This cheating couple was caught while driving through a red light camera which took their guilty picture.  Look close at what her other hand is doing.  Can you imagine how this played out when the ticket arrived in the mailbox?  I bet she had some explaining to do if her husband opened up the ticket. Here is another example of how the cameras can catch people doing illegal activity in the car.

Senator Larcenia Bullard recently shared a story of one of her constituents’ sons who was caught by a red light camera while driving some of his pot-smoking friends. Police used the tape showing his back-seat friends getting high and charged the teenager with a drug offense instead of a traffic infraction, said Bullard, whose district includes part of Palm Beach County.  Invasive or fair?  How did they know it was pot?  

Senator Bullard said the red light cameras cameras should take photos limited in size to the trunk of the car and not include the window of the vehicle. That way officers – and others – can’t peek at what’s going on inside, she said.  Ridiculous claim in my opinion. It would be interested to see what those who study criminal justice or have a degree in criminal justice think about this.

Senator Bullard he went on to say that,  "A man is sitting in the back seat of a car with a woman who he’s not married to and his wife,” Bullard, D-Miami, said, drawing snickers from her Senate Transportation committee colleagues. “But it’s very true. This is real. This stuff happens. I see where this camera is really working but we need to get beyond taking pictures of that back window where you can see someone cheating on his wife or someone smoking marijuana.”

The cameras are not installed for these purposes, however, they do have some unintended policing benefits.  Karma is a bitch and bad people will always get caught for doing bad things.  

Every Camera Enforced Intersection DOES NOT Have Warning Signs 

The California Vehicle Code only requires that warning signs be posted to notify drivers of camera enforced intersections and that these signs be posted either at all approaches to the intersection or at all main entrances into a city including (freeways, bridges, and state highway routes).

Have you ever wondered why there are photo enforced warning signs for red light cameras at some intersections but not all them? The vehicle code VC§ 21455.5 says (a) (1), “Warning signs must be posted at each camera-equipped intersection and visible to traffic approaching from all directions, or at all the main entrances to town including, at a minimum, freeways, bridges, and state highway routes." The purpose of this law is to make sure that drivers are warned in all instances where there is red light camera enforcement.

Many times you will see warning signs posted right next to the traffic signal light, however not always. Sometimes warning signs might even be posted at the previous, non- camera enforced intersection which can be misleading or cause confusion. So while a City may not be in violation of the Vehicle Code requirements if they don’t have warning signs placed at the intersection (since they have a choice in the placement), if any signs you do find are blocked or damaged in a such a way you can’t see them, then you may have something that can help you in getting your ticket dismissed because warning signs do have to be reasonably visible. Be sure to take pictures of the signs to show they are not visible and take them to court with you or include them with your Trial by Written Declaration if you choose to fight your ticket in writing using form TR-205 (available at your local courthouse).

Contributed by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets. If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

 

Red light cameras in Arnold, Missouri just took a hit that will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars a year at one light alone. Fox 2 first reported Wednesday about a new MoDOT program to re-time of its Missouri lights.

MoDO is re-timing traffic lights everywhere, to give drivers more time to stop. The results so far, are incredible at the intersection of 141 and Astra Way. We compared a month of red light running before the new signal timing to a month after the change in the yellow light.

Last May, the City of Arnold cited 709 people for running a red light on camera at the 141 light. This May? Arnold cited only 17 drivers at the same light.

Now, consider the money side of this. Last May's citations add up to $67,000 in one month. This past May, citations, if paid, would only bring in $1,600.

That's a potential loss of more than 3/4 of a million dollars every year.

That loss is split between three parties who divide the money from each $95 violation ticket. More than half of that pie (57%) would go to the city, 10% percent to the State of Missouri and 1/3rd (33%) to the private red light camera contractor American Traffic Solutions (ATS).

Arnold Mayor Ron Counts said their share of the money goes into the general fund, which pays for things like streets. But he says this newly discovered potential loss -- is a price worth paying.

Mayor Counts said, "The truth is, it's not about money, it can't be. We've got to deal with the safety issue and to me when you can drop this down to 20 people running stop lights, I think that's what we really need to be looking at. We'll adjust the budget. We have to." He added, "It's going to affect your budget no matter how you look at it

He said Arnold's been discussing putting red light revenue strictly into safety measures anyway. He can't think of anything better than stopping red light runners.

