Red light cameras are typically installed on a pole or structure near an intersection and are designed to capture images of vehicles that run a red light.
The cameras themselves may look like small boxes or cylindrical structures, often with a flash unit mounted nearby to illuminate the license plate of the vehicle.
In general, red light cameras are designed to be inconspicuous, so they may blend in with other street fixtures such as traffic lights, signage, or street lamps. However, they are often marked with signs warning drivers of their presence, and in some jurisdictions, the cameras themselves may be brightly colored or decorated to draw attention to them.
Red light cameras can flash. They also use sensors to detect when a vehicle enters an intersection after the traffic light has turned red. When a violation occurs, the camera captures a series of photographs or a video of the vehicle and its license plate. These images are then reviewed by law enforcement officials to determine if a violation has occurred and to issue a citation to the vehicle's registered owner. Some red light cameras may emit a flash in low-light conditions to help capture clearer images, but not all do.
If a red light camera takes a picture of your vehicle running a red light, you may not know it immediately. Typically, the owner of the vehicle will receive a notice of violation in the mail, which includes photographs or a video of the violation, along with information about the time, date, and location of the violation.
If you are concerned that you may have triggered a red light camera, you should look for signs near the intersection that indicate the presence of a camera. In many cases, these signs will be posted near the traffic signal and may include a picture of a camera or a warning that the intersection is monitored by cameras. However, not all intersections with red light cameras have such signs, so it's important to always follow traffic signals and come to a complete stop at red lights.
These are traffic cameras and people commonly mistake them for red light cameras.