How do red-light cameras work?
A. Red-light cameras can help communities enforce traffic laws by automatically photographing vehicles whose drivers run red lights. A red-light camera system is connected to the traffic signal and to sensors that monitor traffic flow at the crosswalk or stop line. The system continuously monitors the traffic signal, and the camera itself is triggered by any vehicle entering the intersection above a preset minimum speed and following a specified time after the signal has turned red. Violations occurring within the first two-tenths of a second after the signal changes to red generally aren’t recorded because of technical limitations of the recording equipment. In addition, many red-light camera programs provide motorists with grace periods of up to half a second. Depending on the particular technology in use, a series of photographs and/or video images show the red light violator, including the license plate, prior to entering the intersection on a red signal, as well as the vehicle’s p
The cameras automatically take pictures (or videos) of vehicles that enter the intersection after the light has turned red. The technology is designed to detect and record motorists who run the red-lights. Signs will be posted notifying of the camera enforcement. Vehicles that enter an intersection on a yellow light are not photographed even if they are still in the intersection when the light changes to red. The cameras record the date, time, lane number, location, and speed of the vehicle. This information is included on the notice of violation and is then evaluated by sworn members of the Police Department to verify that a violation has occurred and to determine whether a notice of violation should be mailed to the registered owner of the vehicle.
