Red-Light Safety Cameras to bring lifesaving benefits to West Park
- Starting in January, 2012 West Park will join the more than 80 other Florida communities currently using red-light safety cameras to enhance road safety. West Park will work with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office to deploy cameras at their most dangerous intersections. Florida was the third most deadly state in the nation for red-light running fatalities in 2009. Across the United States, red-light runners killed an average of 885 people and injured 165,000 each year for the past decade. Now, through its road safety camera agreement with American Traffic Solutions, West Park joins more than 500 communities across the nation using this lifesaving program.
“Although some have complaints with regard to red light cameras, I do believe that many lives have been saved because of the added awareness of being fined for running those lights,” said Mayor Eric Jones. “Those who stop when the light is red won’t be affected, only those who violate. It’s cheaper to pay a fine than to pay for a funeral.”
This year, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found red-light safety cameras in 14 large U.S. cities saved 159 lives in a five-year period, and determined 815 more lives could have been saved if all 99 large cities had used these cameras.
“This program will free up deputies to focus on other crimes. Our resources are already stretched, any technology that allows us to do more with less is welcomed,” stated Broward County Sheriff’s West Park Chief Nichole Anderson.
For more information on the City’s red light camera safety program, please call 954.989.2688.
RED LIGHT CAMERA ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: What is a red light running violation?
A: A violation has occurred if, when while facing a steady red traffic signal, your vehicle proceeded into such an intersection without stopping and standing until an indication to proceed was shown or your vehicle made a right hand turn, or a left hand turn from a one-way street onto another one-way street, while facing a steady red signal without first coming to a complete stop and not proceeding until it was safe to do so and yielding right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully in an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.
Q: Why install red light cameras?
A: Traffic studies show that red-light running is a problem at many intersections throughout the County. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 20 percent of all drivers do not obey intersection traffic signals. Red light cameras help us to enforce traffic laws by automatically photographing vehicles whose drivers run red lights. The City of West Park is committed to the safety of its community and dedicated to reducing red light violations and their potential for crashes and injuries on our roadways.
Q: How do intersection safety cameras work?
A: First rear image: The “A” shot is captured from the rear approach showing: the scene of the violation including the back of the violating vehicle in front of the violation line; one or more visible red light signals; and a clear image of the license plate of the offending vehicle, all from the single, base image.
Second rear image: The “B” shot is also captured from the rear approach showing: the scene of the violation including the back of the violating vehicle after the rear axle has crossed the stop line and the vehicle has illegally entered the intersection; one or more visible red light signals; and a clear image of the license plate of the offending vehicle, all from the single, base image.
License plate crop: For the court and police department this is the most significant innovation in photo enforcement. The Axsis™ Violation Processing System will create a magnified “crop” of the license plate from one of the images for easy viewing. The cropped license plate close-up is not a separate image, but rather a close-up view of the original violation image. This image can be taken from either of the two images captured.
Q: Where will the red light cameras be located in West Park?
A: Cameras will be installed at the following intersections in the City. Each approach will be clearly marked with signs.
1. Pembroke Road / SH 824 @ SW 40th Avenue
2. W Hallandale Beach Blvd. @ SW 40th Avenue
3. Pembroke Road / SH 824 @ SW 56th Avenue
4. County Line Road / SW 41st Street @ US 441
5. W Hallandale Beach Blvd. @ US 441
6. US 441 @ Pembroke Road / SH 824
7. Hallandale Beach Blvd. @ SW 56th Avenue
8. County Line Road @ SW 56th Avenue
Q: What if the light was yellow?
A: The Automated Safety System only becomes active once the red light is showing. It will not capture a vehicle if the vehicle enters the intersection prior to the light changing to red. If you entered the intersection on yellow, it is legal to clear the intersection if the light turned red while you were still in the intersection.
Q: Why did I receive this Notice of Violation?
A: Based upon images captured by the automated system, your vehicle was determined to have committed a red light violation. As the owner of the vehicle, the Notice of Violation is mailed to you.
Q: What if I am not the driver/owner of the vehicle at the time of the violation?
A: If your vehicle was stolen or sold at the time of violation, or was being test driven by another person, you may submit a sworn statement to that effect to the Court to rebut the presumption, that you were driving the vehicle at the time of the violation. A Declaration Of Non-Liability form may be downloaded from www.ViolationInfo.com or obtained from the Court. The form must be filled out, accurately and in its entirety. The form must be mailed or hand-delivered in-person to the Court prior to the Notice due date before any additional actions can be taken.
If you are a rental car company or you leased your vehicle, send your letter identifying the driver along with a copy of this Notice within 30 days after the date of the Notice of Violation is received to Violation Processing Center, PO Box 22091, Tempe, AZ 85285-2091.
Q: What happens if I ignore the Notice of Violation?
A: Failure to pay the civil penalty or to contest liability prior to the 45th day after receipt
of the notice is an admission of liability, and failure to appear at an administrative
adjudication hearing after having requested a hearing is an admission of liability and
constitutes a waiver of the right to appeal. Failure to pay the civil penalty within 45 days
after receipt of this Notice of Violation shall result in the imposition of a late-payment fee
of $25. If the second notice remains unpaid, collections proceedings and entry of judgment
against you may proceed, and a request will be made to the Florida Division of Motor
Vehicles to place a State hold on the registration renewal of the vehicle.
Q: Will I receive any points on my driving record for this violation?
A: No, this is a civil infraction that is not reported to the Florida Division of Motor
Vehicles.
Q: Will my insurance rates be affected?
A: No, this is a civil infraction that is not reported to any insurance agencies.
Q: Is this only a revenue generating program?
A: No. This is a safety program. Red Light Camera Enforcement programs have been
shown to reduce red light violations and intersection crashes. Numerous studies from the
United States and worldwide, as well as the experience of many other cities, indicate
significant decreases in red light running violations and collisions after cameras were
installed. Other intersections not monitored by automated enforcement may also
experience a decrease in violations and accidents as a result of the presence of this
automated enforcement in other areas of the community.
Q: What if I was issued a Notice of Violation from an Officer for the exact same
offense?
A: The Traffic Ticket issued by the officer takes precedent over the Automated Safety
System Notice of Violation. You must appear in court with the traffic ticket and the Notice
of Violation and the Adjudicative Hearing Officer will take the appropriate actions.
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