Counts said, "What's a persons life worth? I don't think you can consider that."

The private red light camera contractor, ATS, said in an e-mail statement, "We're pleased the number of violations in Arnold continues to fall. An effective road safety program must always integrate engineering, education and enforcement." However ATS also warns ".. studies have shown that if the amber light is too long, drivers will disregard it and consider it part of the green light cycle."

MoDOT adds -- the drastic drop in red light runners may not last. Engineers warn that driver's could start pushing the new timing cycles. They also say that longer yellows slow down traffic.

Los Angeles - LOS ANGELES - As the Los Angeles City Council prepares to vote this week on the future of the city's critical traffic safety camera program, the Traffic Safety Coalition is outlining 10 reasons why the program should stay:

1. ZERO Crash Fatalities: Following safety camera installation, the Los Angeles Police Department crash reports, between 2002 and 2009 since the Photo Red Light Camera program began, NO fatal crashes have occurred at any of the camera enforced intersection approaches.
2. Safety cameras have worked to make Los Angeles streets safer. There has been a 62 percent decrease in red light related traffic collisions at the 32 intersections where the cameras are installed, with no significant increase in rear end collisions.
3. Safety cameras change driving behavior citywide. In Los Angeles there was a 22% reduction in crashes citywide after deployment.
4. Deadly consequences of dangerous driving in California. 3,000 people are killed in the California roadways every year (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
5. Red light running kills. 66 percent of all people killed at intersection crashes are victims of red light runners. The victims are innocent drivers, passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2011).
6. Red light running increased in Houston when cameras went dark. After intersection safety cameras were turned off in Houston, police cited injury crashes were up 350 percent after deactivation and one Houston intersection saw a 1,300% increase in crashes following camera deactivation. (“Exclusive: Accidents way up with red light cameras off.” KTRK ABC 13 Houston, 8-June-2011)
7. Speeding and red light running increased in Albuquerque when cameras were removed. Red light running and speeding increased by 584 percent after intersection safety cameras were turned off at three Albuquerque intersections just five months ago (“Scary stats with red light cameras off,” KRQE News 7, 5/27/11).
8. Speeding increased in Scottsdale when cameras were turned off. When speed safety cameras were turned off on Scottsdale's State Loop 101, the number of drivers speeding increased 1,024 percent (Washington et al., "Evaluation of the City of Scottsdale Loop 101 Photo Enforcement Demonstration Program, Arizona State University." Nov 2007).
9. Safety cameras reduce fatal crashes nationwide. A 2011 report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety concluded traffic safety cameras at the 14 largest U.S. cities using them reduced fatal red light running crashes by 24 percent (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2011).
10. Simply put, safety cameras reduce red light running and speeding, change driver behavior and save lives.

"It's a sad reality that when drivers are not held accountable for their actions, speeding and red light running increases dramatically as they ignore our traffic safety laws, putting everyone in danger," said Traffic Safety Coalition co-chairs Paul and Sue Oberhauser. “Cities should be taking advantage of red light cameras and every other technology available to ensure these laws are followed and enforced.”

About the Traffic Safety Coalition:
The Traffic Safety Coalition is a not-for-profit, grassroots organization comprised of concerned citizens, traffic safety experts, law enforcement, public officials, victim's advocates, health care professionals, and industry leaders who are committed to working together to make our roads safer for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. We work with our partners throughout the country to promote technology and education that save lives and keep our roads safe. For more information, visit www.trafficsafetycoalition.com.

Even if Los Angeles Shuts Down Red Light Don’t Forget About the Ticket You Already Have

The Los Angeles City Council has announced plans to stop using cameras to enforce red light violators at numerous intersections throughout the city. While many are rejoicing that the cameras may be shut down by the end of June, don’t forget about the red light camera ticket you currently have!

The program ending would prevent future red light camera tickets from being issued. However, don’t assume that any current red light camera tickets you have from the City of Los Angeles will just automatically vanish. If the current red light camera system ends these tickets will still be prosecuted. To avoid potential problems just be sure to follow up on any outstanding tickets. You can always check the status of your ticket on the court website to see if it is still active or closed. Remember, if the ticket is already filed and active with the court before the city’s red light program ends (assuming it does) then it may not automatically be dropped. If you don’t follow up on the ticket it may go to collections or affect you negatively in other ways if the DMV is notified (LA courts exercise their own discretion and can choose to refer your information to a collections agency OR the DMV OR Both, although it is rumored they usually stick with the first option).

