Stop-light cameras sought for Glassboro

By BRIDGET SMITH Courier-Post Staff

Motorists beware: If you tend to ignore red lights, you may want to clean up your act.

That's because borough officials hope to become one of the first towns in the Garden State to install cameras at traffic lights that would capture offenders in action.

The effort is part of the state's recently approved Red Light Running Automated Enforcement program -- a five-year pilot program aimed at nabbing drivers who blow through red lights or make illegal right turns.

The borough's police department urged town officials to apply, said Joseph Brigandi Jr., Glassboro's business administrator.

"Certain intersections are really heavily traveled and have quite a bit of accidents," Brigandi said. "(Police) felt it could be a valuable tool."

If accepted into the program, some 18 cameras would be installed at seven borough intersections, Police Chief Alex Fanfarillo said.

The cameras will monitor each intersection at all times, in all weather conditions, Fanfarillo said.

When a driver goes through a red light, the cameras will take three pictures: one of the car at the white line, one in the middle of the intersection and one photo that captures the car's license plate. A 12-second video clip will also be recorded, Fanfarillo said.

Glassboro police will then review the photos, and if a violation is found, that driver will be ticketed through the mail.

The state assesses two points against a motorist's license for failing to obey a traffic signal and charges fines ranging from $85 to $140. Those caught by the cameras would pay similar fines but wouldn't be assessed license points, Brigandi said.

Drivers will have the option of appealing the ticket, and the photos and video clip will be viewable online, Fanfarillo said.

The program is not expected to cost the borough anything out-of-pocket, Brigandi said. Funding will come from the revenue generated by the fines.

"There is the potential to generate quite a bit of money, but I couldn't begin to tell you how much," Brigandi said.

Officials say they hope the cameras will deter drivers who otherwise wouldn't think twice about running a red light or making an illegal turn.

"It might take a little bit of time, but over the long haul it's one of the main reasons we're doing it," Brigandi said.

Fanfarillo said he was "ecstatic" about the program, which he says could reduce accidents and free up some of the department's resources, because fewer officers would have to patrol the taped intersections. That will save the department both time and money, he said."

Fanfarillo noted one area where he anticipates complaints, though: Fines will be issued to a car's registered owner -- not necessarily the driver. But, he said, there's a certain responsibility that comes with lending out your car.

"The bottom line is the vehicle was used and . . . if it wasn't the driver using it, it was someone who had permission to use the vehicle," he said. "If that's what it takes to save lives, then I think that's a small request of law enforcement."

Similar cameras are used in more than 300 U.S. communities, including Philadelphia, New York and Washington, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. American Traffic Solutions, the firm that will install and operate Glassboro's cameras, was involved in bringing the technology to more than 120 cities, according to a company press release.

The state Legislature approved the pilot program in January, and Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed it into law a few weeks later. The Department of Transportation can accept up to 12 municipalities in the program's first year.

Glassboro would be one of the first municipalities in the state -- and likely the first in South Jersey -to install the cameras. As of Monday, only Butler, Morris County, had applied to join the program, said Erin Phalon, spokeswoman for the Department of Transportation. Officials are still reviewing that application, Phalon said.

Fanfarillo said police are finalizing Glassboro's application, and hope to submit it within two weeks. After that, the state will have 45 days to accept or reject it.

Reach Bridget Smith at (856) 486-2473 or brksmith@camden.gannett.com

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080702/NEWS01/8070203... 7/3/2008