Cameras May Also Be Used For Speeding Enforcement
by Hannah Campbell
posted March 20, 2007
No one who has argued about a ticket from the Red Bank red light cameras has won their case, Debbie Renfro, administrative assistant to the Red Bank Police Department, told the Red Bank Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.
In fact, Red Bank Judge Johnny Houston said since he became judge last August not a single red light camera case has been heard.
Ms. Renfro addressed the public’s concerns with Red Bank’s Red Light Camera Photo Enforcement Program.
“This thing is watching you seven days a week, 24 hours a day. You’re going to slow down if you don’t want to get caught,” she said.
The cameras take pictures of cars running red lights. Ms. Renfro said a photograph is only taken if all four of a car’s wheels have crossed the white stop line. It does not take a photograph if the light turns red after the car has entered the intersection. Staff review the camera’s footage to double check it, and a ticket is sent to the registered car owner.
If you are mailed a ticket from this program:
- You will receive printed pictures of your car running the red light.
- From 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. you may go to Red Bank City Hall and review the video footage.
- You may pay your $50 fine (civil violation.) The ticket will not go on your record or your insurance policy. It does not matter who pays the ticket.
- If you choose to argue the ticket in court, the ticket cost increases and any ticket you are issued will go on your record and will be reported to your insurance company.
- No one has chosen to argue a ticket in court this year.
The goal of the program is to control accidents and improve safety, she said.
Ms. Renfro said the camera improves safety at that intersection and its vicinity, a result known as the halo effect. Drivers realize that they are “being watched” and the feeling follows them.
The program pays for itself. The cameras were installed for free. A portion of ticket revenues goes to pay for each $100,000 camera.
The cameras also record speed. Red Bank Police Chief Larry Sneed said that four months before the cameras were installed a speed survey revealed 2,296 speed violators on Dayton Boulevard in a one-week period. Two months after the cameras were installed, the speed survey indicated a 75 percent reduction in that number.
The ordinance passed by the city allows the cameras to be used to issue speeding tickets. Chief Sneed said he is “very much in favor” of using the cameras to that advantage in the future.
Cameras are stationed at the Signal Mountain Boulevard-Dayton Boulevard intersection and the Ashland Terrace-Dayton Boulevard intersection. The Morrison Springs-Dayton Boulevard intersection is also scheduled for a camera but is on hold due to the new BI-LO.
OTHER MEETING NEWS
The Chamber welcomed Serendipity Delights chocolate shop and Wally’s Friends spay and neuter program. The Beautification Award was given to ACT Business Machines.
Lunch was provided by Fire Eye Productions, a video-multimedia company producig infomercials, training videos, commercials and Webcasting for companies of all sizes and budgets.
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