We would like your opinion as well if you think LA LA should shut down the cameras?  Was Los Angeles losing money on red light cameras?  A few non-profits have raised the question of whether photo enforcement is a legitimate use of city and law enforcement resources considering the recent acknowledgement by the LAPD and LADOT that intersections have been made safer due to signal timing enhancements alone.

Contribute by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets. If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

Related Stories:
What If You Don't Pay Your Red Light Camera Ticket

Bicyclists and Red Light Cameras

Most bicyclists are not aware that the motor vehicle code applies to them since they are not technically driving a motor vehicle. “Motor vehicle” would normally not be expected to include a device moved exclusively by human power.

Bicyclists however can be cited for a red light ticket under the California Vehicle Code due to the fact that by statute every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this division.

Although a bicyclist could technically be ticketed by Red Light Camera, there is the sheer fact that bicycles do not have a plate on them so the driver of the bicycle cannot be tracked.

State Assemblyman Michael Den Dekker in New York has introduced legislation that, poses the idea of requiring all bicycles to have a license plate, and placing cameras in the bike lanes, so that when a bicycle goes through a red light, they could be tracked down and issued a ticket essentially like registered owners of cars are tracked down and issued a ticket.

There doesn’t appear to be any similar pending legislation in California like that in New York, however bicyclists in California do face hefty fines if ticketed by an officer (though no demerit points to their motor vehicle driving record).

Contributed by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets.If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

Safer Streets L.A. has raised the pertinent question of whether photo enforcement is a legitimate use of city and law enforcement resources considering the recent acknowledgement by the LAPD and LADOT that intersections have been made safer due to signal timing enhancements alone. Safer Streets L.A. and its supporters will be providing public comment as to why the contract should not be extended.

• Effect of Extending PRL Contract 3 Months
• Immediate cost of $ $901,539.00 (Vendor and LAPD/DOT)
• Overall Loss of $22,000 (after income from tickets many months later)
• Loss To Local Economy: $1,072,861.00+ (In ticket costs alone. Additional losses to the economy from higher insurance premiums.)
• Cost for 30 day warning period $0.00 (Vendor pays this cost. Need warning period if system moved to new locations anyway.)
• No Improvement in Safety (Accidents were eliminated by original engineering countermeasures, Cameras not put at most dangerous intersections)
• 75% of Tickets for Rolling Right Turns (97% at some intersection approaches)*
• Violations can be further reduced by lengthening yellow light .3 - .7 seconds at minimal cost

3 Month Projections for Contract Extension

Receipts due from Superior Court	$ 1,072,861.00
Reporters Salary Fund Deductions at 18%	$  (193,114.98)
Estimated Revenue from RLC Program	$   879,746.02
Vendor Costs	$   691,194.00
Labor (LADOT & LAPD Direct)	$   210,345.00
LADOT Infrastructure Cost Amortization	$                 -
Total costs	$   901,539.00
Net Income (Loss)	$    (21,792.98)

*Citation Data from LAPD
**Costs and revenue projections verified by Controller’s office.

The Safer Streets LA studies can be viewed and downloaded for free at www.saferstreetsla.org/reports. 

The Connecticut General Assembly has never approved any of the bills offered in the past that would enable cities and towns to install cameras at red lights and collect fines by mailing tickets to violators. However, a new bill would authorize red light cameras in 13 municipalities with populations of 60,000 or more, and would fine motorists at least $124 per ticket. The bill has made a steady advance, winning two legislative committees' approval so far due to strong lobbying support and lack of funds in the State budget.  Read more. 

Orange has signed a partnership with Wikango to allow give Orange Maps users speed camera alerts in real time. Wikango is the European leader of warning radar applications and devices.  Wireless carrier Orange of France has teamed up to offer alerts in real-time on Orange GPS Navigation Maps. The alert service with mobile radar Wikango is available to all Mobile Orange customers for  5€ / month .  The application is preinstalled on most mobile GPS Orange Box, and is available for download on Store applications (App Store, App Shop Orange Market) or directly gps.orange.fr.  Read more on the press release here.  Wikango competes with Coyote Systems of UK who is the other larger provider of data in Europe.  

