Traffic cameras trip up N.O. drivers
1,150 motorists make photo finish
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
By Bruce EgglerStaff writer
Despite widespread publicity about the program, 1,150 motorists ran afoul of New Orleans' nine red-light cameras during their first week of operation, city officials said late Monday.
After issuing warning citations that carried no fines for a month, the city began issuing full-fledged citations April 1.
"As these first 1,150 drivers now understand, when a driver violates the law and puts lives at risk by running a red light, they'll no longer get away with it," said Robert Mendoza, director of the city's Public Works Department.
The cameras photograph cars that run a red light or turn right on red without coming to a complete stop. The license plate number is used to determine the vehicle's registered owner. Law enforcement authorities look at the picture and decide whether to issue a citation, which then is mailed to the owner with the incriminating photo.
Unlike tickets issued by police officers, the camera tickets do not count against a motorist's driving record, but they carry $100 fines plus $30 administrative fees.
Officials have promised that citations will be issued only when a vehicle enters an intersection after the light has turned red, not while it is yellow.
Owners can challenge a ticket on limited grounds, such as that a police officer had directed the driver to ignore the red light or that someone was driving the vehicle without the owner's consent.
There is a $75 penalty for motorists who don't pay or don't challenge their ticket by the assigned date.
The New Orleans cameras also can be used to detect motorists speeding through intersections, but that feature is not being used yet.
"Our goal is to create a safer environment for our residents, and we are urging all citizens to stop at red lights, which prevents crashes and injuries that are often the result of these violations," Mendoza said.
"Looking at the number of citations issued in just the first week, it's clear that New Orleans needs these red-light enforcement cameras, and we look forward to seeing a reduction in traffic violations over the next several months," he said.
American Traffic Solutions Inc. was awarded the city's camera contract.
The cameras are designed to reduce the number of right-angle or side-impact crashes, but critics say they increase the number of rear-end collisions because they cause drivers to slam on their brakes when they see a light change. Camera proponents maintain that rear-end collisions are often less severe than side collisions, a point critics dispute.
In Jefferson Parish, where 11 cameras have produced more than 75,000 citations since last fall, about 2,000 people have challenged their tickets, but few of them have been successful.
The New Orleans intersections with red-light cameras are:
-- Carrollton Avenue southbound at Canal Street.
--Canal eastbound at Carrollton.
--South Carrollton in both directions at Palmetto Street.
--South Carrollton in both directions at Earhart Boulevard.
--Earhart in both directions at South Carrollton.
--Poydras Street eastbound at Loyola Avenue.
The city plans to install 10 more red-light cameras within a few months.
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Bruce Eggler can be reached at beggler@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3320.