On our Tele Town Forum announcement call, we asked how people felt about red light cameras, here are the responses:

Contractors recommend the placement of redlight cameras based upon a “traffic study” that they conduct. Experience indicates that contractors are predominantly focused on traffic volume rather than accident rates or any measure of noncompliance with traffic control devices. Contrary to media reports, the municipalities do focus on accident rates and non-compliance. In at least one instance, a municipality and a contractor disagreed as to the placement of cameras; the contractor deferred to the municipality.

In many instances, the installation of cameras requires permission from other governmental entities such as the state and counties. By and large, the state and county governments have used the permitting process to strong-arm municipalities into sharing revenue or improving intersections in ways that aren’t required by law or necessitated by the installation of the cameras (i.e. permitees are required to convert traffic lights to LEDS at a significant cost). The permit “negotiation” process unreasonably and unnecessarily slows implementation-and racks up attorney fees.

When a camera system is activated, it takes a series of three photographs and a video. The contractor screens the photos and video to ensure that they clearly depict a violation, license plate/make/model info, etc. There is a common perception that once a driver sees the camera “flash”, they will receive a citation-even if the camera has misfired. The screening process is obviously designed to weed-out such misfires.

Once an alleged violation has been successfully screened, the violation is forwarded to the police department for review by a sworn law enforcement officer. Officers exercise the same type of discretion that they do in the field; for example, some officers do not strictly enforce the “white line” rule. When an officer approves the issuance of a citation, the contractor generates a notice and mails it to the owner of the vehicle. Typically, the respondent has 30 days to pay the fine or contest the citation. The contractor processes all payments through a post office box in the name of the municipality) or a website that accepts credit card payments.

The contractors charge a flat fee for equipment rental for each intersection approach.

The contractors also charge a fee for each “transaction processed”, which really means people found liable for the alleged violation. It depends on the contractor, but the charge is usually about $5-6. The press has not been favorable to this arrangement, but it should be noted that it encourages the contractors to more carefully screen the alleged violations. Otherwise, they are expending resources on cases that won’t earn them money.

To keep track of the “transactions processed”, payments are required to be funneled through a website, telephone call center or post office box. The municipalities do not accept payment directly from respondents.