Every wonder why there are warning signs for red light cameras at some intersections but not all? According to VC§ 21455.5(a) (1), “Warning signs must be posted at each camera-equipped intersection and visible to traffic approaching from all directions, or at all the main entrances to town including, at a minimum, freeways, bridges, and state highway routes." The purpose of the law is obviously to make sure that drivers are warned in all instances where there is red light camera enforcement, and the seemingly most obvious way to warn a driver is to post a warning sign say overhead on a traffic signal head, but the law doesn’t require it.

The law does require that warning signs be posted, but the law gives cities the choice in where to post the signs and the law is vague as to how CLOSE to the intersection the signs have to be posted (provided the city decides to post the signs at the intersection). According to the Cal Trans design the signs must be at least 30 inches wide by 40 inches high and 6 feet off the ground but there is no requirement as to the distance a sign must be posted in relation to an intersection. Warning signs will not always be posted right at an intersection so drivers should be on the lookout for such signs when entering a city or exiting from a freeway off ramp. If you do get a red light photo ticket you should go back and search for warning signs and if you can’t find any where they are supposed to be or the signs are there but they are not the right size or are blocked or damaged in such a way that they are not visible, then take photographs so you can dispute the ticket. If the signs weren’t posted in accordance with the law (VC§ 21455.5(a) (1) ) then as a result you weren’t given the required notice and more importantly, a foundational requirement (warning signs) for the camera enforcement system is lacking. - blog submitted by ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets.

If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at www.TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit www.Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

State Map	Red Light Camera Fine $	Red Light Camera Points
Alabama	$50
Arizona	$180	no Points
Arkansas	$50
California	$446	1 Point
Colorado	$90	4 Points
Delaware	$75-$230
District of Columbia	$75	2 Points
Florida	$75-$125
Georgia	$70	3 Points
Hawaii	$77
Illinois	$100	20 Points
Indiana	$100
Iowa	$45-$150
Kansas	$100
Louisiana	$100-$140	No Points
Maryland	$100	2 Points
Michigan	$100
Minnesota	$130
Mississippi	$100
Missouri	$100
Nevada	$600-$1,000	4 Points
New Jersey	$75	No Points
New Mexico	$70-$250
New York	$50-$100	3 Points
North Carolina	$75-$100	3 Points
Ohio	$100-$200
Oklahoma	$100
Oregon	$355
Pennsylvania	$100	3 Points
Rhode Island	$85
South Dakota	$89	No Points
Tennessee	$50-$100
Texas	$75-$200	No Points
Virginia	$100 - $200	4 Points
Washington	$124
West Virginia
Wisconsin	$75

Technically yes according to the law!  Did you know speed traps are illegal in California?

California Vehicle Code defines a speed trap (in section 40802) as a section of a highway “measured as to distance and with boundaries marked, designated, or otherwise determined in order that the speed of a vehicle may be calculated by securing the time it takes the vehicle to travel the known distance”.

So, automated red light camera system systems are technically illegal speed traps as defined in California law because of the sensors placed in the ground used to measure speed. Could this be a contributing factor to why class action lawsuits are finally being launched against major camera companies or why cities such as El Monte, Fresno, Moreno Valley, Union City and earlier this year, Costa Mesa, have shut down their camera systems? 

Automated enforcement systems were designed to record an incident that occurs during the red phase of the light.  However, do wonder how do red light cameras work?   A vehicle triggers the system by passing over a measured distance in the roadway (two sets of inductive loops are cut into the pavement). These sensors record the time it takes for the vehicle to cross the distance between the sensors and calculates the speed of the vehicle based upon the distance and the elapsed time for the vehicle to cross it. If the vehicle is over the set threshold then the system activates. Thus the calculated speed of the vehicle is used to trigger the camera (which records and stores information for use in later issuing a ticket for the prosecution of a red light violation).

Article contributed by Ticketbust.com, helping drivers contest and dismiss their traffic tickets.  If you get cited for a red light photo ticket, contact us at TicketBust.com or call us at (800) 850-8038. For Spanish, please visit Combatesuticket.com or call (818) 584-3689. For more information on how TicketBust can help to beat your cell phone ticket, visit www.fightcellphonetickets.com or call (800) 850-8038.

