08:00

Scottsdale police promised Thursday that other 100 mph speeders photographed on Loop 101 will suffer legal problems. Police last month arrested two Valley residents; city officials have said both were caught by the automated system traveling at 110 mph. Last week cameras have snapped slightly more than 60 motorists speeding 100 mph or faster. 9,798 motorists have been clocked going 76 mph or faster, according to city records received from Redflex Traffic Systems Inc.

Free Money Speed Camera Economics

2006-03-06T16:25:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, I don't see how any city can ignore the free money generated by these cameras. I think every city is eventually doomed to see these . . . For a typical $157 photo enforcement citation, about $73 goes to the state in the form of surcharges to support the Criminal Justice Enhancement Fund and other designated state programs, and the City Court receives $10 for a fund used only for court operations enhancements. Redflex Traffic Systems, the city's photo enforcement contractor, receives $42.48 for each paid citation. The remaining $32 covers general operating costs for the program, including city rental payments to Redflex for the equipment and other police, prosecutor and court costs.

Photo Vans To Catch Construction Zone Speeders

2006-05-18T20:29:00.000-07:00

Illinois is about to go high tech to nab speeders on expressways and in construction zones -- and thanks to clear photographs of drivers behind the wheel -- it's a ticket you can't talk your way out of. Say "cheese" and open your wallet. Illinois police are getting ready to unleash their latest weapon to catch speeders in dangerous construction zones. It's a new photo enforcement van that snaps pictures of drivers behind the wheel, their license plates, and their speed. Here's how it works: within 50 yards of the enforcement van, a radar gun locks onto a vehicle and captures its speed. The driver sees his or her speed displayed on a board above the van -- then flash, police have what they need. Drivers don't know they've been had until they receive a $375 ticket in the mail. That's the minimum fine for a first-time offense of speeding in a construction zone. The second offense will cost you $1,000. And if you hit a worker, the penalty is up to a $10,000 fine and 14 years in prison.

Scottsdale's Freeway Speed Enforcement Test

2006-04-02T06:37:00.000-07:00

Controversial speed cameras on Scottsdale's slice of Loop 101 are expected to face a crucial test on the House floor next week. The outcome of that vote could decide if cameras would be banned from all state freeways, including Loop 101, as early as Dec. 31. Scottsdale drew intense legislative scrutiny this year after it became the first city in the United States to install fixed cameras on a state highway. The cameras began flashing drivers Jan. 22, and the test program, designed to review driving habits, runs through Oct. 22. More than 180,000 motorists drive through Scottsdale's stretch of the 101 daily. From Jan. 22 through Wednesday, 24,853 drivers were flashed going 76 mph or faster. Scottsdale officials said they've seen photo enforcement work on city streets, but legislators have taken aim by introducing 13 bills targeting the program.

Chicago police crack down on Dan Ryan expressway speeders

2006-05-22T14:44:00.000-07:00

Although it may seem like the Dan Ryan is backed up all day, there are times when traffic volumes are low - and - motorists are driving too fast. Speeders on the Dan Ryan Expressway who are nabbed by photo-enforcement vans that rolled out this weekend will start receiving $375 tickets in the mail in the next two weeks. The white van, parked on the shoulder in the Dan Ryan construction zone, has a message board that tells you your speed as you pass by...but if you're speeding, it's too late, because inside, the photo radar enforcement is giving you a ticket.

Washington DC Speed Cameras Hit $100m In Revenue

2006-05-20T17:39:00.000-07:00

The Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department collected a record $3.3 million in fines from its automated speed cameras in March -- increasing the five-year-old program's total revenue to more than $100 million. The program began with six cruisers outfitted with cameras and now has 10 cameras at fixed locations and 12 camera-equipped vehicles rotating through nearly 80 enforcement zones. The speed-camera program is part of the District's expanding automated traffic-enforcement strategy that has collected more than $138 million since 1999. The city's 49 red-light cameras have generated more than $35 million, including $5.2 million last year.

Speed Camera Vans Under Attack In Australia

2006-06-28T15:46:00.000-07:00

FURIOUS motorists fed up with speed camera fines are turning their anger against operators, intimidating them and even smashing up their cars. The most recent attack last week saw a speed camera operator threatened and a brick thrown through the window of his car as he sat inside. Attacks against operators, speed cameras and operator vehicles continue to rise. The private company that runs Victoria's speed camera program, Tenix Solutions, has expressed alarm and urged people not to attack operators. Speed cameras generate about $130 million a year for the Australian Government. In 2003, there were eight attacks on fixed-location speed and red light cameras, 23 attacks in 2004 and 39 attacks in 2005.