Delray Beach mulling installation plans
Published Thursday, July 27, 2006
by Dale M. King & Corey Siggins - Boca News

Smile, red light runners – you might soon be on camera in Delray Beach.

City commissioners are looking into acquiring special cameras that, when installed at busy intersections, would take high-resolution photographs of drivers going through red lights.

The idea was first brought up at a recent workshop meeting, where commissioners heard a presentation from Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Redflex Traffic Systems regarding its camera technology.

Mayor Jeff Perlman said he could envision the positive impact red-light cameras would have on the community.

“Anything that encourages public safety sounds good to me,” Perlman said. “I can say we’re definitely interested.”

During the meeting, Redflex spokesman Jay Specter spoke about how the company’s red-light cameras are implemented.

If a car runs a red light, a photo of the vehicle’s license plate is taken.

“The time, date and location of the violation, as well as the car’s speed, are recorded along with the image. We also have up to four cameras at an intersection to ensure the best image,” Specter said. “It’s very precise.”

The photo is then electronically transmitted to Redflex’s corporate office in Arizona where it is subsequently analyzed.

Afterwards, the violator’s local DMV office and police department will receive the information.

“If local law enforcement decides a violation occurred, Redflex will send a copy to the offender,” Specter said. “He or she then has the option to pay the violation fee online.”

Redflex contracts with 106 cities worldwide; 90 of those are in the United States. In South Florida, Pembroke Pines will soon begin a red-light camera pilot program.

Specter illustrated his discussion with a video, and added: “The simple fact is, red-light cameras reduce intersection accidents by 50 percent.”

While praising the overall idea, Delray commissioners said they want to make sure the cameras “have teeth to them.”

“When I was in England, I saw red-light cameras everywhere. When I asked about them, though, a local police officer told me there’s not much enforcement behind them,” Vice-Mayor Rita Ellis said. “If we get these cameras for ourselves, I hope they’ll be effectively used.”

Under current Florida law, police officers are not allowed to issue tickets to drivers caught by red-light cameras. The action is only allowed for toll violators.

Redflex attorney Scott Maddox, who accompanied Specter at the workshop, told commissioners that a number of cities—including Miami, Orlando, St. Petersburg and Tallahassee—want to help change the law.

“We want to round up some legal opinions and present them to the state legislature,” Maddox said. “The plan is to make the state comfortable about this concept.”

Perlman agreed to write a letter to the state demonstrating support for red-light cameras.

“It’s good to get the ball rolling on this,” Perlman said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Meanwhile, in Boca Raton, there has been no hue and cry for cameras to catch red-light runners. But that doesn’t mean the city doesn’t have its eye on local roadways.

“We have cameras posted on mast arms” at major intersections in the city, said Mayor Steven Abrams. Those cameras send pictures back to the city’s traffic control center at the Boca Raton City Annex.

In that center, staff members who monitor the images can change lights to red or green as needed to alleviate traffic backups.

Even without cameras photographing red light runners, Boca has earned a reputation as a city that takes control of most of its traffic difficulties.

Several years ago, officials began the task of installing “smart” traffic signals. Rescue trucks are equipped with devices that can trip a red or green light so vehicles carrying the ill and injured can get through intersections safely.

Boca is high on traffic “calming” devices. Many side streets have small humps – called “humpels” – designed to slow vehicles as they approach stop signs. The community also installs traffic roundabouts in some places.

Boca Raton also has a Traffic Demand Management ordinance that encourages businesses to offer employees alternatives to bringing their cars to work. Some people use their bicycles. In fact, Mayor Abrams said he bikes to work – during the cooler weather, that is.

Reporting on traffic cameras, the Federal Highway Administration says they reduce front and side crashes by 25 percent, according to a 2005 study. That benefit was offset some by a downside: rear-end crashes increase 15 percent.

"The research shows red-light cameras reduce crashes," said Russ Rader, spokesman at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

In 2004, the most recent year available, more than 900 people were killed and 168,000 injured in crashes involving red-light running, says that group. The TDM also says businesses can stagger shifts, encourage people to work at home and set up showers so people who walk or bike can clean up before going to their desks.

Contact Dale M. King at 561-549-0832 or at dking@bocanews.com.
Contact Corey Siggins at 561-549-0845 or at csiggins@bocanews.com.

-end -

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.