Red-light cameras return to use in N.J.

The red-light cameras are back in action.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation on Wednesday told 21 towns they could resume issuing tickets based on information from red-light cameras at 65 intersections.

Tickets also can be issued for violations recorded since June 19, when the red-light camera program was suspended in those towns, the department said. The cameras were operating during the last month, but towns had not been permitted to issue tickets while lights and cameras were inspected.

Cameras at intersections in Cherry Hill, Glassboro, Stratford, Monroe, and 17 other New Jersey communities have been tested and found to be properly calibrated, the department said.
"Drivers are now on notice: If you go through a red light, or you fail to come to a complete stop before making a right turn on red, you will be ticketed," Cherry Hill Mayor Chuck Cahn said Wednesday.

Cherry Hill has a backlog of 3,276 red-light violations awaiting review by police officers, deputy solicitor Erin Gill said.

If officers determine the violations, recorded by cameras at Springdale Road and Route 70, are valid, "those motorists will receive tickets," Gill said.

"As Gov. Christie said last night, 'If you don't go through red lights, you have nothing to worry about,' " Cahn said. " 'It's when you go through the intersection when it's red that you have two problems. The first for sure is you're going to get a ticket. The potential is that you could kill yourself or somebody else.' "

The 21 towns were ordered last month to analyze their lights, cameras, and traffic speeds by Aug. 1 to certify that the yellow phase was long enough to meet the standards of the red-light camera pilot program.

The program requires the yellow phase of the light to be at least one second long for every 10 m.p.h. of the prevailing speed of approaching vehicles.

So, if at least 85 percent of cars are going 45 m.p.h., the yellow must be 4.5 seconds long.

After engineers' inspections, "in each case, the results have confirmed that the duration of a yellow light at the authorized intersection meets the minimum duration as required by the legislation," NJDot said Wednesday.

Red-light cameras have been controversial - and lucrative - since New Jersey started the pilot program in 2009 to test their effectiveness in reducing crashes and injuries in 25 municipalities.

http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-27/news/32870379_1_red-light-cameras-cameras-at-nine-intersections-intersections-in-six-municipalities