29APR2007
Red Light Camera Questions and Answers
PLEASE NOTE: Springfield's red light camera program was suspended on March 2, 2010.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the City of Springfield’s new red light traffic cameras.
If you have specific questions, email us or call 864-1011.
As questions arise, additional answers will be posted here.
What constitutes a red light violation?
A: A red light running violation occurs when a motorist crosses the white stop bar AFTER the traffic signal has turned red. Motorists already in the intersection when the signal changes to red, when waiting to turn for example, are not considered red light violators.
Where are the red-light cameras in Springfield?
A: The City Council approved installing cameras at up to 16 intersection approaches across the city. The first approach installed was on National Avenue southbound at Battlefield Road. Each newly installed camera begins with a 30-day warning period before citations are issued.
Currently, the red-light camera locations are:
- National & Battlefield - southbound
- Campbell & Battlefield - southbound
- Campbell & Battlefield - eastbound
- Sunshine & National - westbound
- Sunshine & Campbell – westbound
- Glenstone & Battlefield - southbound
- Sunshine & Glenstone - westbound
- Kansas Expy & Chestnut Expy - northbound
- Sunshine & Kansas Expy – eastbound
- Kansas at Battlefield – southbound
- Glenstone at Chestnut – northbound
- Chestnut at Glenstone – westbound
- Kansas Expy at Kearney – northbound
Signs will mark each intersection approach where there is a red-light camera, while general signs across Springfield will notify motorists that Springfield is a photo-enforced community.
How often do drivers run red lights?
A: Studies show that a red light violation occurs once every five to 12 minutes at a typical busy intersection.
Why not use conventional police enforcement to catch red light runners?
A: Traditional enforcement is time-consuming and creates a safety hazard when police chase violators through a red light. This puts other motorists, pedestrians, and the officer in danger. Police cannot be everywhere at one time, and the cameras will allow officers to focus on other enforcement areas.
What safety benefits do red light cameras provide?
A: Red light camera systems have been shown to reduce red light violations and intersection crashes. A study by the Institute of Highway Safety showed a 42 percent decrease in red light running violations after cameras were installed at nine intersections in Oxnard, Calif. Another study showed violations declined approximately 40 percent in Fairfax, Virginia, after one year of camera enforcement. Often times, a spillover effect results from automated enforcement: other intersections not monitored by automated enforcement also see a decrease in violations and accidents because of the presence of enforcement in other areas of the community.
Do the cameras photograph every vehicle that passes through an intersection?
A: No. The cameras are set so that only vehicles that enter an intersection after the light has turned red are photographed. Drivers who enter on yellow and find themselves in an intersection when the light changes to red are not photographed. This technology is intended to catch vehicles driven by motorists who intentionally enter an intersection after the signal has turned red.
How does the camera system work?
A: The camera system takes a series of three images; sometimes there is a fourth image taken of longer vehicles such as buses or tractor-trailers. The first image shows the vehicle before the white stop line with the red light illuminated. The second image shows the license plate of the violator past the white stop line, and the third image shows the violator in the middle of the intersection with the red light illuminated. Other relevant data, including the time, date, and duration of the yellow and red lights is also recorded.
People who receive citations also will receive information on logging into a secure Web site to see video of the violation.
Does the camera only take pictures when the light is red?
A: Yes. The camera is activated and enforcement begins when the signal light turns red. Once the signal light turns green, the system automatically turns off and enforcement ends. The system is designed so that it can only capture an image during the red light phase. It cannot take an image during a yellow or green light phase. In other words, the camera system cannot take a picture unless and until the light facing the driver is red. The system continuously monitors the traffic signal and allows for 24-hour enforcement.
How will I know if I have received a citation?
A: Red light citations are mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle following the review of the image data by trained police officers.
What if the registered owner was not driving the car?
A: The registered owner may rebut the citation by:
- filing a notarized statement with the court that he or she was not operating the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation and indicating who was driving
- testifying under oath in court on the assigned appeal date that he or she was not the operator and indicating who was driving
- providing a certified copy of a police report showing the vehicle was stolen prior to the alleged violation.
Is the citation a traffic ticket?
A: No, it is not considered a moving violation. It is a civil citation holding the registered owner or lessee responsible for the violation (similar to a parking ticket). No points can be assessed for this citation.
Can the citation be contested?
A: Yes, you may request to appear in Municipal Court by returning a form included with the citation or requesting a hearing via e-mail, within 30 days of the issuance of the citation. The minimum fine is $100.
What if I don’t pay the fine?
A: Failure to pay the fine or appear for the court date will be construed as an admission of liability for the full amount of the $100 fine.
How will the City spend the money from the red-light fines?
A: The revenue will be used to support the cost of the system itself. It is not anticipated that any General Fund revenue will be used to support this system. If, after the system is in use for a period and the amount of revenue stabilizes, any additional revenue generated would go into the General Fund with an emphasis on using it for other public-safety and traffic-safety programs.
How is the revenue from a ticket is split between the City and the camera company? For example, for a $100 ticket, how much money does Springfield receive?
A: The contract with the vendor provides a flat leasing fee of $4,195 a month per approach for the camera equipment and associated services. So, there’s really not a per ticket split between the City and the vendor. In some cities, the contract is written as you referenced where the vendor’s fee is based on a per ticket allotment. Springfield specifically chose not to go that route because we didn’t want any inference that the vendor (or the city) had a vested interest in issuing tickets because their compensation was based on that. Our goal is to make the program as cost-neutral as possible and it’s been running at about a break-even point so far.
posted by Louise Whall, Public Information
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