A typical red light camera intersection has cameras positioned at a corner of an intersection, on poles a few yards high. The video and photo cameras point towards oncoming traffic so the cameras can photograph or video cars driving through the intersection. Red light systems do not necessarily have cameras at all four corners of an intersection.  Some intersections also have cameras to capture traffic photos from the rear as well.  

There are a number of road sensor trigger techniques, but they all serve the same purpose: They detect when a car has moved past a particular point in the road.  These sensors work with the computer behind the operation that is connected to the cameras.   The computer constantly monitors the traffic signal and the cars moving over the triggers. If a car sets off a trigger when the light is red, the computer takes two pictures and often video to document the violation. The first picture usually shows the car just on the edge of the intersection and the second picture shows the car in the middle of the intersection with the red light illuminated above.

False positives are typically prevented during traffic congestion by having minimum speed limits for a violation to occur.  In some states, a ticket is issued to the car's registered owner, no matter who's actually driving.  However, a police office typically has to compare traits of the license plate with the registered owner like.  You are a male or a female or a certain age group or even race.

In some states red light camera tickets only needs to photograph the car from behind, since the authorities only need a clear view of the rear license plate. In other states, the actual driver is responsible for paying the ticket and must be verified.  If you were not the driver of the car often times you will be threatened to turning in the driver which is referred to as a snitch ticket.  In this case, the photo enforced system needs a second camera in front of the car, in order to get a shot of the driver's face. The ticket is still sent to the car's owner after verification.

Measure K has passed and now prohibits the Anaheim City Council from using red light cameras or other automated traffic enforcement system. The city does not current use red light cameras or photo enforcement and this is simply a Here are the details:

Anaheim Measure K prohibits the City Council from enacting an ordinance which would permitor authorize any red light camera or other automated traffic enforcement system in the City ofAnaheim. The term, “red light camera or other automated traffic enforcement system” meansand includes any automated traffic enforcement system, as that term is used in California VehicleCode Section 21455.55 or any successor legislation, which is used to enforce any provision ofthe California Vehicle Code.

Measure K also prohibits the City Council and any City officer or employee from 1)taking any action in his or her official capacity that would directly or indirectly result in theauthorization, approval or installation of any red light camera or other automated trafficenforcement system in Anaheim; 2) acquiescing in any action or decision of anothergovernmental agency or failing to object to such action or decision, resulting in the authorization,approval or installation of any red light camera or other automated traffic enforcement system inAnaheim; or 3) approving, authorizing or entering into any agreement or taking any other actionof any kind that would result in the installation of any red light camera or other automated trafficenforcement system in Anaheim, including any such agreement that would result in the Cityreceiving any revenue from the installation of such camera or automated system.

If adopted, this measure will prohibit the installation of red light cameras or otherautomated traffic enforcement system in Anaheim without subsequent Charter Amendmentapproved by the voters of Anaheim. s/ Cristina L. TalleyAnaheim City Attorney

California Vehicle Code Section 21455.5 authorizes the installation of automated trafficenforcement systems, commonly known as red light cameras, at intersections or other placeswhere vehicles are required to stop, such as crosswalks. Any governmental agency that desiresto operate red light cameras must meet certain requirements, such as 1) identifying the placementof the cameras by signs that are visible to approaching traffic, 2) regulating the minimum yellowlight intervals, 3) making a public announcement of the existence of the camera at least 30 daysprior to its use, and 4) issuing only warning notices for 30 days prior to issuing citations basedupon the information obtained by a red light camera. California Vehicle Code Section 21455.5also sets forth guidelines for the operation and maintenance of the red light camera system andregulates the disclosure of information obtained from the system.

Red-light violations accounted for nearly 40% of the 2,397 accidents at Anaheim intersections between 2007 and 2009. In all, there were 12,858 traffic accidents during that period.

Google Maps users deserve red light cameras and speed cameras as a layer for navigation. We have a database of 7,000 cameras we have been accumulating for the last 10 years. We have tried numerous times to reach out to Google and provide this data to them for use on Google Maps without any success.When we first started collecting the data 10 years ago there were only a few hundred cameras in use across the US. Now there are about 7,000 intersections and locations that are under photo enforcement surveillance.  Contrast that to Europe that has 50,000 cameras and most of them are speed cameras. The majority of the cameras in the US are red light cameras and not speed cameras like the Europe.

