Jun 28, 2005 1:18 pm US/Central
Red-Light Cameras 'Capture' Nearly 2K Violators
by Caroline Lowe
Minneapolis (WCCO) ―
Police now have plenty of proof their "photo cop" cameras are working to identify red-light runners.
The first cameras were installed earlier this month at four intersections: West Broadway Avenue and Lyndale Avenue North; West Broadway Avenue and Washington Avenue North; 11th Street South and Hennepin Avenue; and 9th Street South and Park Avenue.
A lot of drivers are still ignoring lights and staying heavy on the pedal, police have discovered.
A driver captured running a red light at 11th and Hennepin was one of several hundred people issued warning citations in the mail since the red-light cameras were installed starting June 7.
"What it shows is red-light running is pretty prevalent in Minneapolis, and pretty blatant," Minneapolis Police Lt. Greg Reinhardt said.
Police expected the cameras would catch a lot of red-light runners, but they were shocked at how high the numbers have already turned out to be: more than 1,900 in the first two weeks, with just five cameras. It could add up to 50,000 by the end of the year.
"If you project that out with a whole year's worth of data for all 16 cameras, that would be more violations than the whole police department issues citations for for the whole year," Reinhardt said.
The cameras are being installed at a dozen intersections in the city that have seen a high number of crashes.
Motorists are more likely to get a ticket if they run a red light and are captured on camera than they are if an officer sees them make the same violation.
"Because it is very precise (and) measures down to one-tenth of a second, police officers like to issue tickets that we're dead certain we're going to make sure that they're good in court," Reinhardt said.
Most red-light runners are caught in the afternoon and early evening.
"Not many people run red lights going to work," Reinhardt said. "It's going home -- we have things to do."
Until July 7, a red-light camera violation will only result in a warning ticket. After that, violators will have to pay $142 and have the violation marked on their driving records.
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