New Orleans, LA (June 18, 2008) – The City of New Orleans Department of Public Works today announced that the second phase of the Comprehensive Photo Traffic Safety Program will begin on Monday, June 23. Speed cameras will begin issuing citations to motorists going nine or more miles per hour over the posted speed limit through the monitored intersection. The intersection cameras currently utilized for red-light enforcement will be used for these speed enforcements under the department’s contract with photo enforcement vendor American Traffic Solutions (ATS) of Scottsdale, Arizona.

“The goal of the photo enforcement program is to make our streets and intersections safer for all citizens,” said Robert Mendoza, Director of the Department of Public Works. “We are focused on the prevention of traffic violations while promoting safety on our city streets. Our objective is to reduce accidents and serious injuries.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/speed_manage/facts.htm), in 2004, 24 percent of fatal crashes in Louisiana were linked to speeding. In addition, crash forces on impact double with every 10 mile per hour speed increase above 50 miles per hour.

While no citations have been issued, the system ran a 96-hour analysis logging the number of speed violations at each site. The cameras on Southbound Carrollton Avenue at Palmetto Street showed the most significant speeding problem, identifying 782 violations over the four lanes during the 96-hour analysis. The number of violations is expected to dramatically decrease in the months following the start of the speed enforcement phase of the program, thus improving public safety and reducing crashes and injuries.

Drivers exceeding the posted speed limits by nine or more miles per hour through the monitored intersections on green or yellow lights will be issued a citation. Drivers who speed through these intersections on a red light will only receive a citation for red-light running at this time.

While there was a “grace” period for photo red-light citations where drivers received a written warning, no written warning will be mailed for intersection speed violations.

The traffic enforcement system is an automated system that employs a combination of digital still and video cameras and detection equipment at a given signal approach or span of roadway. For speed violations the still images are captured and saved, and for traffic signal violations the still images and video are saved. Each day, a commissioned officer reviews all alleged violations, relevant images and video to determine if a violation occurred. If the officer determines a violation has occurred, citations are issued to the registered owner.

When the owner receives the violation, it will include a payment voucher for payment by mail, a phone number for payment by phone and a Web site address for electronic payment. The citation includes pictures and details of the violation as well as an e-mail link to review the pictures and video online. In the event the owner wants to contest a citation, they may contest by mail or go to an administrative hearing center for a live hearing on or before their payment due date.

ATS was awarded the contract to administer the program by submitting the lowest bid on May 31, 2007 through the City’s public bid process.

Quick Facts

• Intersections using photo enforcement cameras and results from 96-hour analysis

• Southbound North Carrollton Avenue at Canal Street

• o 272 violations over three lanes
• Eastbound Canal Street at North Carrollton Avenue

• o 470 violations over three lanes
• Northbound South Carrollton Avenue at Palmetto Street

• o 542 violations over two lanes
• Southbound South Carrollton Avenue at Palmetto Street

• o 782 violations over four lanes
• Northbound South Carrollton Avenue at Earhart Boulevard

• o 127 violations over two lanes
• Southbound South Carrollton Avenue at Earhart Boulevard

• o 61 violations over one lane
• Eastbound Earhart Boulevard at South Carrollton Avenue

• o 15 violations over one lane
• Westbound Earhart Boulevard at South Carrollton Avenue

• o 23 violations over one lane
• Eastbound Poydras Street at Loyola Avenue

• o 484 violations over two lanes
• Violation fines (excluding $35 cost of enforcement fee)

• Traffic Control Signal Violation – $100

• Speeding (6 – 9 mph over) – $40

• Speeding (10 – 14 mph over) – $75

• Speeding (15 – 20 mph over) – $125

• Speeding (Greater than 20 mph over) – $200

• Late fee for unpaid violations – $75 (vehicles with unpaid violations past the second notice are boot-eligible and subject to immobilization fees)

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