ATS’ Newsletter, Vol. 2, Issue 26


Cameras Catch Nearly 2.3 Million Red-Light Runners in 2011
Deseret News (Utah), May 30, 2012

More than 2.3 million drivers in 18 states ran a red light in 2011, according to the first “Safer Roads Report 2012: Trends in Red-Light Running” from the National Coalition for Safer Roads. See related coverage in Turlock Journal(CFNews TV 13 video image.)

Red-Light Running Fines Raise Funds for Cities
The Jersey Journal (New Jersey), May 28, 2012

Drivers caught on camera running red lights at Kennedy Boulevard and Communipaw Avenue in Jersey City over the past year were issued 20,000 traffic tickets and shelled out $1.7 million in fines, county records show.


Violations Plummet in New Orleans
The Times-Picayune (Louisiana), May 28, 2012

The good news is the number of tickets being generated by New Orleans’ dozens of road safety cameras is declining, suggesting that drivers are speeding and running red lights less often than in the past. (The Times-Picayune photo by Michael DeMocker)

Pennsylvania Proposal Expands Red-Light Cameras
The Tribune-Democrat, May 27, 2012

A group of nearly 20 local and state traffic safety organizations, elected officials, health-care workers and some whose lives have been changed by a signal-light crash are pushing an initiative to expand the use of red-light cameras.

Mount Laurel Looks to Cameras to Curb Traffic Violations
Burlington County Times (Pennsylvania), May 27, 2012

Red-light cameras are being proposed for two busy intersections. Based on recommendations from police Chief Dennis Cribben, officials are working to procure signal monitoring systems that will better allow the township to issue traffic tickets.

Red-Light Cameras on Their Way to Orange Park
The Florida Times-Union, May 26, 2012

Red-light cameras could turn on this fall in Orange Park. The town is working out a contract with American Traffic Solutions after its council members signed off May 15 on administrators negotiating with their top choice.

Red-Light Traffic Cameras Increase Safety
The Delaware County Daily Times (Pennsylvania), May 26, 2012

When it comes to compromising traffic safety, traffic expert Richard Retting sees red. But what Retting would like to see more of in Pennsylvania is red-light traffic cameras.

Kansas City’s Red-Light Cameras Contribute to Big Reduction in Intersection Crashes
Traffic Technology Today, May 25, 2012

Analysis of statistics conducted by the Kansas City Police Department in Missouri shows that traffic fatalities in the city are at zero and dangerous collisions are down significantly at the 17 intersections equipped with red-light cameras from American Traffic Solutions (ATS).

Speed Cameras Could Be on the Way to Memphis
WMC-TV 5 (Tennessee), May 24, 2012

Speed cameras could be coming to Memphis. … The request for these cameras passed a council committee and the first two readings. Next, the full Memphis City Council will vote on the cameras.


Red-Light Runners, Close Calls Captured on Video
Brandon Patch (Florida), May 30, 2012

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has released another round of red-light runners that shows a near collision, a pedestrian’s close call, a motorist barreling through an intersection after the light had been red for 98 seconds, and more.


Study Prepares St. Joseph for Red-Light Cameras
StJoeChannel.com (Missouri), May 24, 2012

A year after the city council voted to approve red-light cameras, St. Joseph is gathering traffic data to help determine the best locations for the cameras.

Another Georgia District to Deploy Stop-Arm Safety Solution
SchoolBusFleet.com, May 30, 2012

Newton County Schools has partnered with American Traffic Solutions to deploy CrossingGuard, ATS’ technology to help address illegal passing of stopped school buses.

American Traffic Solutions is pleased to announce that both Puyallup, Wash., and Capitola, Calif., have extended their road safety camera contracts for another five years each.

@ATS_RoadSafety  @HC_Sheriff released a 7th round of video clips of red-light runners youtu.be/HW8kC663ZIw  read here: bit.ly/KcMVy1  #FL  #StopOnRed

Editorial: Say “Maybe” to Red-Light Cameras
Burlington County Times (Pennsylvania), May 31, 2012

Mount Laurel is considering red-light cameras at two of its well-traveled intersections. … It’s not the first Burlington County municipality to consider using red-light cameras, and we believe officials are right to consider them. But we’d like to see them first implemented on a trial basis.

Editorial: A Green Light for More Red-Light Cameras in Kansas City
Kansas City Star (Missouri), May 26, 2012

Kansas City’s red-light cameras are working just as advertised. They reduce dangerous crashes inside intersections. They punish lawbreakers and produce revenue to support city services. They even help the police investigate robberies and homicides. Expanding the number of these cameras makes sense.

Letter: Cameras Save Lives; Money Is a Bonus
Palm Beach Post (Florida), May 30, 2012

Regarding the editorial about red-light cameras (“Safety was never the point”), The Post is wrong to claim that this “scam” is all about money. This program does bring in revenue to local jurisdictions. But I know of very few government programs where the goal is to put the program out of business.


“They [residents] are tired of waiting for a light to turn green and then they have to count to four Mississippi to pull out in the intersection because they know a car is going to run the red light.”
James Boivin, Orange Park Police Chief
First Coast News/WLTV 12 (Florida), May 31, 2012


“The primary purpose of the cameras is to slow up traffic and to ensure that drivers abide by traffic signals enhancing the safety of the driving public. A secondary and incidental benefit of the red-light cameras is certainly the funds they generate for the municipalities in which they are placed, many of which have seen drastic budget cuts and reduced revenues.”
Jerramiah T. Healy, Mayor of Jersey City
The Jersey Journal (New Jersey), May 29, 2012


“This increases the productivity of our police department because they can be doing other things rather than standing there in one spot with a radar gun.”

“There’s nothing wrong with receiving new revenue from people who break the law. And if they don’t break the law, then we won’t get the revenue. So everybody, please drive safely and you will not get a ticket.”
Myron Lowery, Memphis City Councilman
WMC-TV 5 (Tennessee), May  24, 2012

National
According to a new report from the National Coalition for a Safer Roads, … 19,388 red-light violations occur on average every weekend. The number is drawn from a study of 1,240 red-light cameras in 18 states. Source: Turlock Journal, May 29, 2012.

Get involved in sharing the important message of road safety by visiting us on: