MANATEE — In an effort to get more motorists to stop at red lights, two new cameras will begin snapping shots of red light runners at intersections starting this week.
The new additions include westbound traffic at the intersection of First Street and Manatee Avenue as well as westbound traffic at the intersection of Ninth Street East and Seventh Avenue East, said Bradenton Police Sgt. Brian Thiers.
Testing was conducted on the cameras this past week at the sites.
“They want to make sure it’s on a consistent cycle,” Thiers said, noting the company Dallas-based Affiliated Computer Services has been doing studies.
As of Friday afternoon, there were 269 citations issued from the city’s first red light camera which began working Aug. 6. That translates into nearly $25,000 in revenue for the city.
Citations do not go against a motorist’s driving record. Instead, it’s a violation of a city ordinance and costs $125, with approximately $92.50 going back to the city of Bradenton, Thiers said.
So far, the citations have been “clear” violations, which have been reviewed by two members of Affiliated Computer Services and one member of the traffic unit at Bradenton Police Department, he said.
“It’s actually very accurate,” he said. “There have been none too close to call.”
On average, the one camera positioned capturing southbound traffic at U.S. 301 and Manatee Avenue has captured about 10 drivers running lights at the intersection per day.
The owner of the vehicle, who is ultimately responsible for the ticket, is mailed a citation showing pictures of the red light and their vehicle passing over the white line. They can log on to a Web site showing the footage. The camera takes a zoomed in shot of the vehicle’s license plate.
Perhaps it’s for that reason that none of the tickets have been formally contested yet, Thiers said.
If and when that does happen, it’s possible a city magistrate will have to hear the cases, he said, noting it’s still a new process. The city will eventually have 10 intersections monitored, according to the city’s Web site.
The county, which also has passed a similar measure to install cameras, will have five locations and will begin snapping shots at the beginning of January, said Harry Mendenhall, assistant director of transportation management for Manatee County Department of Public Works.
The county also is using Affiliated Computer Services to install the cameras and manage the citation system. The county’s code enforcement will review citations rather than law enforcement, he said.
The locations include all directions at 59th Street West and 21st Avenue West, north and southbound traffic at Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and University Parkway, all directions at 34th Street West and 53rd Avenue West, north and southbound directions at Lockwood Ridge Road and Tallevast Road and all directions of travel at 15th Street East and 57th Avenue East.
The cost for violating the county’s ordinance for running a red light is $150.
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