Every time we talk to large companies who want to use the data  in the US they seem worried about the legality of using the data. They ask questions like:  Is it legal to use this information? What happens if a driver gets into an accident after using the information while driving?   I am not sure I understand their concerns considering people are not trying to evade the law by using the data.  Drivers simply want to know where these locations are to avoid fender bender collisions.  People drive erratically around photo enforced locations and the residual effect are typically small accidents instead of t-bones.

Anyhow, a new user interface for Google Maps layers is being tested. The new UI enlarges the buttons that let you switch views between content layers. Now you can quickly switch between custom maps, driving directions, local search results and Google Maps layers. Google Maps also shows the weather for the current location. Its very useful and its about time they start putting some content on the map that helps people drive safely.

Up to 50 intersection in Rochester, New York will eventually be equipped with Red Light Cameras. Cameras are now up at the first three intersections in an attempt to catch drivers running red lights. They include State and Jay Streets, Alexander and Broadway and North Street and Clifford Avenue.

The cameras will capture still and video images of vehicles in the act of a red-light violation, which will initiate the procedure to deliver a Notice of Liability, to the registered owner of the vehicle. The violation is a civil matter and will not be reported to insurance companies or generate points on a driver’s license.

Evidence captured by the Red Light Cameras will be reviewed by the Rochester Police Department before the Notice of Liability is delivered in the mail. Vehicle owners are responsible for violations by operators of their vehicle. Vehicle owners will have an opportunity to appeal the Notice or pay the fine. The civil violation carries an initial $50 fine. If the initial fine is not paid within 30 days an additional penalty of $25 will be assessed.

The program will begin with a 15 day warning period, when warning letters will be sent.
The cameras operate 24 hours a day and capture still photographs and video of every vehicle that runs a red light at the intersection. Cameras photograph only the vehicle and the license plate of vehicles running the red lights. No images of the driver or passengers are captured. Each set of images of a red light violation are reviewed and approved by the Rochester Police Department before a Notice of Liability is mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.  Pay Rochester tickets here

Here is a scare tactic video and a demonstration of how the cameras work.

I am continually amazed how companies who sell radar detectors and our red light camera database competitors claim to have a more comprehensive database than we do.  PhotoEnforced.com was the first US company to start sourcing this data back in 2000 and our next competitor did not come onto the market until 2005.  How do they do it?  Well, they copied our free database online and started adding to it and selling it as their own proprietary database.  Simply ask the next time you want to license Trinity's database when they got started collecting the data and how they did it.  You probably won't get a straight answer because they will never admit that they stole information from PhotoEnforced.com.  Photoenforced.com has 7,000 - 8,000 locations in our database as of today and its growing everyday.  We also have removed hundreds of locations from our database that are inactive or not accurate.  What other competitor can claim they have a comparable database that is free?

I have asked several of these companies including to do a public "bake off" comparing the number of locations in their database.  Still no one wants to compete with crowdsourcing or user generated content because our competitors say they get too many false positives.   Here is what Trinity claims on their web site. Trinity is more accurate and complete than other databases because our team gathers more data than anyone else, to give you the most detailed alerts on the market.  In addition to the camera locations themselves, we plot:

• the camera type
• directional vectors
• speed limits (where applicable)
• ticket directions
• “no ticket” directions

When it comes to camera location data, accuracy is key. One of the reasons why Cheetah detectors are better than others, is that our proprietary database is 100% verified by Cheetah’s professional database team, which monitors all media and internet channels as well as communicating directly with police departments, city traffic engineers, city records, Municipal Codes of Ordinances, traffic bureaus, state transportation agencies, our own network of trusted camera spotters and field survey teams.

Why doesn't Trinity publish the of locations in the database?

Here is a response from Trinity on their Facebook page. Comparing number of locations won't give an accurate measure of the quality of the Trinity 2.0 database compared to other databases. For example, some other companies actively promote they have camera numbers into the millions, which would lead to extensive numbers of false alerts. We take great care to verify our camera locations are accurate and update regularly.

