Post by IPPO on Jul 1, 2010 21:04:58 GMT -5
CITY OF TALLAHASSEE NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2010
CONTACT: Alison Faris, Communications Department, 891-8535;
Michelle Bono, Assistant to the City Manager, 891-8200
City Launches Red Light Camera Safety Program
Warning Notices to Begin July 1
Ready. Set. STOP! The City of Tallahassee today announced the activation of red light safety cameras at two city intersections beginning at 12 a.m. on July 1. The Red Light Camera Safety Program is designed to deter drivers from running red lights and reduce serious traffic collisions. July will serve as a 30-day warning period in which violators will receive warning notices, with actual Notices of Violation issued in the amount of $158 beginning August 1.
The City is planning to install six safety cameras by year-end. The Monroe/Tennessee Street and Killearn Center Boulevard/Capital Circle Northeast intersections will be the first two intersections to be monitored. They were selected after a recommendation from the Tallahassee Police Department based on the increasing number of violations and severity of collisions. Video validation further confirmed these intersections to be high-risk. Not including right turns on red, more than 450 red light violations were recorded at Monroe/Tennessee Street and more than 200 at the Killearn Center Boulevard/Capital Circle Northeast intersections in a sixteen-hour period.
A violation occurs when a motorist enters an intersection and crosses the stop line after the light has turned red. When a moving vehicle is detected during a red signal phase, the safety camera initiates the capture of two digital images and a video clip. Potential violations will be reviewed twice by the City's vendor and then by a Tallahassee Police officer. If approved, a Notice of Violation will be mailed to the vehicle's registered owner. Notices are non-criminal and will not result in points being assessed to drivers' licenses. The registered owner will have 30 days from the mail date to pay the $158 fine or file an affidavit denying commission of the violation, which may require providing necessary documentation. If the notice is not paid within 30 days, the Tallahassee Police Department will escalate the notice to a Uniform Traffic Citation and transfer it to the Leon County Clerk of Courts. While still a non-criminal violation with no points assessed, the cost will increase to a minimum of $271.
The Tallahassee Police Department's goal is that every motorist will voluntarily comply with traffic laws. "Because traffic safety is a primary goal of the Tallahassee Police Department, we consistently focus on engineering, education and enforcement as the tools to keep our roadways safe for the citizens of Tallahassee," said Police Chief Dennis Jones. "Traffic related issues have repeatedly been identified as a top priority by our citizens. The City of Tallahassee is leveraging the use of red light camera technology in an effort to reduce vehicle crashes and ultimately save lives."
A study by the Federal Highway Administration shows red light cameras had a significant effect in reducing dangerous crashes, including serious right-angle collisions. Vehicles running red lights typically increase speed and can cause high-speed, side-door collisions resulting in serious injury and death. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that half of the people killed in red-light running crashes are not the signal violators. They are drivers and pedestrians hit by red-light runners. Making the decision to stop at monitored intersections and all intersections will help keep motorists safe and free from costly fines.
This program, which the state Legislature authorized earlier this year, aims to reestablish respect for traffic signals and encourage drivers to be more careful. All camera-monitored intersections will have signage in place to help remind drivers that red light cameras are in use. In addition, the City will coordinate extensive community outreach efforts to help ensure that citizens are aware of the program.
For more information and to view a sample warning notice, visit Talgov.com. To receive updates on the program, follow @cottraffic on Twitter and /or sign up for the City's Email Subscription Service to receive General News Releases at Talgov.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2010
CONTACT: Alison Faris, Communications Department, 891-8535;
Michelle Bono, Assistant to the City Manager, 891-8200
City Launches Red Light Camera Safety Program
Warning Notices to Begin July 1
Ready. Set. STOP! The City of Tallahassee today announced the activation of red light safety cameras at two city intersections beginning at 12 a.m. on July 1. The Red Light Camera Safety Program is designed to deter drivers from running red lights and reduce serious traffic collisions. July will serve as a 30-day warning period in which violators will receive warning notices, with actual Notices of Violation issued in the amount of $158 beginning August 1.
The City is planning to install six safety cameras by year-end. The Monroe/Tennessee Street and Killearn Center Boulevard/Capital Circle Northeast intersections will be the first two intersections to be monitored. They were selected after a recommendation from the Tallahassee Police Department based on the increasing number of violations and severity of collisions. Video validation further confirmed these intersections to be high-risk. Not including right turns on red, more than 450 red light violations were recorded at Monroe/Tennessee Street and more than 200 at the Killearn Center Boulevard/Capital Circle Northeast intersections in a sixteen-hour period.
A violation occurs when a motorist enters an intersection and crosses the stop line after the light has turned red. When a moving vehicle is detected during a red signal phase, the safety camera initiates the capture of two digital images and a video clip. Potential violations will be reviewed twice by the City's vendor and then by a Tallahassee Police officer. If approved, a Notice of Violation will be mailed to the vehicle's registered owner. Notices are non-criminal and will not result in points being assessed to drivers' licenses. The registered owner will have 30 days from the mail date to pay the $158 fine or file an affidavit denying commission of the violation, which may require providing necessary documentation. If the notice is not paid within 30 days, the Tallahassee Police Department will escalate the notice to a Uniform Traffic Citation and transfer it to the Leon County Clerk of Courts. While still a non-criminal violation with no points assessed, the cost will increase to a minimum of $271.
The Tallahassee Police Department's goal is that every motorist will voluntarily comply with traffic laws. "Because traffic safety is a primary goal of the Tallahassee Police Department, we consistently focus on engineering, education and enforcement as the tools to keep our roadways safe for the citizens of Tallahassee," said Police Chief Dennis Jones. "Traffic related issues have repeatedly been identified as a top priority by our citizens. The City of Tallahassee is leveraging the use of red light camera technology in an effort to reduce vehicle crashes and ultimately save lives."
A study by the Federal Highway Administration shows red light cameras had a significant effect in reducing dangerous crashes, including serious right-angle collisions. Vehicles running red lights typically increase speed and can cause high-speed, side-door collisions resulting in serious injury and death. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that half of the people killed in red-light running crashes are not the signal violators. They are drivers and pedestrians hit by red-light runners. Making the decision to stop at monitored intersections and all intersections will help keep motorists safe and free from costly fines.
This program, which the state Legislature authorized earlier this year, aims to reestablish respect for traffic signals and encourage drivers to be more careful. All camera-monitored intersections will have signage in place to help remind drivers that red light cameras are in use. In addition, the City will coordinate extensive community outreach efforts to help ensure that citizens are aware of the program.
For more information and to view a sample warning notice, visit Talgov.com. To receive updates on the program, follow @cottraffic on Twitter and /or sign up for the City's Email Subscription Service to receive General News Releases at Talgov.com.
