Right Turn on Red Tickets Dropped

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. 

Red Light Cameras Reduce Austin Crashes


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. 

Red Light Cameras are Cash Cows

cash cow
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." 

Arizona Freeway Speed Cameras Go Bye Bye


Cameras 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. 

DMV Driving Points & Fines


State 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.