PhotoEnforced.com Response

Photoenforced.com started collecting the 10 years ago and have cameras in 1200 markets. Its impossible to gather the data without crowdsourcing. I agree that verification is important but that is why we have 2000+ people per day coming to PhotoEnforced.com and using the database. Not even Google or Navteq with all its resources can verify locations. Its a false claim and your database will always be behind the curve.

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

PhotoEnforced.com's crowdsourced database is the largest and most complete US database as we raise the awareness of our open platform to share information about red light cameras, right turn cameras, speed cameras or anything that is enforced using camera automation.  Our locations and fines database has been growing at a rate of 25% per year and last year we added near 2,000 new locations totaling 8000+ total:

• Red Light Cameras – 6500
• Speed Cameras – 371
• Illegal Right Turn Cameras – 119
• Combination Cameras - 381
• Both Red Light & Speed Cameras – 354
• Red Light & Illegal Right Turn Cameras - 19
• Red Light, Speed & Illegal Right Turn Cameras - 9

Our database has the first mover advantage having been founded back in 2001. Unfortunately, a number of entrepreneurs & corporations have tried to copy 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!

Press-Enterprise - Monday, February 15, 2010

The City Council agreed last week to leave the cameras in place at four intersections on Redlands Boulevard and Barton Road after learning that the number of traffic citations has dramatically dropped and that it would cost the city more than $534,000 to cancel its contract with the camera operator 10 months early.

Four months after Redflex Traffic Systems installed the cameras in 2006, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department reported that it was writing 1,200 tickets a month. Last month, City Attorney Richard Holdaway said the cameras captured 451 potential violations and only 157 tickets were issued.

Of the violations spotted in January, Holdaway said, 130 potential citations were not written because the deputy reviewing the pictures made "a finding of safe right turn on red."

City Council members say they have been besieged with complaints from motorists forced to pay a fine of more than $450 for not making a complete stop before turning right at the intersections of Anderson Street and Mountain View Avenue with Barton Road and Redlands Boulevard.

Holdaway met in closed session with the council last week to advise council members on the legal ramifications of cancelling Redflex's contract before it expires in December.

Then, in public session, City Manager T. Jarb Thaipejr disclosed that the cost to the city would be $534,558.83 if the contract were terminated this month and would amount to $42,000 a month for the remaining term if the council pulls the plug later this year.

Councilmen Rhodes "Dusty" Rigsby and Ovidiu Popescu lobbied last month for either pulling the plug on the cameras or telling the Sheriff's Department not to enforce right-turn violations based on photos from the cameras. They said the $13.5 million in fines imposed since the cameras were installed has been draining the local economy and discouraging people from driving to and through the city of 22,000 residents.

Holdaway said the state Vehicle Code precludes the city from ordering deputies not to write citations.

"Ultimately," he said, "the Sheriff's Department has the sole discretion as to whether or not to issue a citation. We need to respect that discretion that the law enforcement officer has.

"As a result of this discussion, the Sheriff's Department is exercising that discretion ... and they're looking at some of the safety issues, whether or not a particular situation rises to a significant safety violation," Holdaway said. "Right turn situations, the notorious California stop, are some of the situations that they're looking at."

Rigsby noted that the city's decision to increase the length of time that the lights are yellow by one second, at the expense of green lights, has reduced the number of left-turn violations from 240 month to 25 or 30.

He said the most egregious violations involve motorists who drive straight ahead through red lights and those incidents at the four intersections produced only five violations.

"That is tremendous improvement in safety from what we were seeing in the past," he said. "We could have had that safety with lengthening the yellow lights four years ago instead of installing red-light cameras.

Councilman Floyd Petersen, who has complained about the steep fines for right turns, said he was impressed with the decline in violations. He said it is "a very strong indication ... of increased safety at the intersections."

He also said that despite that decline, "I still very, very strongly feel that another issue needs to be addressed here. A $450 ticket for right-hand turn is ludicrous."

Mayor Stan Brauer acknowledged concerns about the message that ignoring violations would have.

"What do we tell our teen-age drivers? Well, you don't need to stop for red lights," he said.

Popescu said he is "very optimistic" after learning that the Sheriff's Department is writing fewer citations for right turns.

He said he still believes the city has a "viable option for us to get out of the contract early, given what I believe is an injury to the community."

He conceded, however, that the cost may be prohibitive.

"I think it is a little early" to make a final decision, he said, and vowed to bring up the issue again at the council's March 9 meeting.