Village police have begun issuing warnings to drivers who run red lights at four photo-enforced intersections along US1.
The warning period will last 30 days. Drivers who run red lights are sent a warning notice, but are not fined during the 30-day period.
Automated photo-enforcement systems have been installed at four US1 intersections with a history of violations or crashes caused by red-light runners. Those intersections are Southwest 128th Street, 124th Street, 112th Street and 104th Street.
The safety cameras use radar to monitor northbound traffic to capture data via video and hi-resolution images if the vehicle enters the intersection after the traffic light turns red. A Pinecrest police officer reviews evidence of potential violations and makes the decision about whether a violation occurred. Drivers he determines ran the red light get a written notice in the mail during the warning period.
Once the program is officially active on June 10, drivers who run red lights will get a ticket in the mail. They can review images and video of their violations before paying or contesting the citation. The fine for running a red light at a photo-enforced intersection is $158. Points will not be added to a driver’s record. If a red-light running violation is issued directly by a law enforcement officer, the Miami-Dade County fine is $277 and four points are added to the driver’s record.
“The warning period gives drivers in the Village time to adjust to the program,” said Village Manager Yocelyn Galiano Gomez. “Our goal is to increase safety by reducing violations and crashes, and we know the presence of the systems will serve as a deterrent for most drivers.”
A traffic study conducted in February 2014 revealed that five intersections along US1 averaged 25 violations during a 12-hour period, with one intersection experiencing 50 violations.
Pinecrest has hired Redflex Traffic Systems to operate the red-light camera program similar to those with Jacksonville, Clearwater, Kissimmee and South Miami. Redflex operates more than 2,000 red-light camera programs in more than 200 cities in the United States and Canada.
“Automated photo enforcement has proven to be one of the most effective tools available to reduce red-light running,” said Redflex CEO Jim Saunders.
For information, go to www.redflex.com.
