Camera-produced red-light tickets costly after 4th on The Murfreesboro Post

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Camera-produced red-light tickets costly after 4th

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Posted: Saturday, July 5, 2008 8:26 am

Drivers who run afoul of Murfreesboro’s new automated traffic enforcement (ATE) cameras at six of the city’s most dangerous intersections will get a reprieve from paying the $50 fine until Saturday, city officials say.

From then on, drivers photographed running red lights in six of the city’s intersections notorious for traffic crashes will get a payable citation in the mail.

Warning citations issued during the 30-day grace period in June were intended to give drivers opportunity to get used to the cameras and get the bugs worked out of the system, police officials said.

Though payable citations were initially intended to be mailed out July 1, a 15-day waiting period after approval of third and final reading of the enabling legislation pushed the effective date out to July 5.

The system will be in place and operating at all six systems Jully 5 as well, Maryland-based vendor Trafficpax, Inc. officials said.

These include Memorial and Northfield boulevards, Rutherford and Mercury boulevards, South Church Street at Middle Tennessee Boulevard (MTB), Northwest Broad at South Church, Northwest Broad at Northfield and Old Fort Parkway at Thompson Lane.

Penalties are civil so don't affect either driving records or vehicle insurance rates, MPD officials say. Tickets are only being issued to vehicle registration tags that clearly violate the stop bar at the beginning of each intersection after the signal turns red and an officer has reviewed the infraction to ensure the citation is justified.

Once the citation has been issued and received in the mail by the tag holder, he or she can either pay the fine outright or view the infraction at special kiosks in city facilities and contest its validity before the city judge.

Between June 1 and the 23 rd, Trafficpax project manager Denise Andrieux said, over 400 warning citations were issued.

The company is installing, operating and maintaining the cameras and will be keeping a percentage of the proceeds from revenue generated by the citations, Assistant City Manager Rob Lyons said. No city general fund money is involved.

“We’re installing these cameras to try and improve safety at these intersections,” he said. “Obviously because of the costs involved, this is not a revenue producer so we’re not in it for the money.”

Murfreesboro City Council approved a contract with Traffipax in 2007 to install and operate the camera systems which are similar to those that have improved safety in other Tennessee cities like Knoxville, Red Bank, Johnson City and Germantown.

Tagged under CITY, RED-LIGHT CAMERAS

Member Opinions:

By: dmiller31 on 7/5/08
Not a "money maker"??? RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

By: alingo2001 on 7/5/08
If you don't run the red light and you don't have to worry about it. That is part of the traffic problem around town. Stupid people running red lights. I've noticed at the intersections with the cameras, there hasn't been as much running the red light.

By: Merf on 7/6/08
alingo, are you kidding me? Have you been at Old Fort Parkway and Thompson Lane? I haven't seen any improvement. Cars are still running the light turning left from Old Fort onto Thompson. This intersection alone will be a money maker for the city.

By: UnionLady1055 on 7/6/08
I am not running it. I am going to Shelbyville to buy my groceries. No red lights! In fact, Bedford county is looking mighty good about now. No redlights on Joe B either.... easiest way out of the city

By: alingo2001 on 7/6/08
Merf, I try to avoid that intersection if all possible. The intersection at Northfield and Broad seems better. I go through there quiet a bit.

By: diddlede on 7/6/08
Use to travel Memorial, but we are using the back streets and still are able to get anywhere in Murfreesboro we want to go. We are not going to take a chance on camera clicking us when we don't run the red light. Don't trust them yet! I do hope it cuts down on accidents though.

By: Farmall on 7/6/08
I wasn't running them before the cameras were put in. But I hope it costs the city to put these stupid things in. The worst intersection for red light runners doesn't even have a camera. (main and broad)

By: Macgyver on 7/7/08
I'd love to know exactly how much the city spent putting in these lights. And why didn't they put one in on the most traveled intersection, memorial/oldfort and broad? Its also funny how no one on the city council will go on the record and say this is a money maker.

By: rayg20 on 7/7/08
When I read this article and the opinions posted here is what I think: If you aren't running a red light why do you care?, So what if it makes money for the city, it is better than higher taxes, right! And the last thing is, if you or a family member is a person who gets hit by someone running a red light and you or a family member get injured it won't matter if the city makes money will it? What I want to know is what Insurance Company do those people have, I hope it is not mine. My rates are high enough.

By: Ponycar on 7/8/08
MacGyver, it was reported on the news that the city is paying $30,000 a month ( thats $360,000 a year).

By: barrettbear on 7/8/08
I just want know if my family and I could get a family portrait done at Northfield and Memorial for Christmas?