May 13, 2009 6:05 pm US/Eastern
Sunrise Approves The Use Of Red Light Cameras
Drivers Caught On Camera Will Be Fined $150
Expected To Generate $200 Thousand In Revenue Yearly
SUNRISE (CBS4) ―
Add the City of Sunrise to the growing list of cities that plan to or already use cameras at intersections to catch drivers who run red lights.
During Tuesday night's meeting, commissioners unanimously approved the idea and decided that they would start accepting bids from companies that wanted to operate the red-light camera program. "The real bottom line of why I brought this item us," said Vice Mayor Don Rosen, "is the safety of the community."
The added city revenue likely would not hurt either. When up and running, violators caught on camera running a red light would be fined up to $150. The city could receive as much as $200 thousand a year in revenue from the fines.
More than three dozen cities across Florida, including Pembroke Pines, Aventura and Hallandale Beach, already use cameras to catch red light runners.
In Pembroke Pines, drivers caught on camera running through red lights at the intersection of Pines Boulevard and 129th Street are fined $125. The city's first red light camera went online in April, 2008, and drivers were given a year's grace period before enforcement began. Pembroke Pines police say five more red light cameras will be added to intersections throughout the city in the coming months. The cameras will be directed at drivers heading northbound at Dykes Road and Pines Boulevard, eastbound at Sheridan Street and 72nd Avenue, eastbound and Taft Street and North Hiatus Road, and northbound at Southwest 136th Avenue and Pines Boulevard.
In Aventura, more than seven thousand citations have been sent out since October of 2008. That's brought in more than $371-thousand in revenue. Police spokesman Skip Washa said the cameras allow officers to spend more time on other things, just like the public wants. "They're concerned, 'why aren't they out there catching the bad guys instead of giving traffic tickets,'" said Washa. "Well, now we have the red light cameras and we're able to have our officers now on the street doing more proactive police work rather than traffic violations."
CBS4 photographer Joaquin Garcia got a ticket in Aventura. "I made a right hand turn and didn't come to a complete stop," recalls Garcia. A couple weeks later, he got a $125 citation in the mail. When he looked at the video of his infraction, he was able to see he did not stop completely.
In Sunrise, city officials will now decide what intersections to install cameras. They must also pick a company to run the cameras.
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