December 16, 2014
The law enabling red light cameras in New Jersey expires today. There is currently no law to reinstate the cameras. There may be an attempt to create a new red light camera law in the future. There is a lot of money involved.
November 22, 2014
The red light cameras at Bakers Basin and Route One were turned off September 21, 2014. This was done because the traffic pattern was changed due to building construction at the intersection. The New Jersey red light camera program is set to expire December 16, 2014. At this time there does not seem to be enough support to renew the legislation that authorizes red light cameras.
February 29, 2012
Red Light Cameras
Red light cameras have been around for a while but they didn't have an impact on my life until they put one in my neighborhood. I see an awful lot of people getting tickets for no good reason. The tickets are legitimate but they could have easily been avoided. I have not gotten one and don't intend to. Several people have written comments in the local paper about how they have gotten several tickets and of course they don't think they should have gotten one. They are frustrated because they are not aware of the rules. The rules are very strict and our robotic overlords expect nothing less than perfection.
The intersection in question is located in Lawrence Township at Route One and Franklin Corner Road, Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Route One is designated as a Safe Corridor where all traffic fines are doubled. There have been a lot of accidents there so a red light camera is probably justified. Route 1 is also know as US Highway One or US Highway 1 or Brunswick Pike. And just to make it more confusing, Franklin Corner Road changes to Bakers Basin Road on the other side of the highway.
The fine is $55 but by the time it is doubled and some fees are added it comes out to $140 or so. They have some time to send you your ticket so you might not get it for four weeks or so. By then you won't remember what you did. Fortunately you can view the pictures and the video on line. The procedure for that is included with your ticket.
I spent several hours watching the red light cameras in operation and I have done some research on them. They are not inherently evil but if you make the slightest infraction you will get a ticket. I'll explain how not to get a ticket a little later.
Theory
A red light camera consists of several cameras and sensors and are designed to photograph the rear license plate of a car going through a red light. In New Jersey the owner of the car is responsible to pay the ticket and no points are added to your license. Some systems use a laser or light beam but the one in use here uses inductive sensors in the road and some kind of speed sensor on the pole with the camera. There are also some systems that photograph the driver too.
The system is only activated when the light is red. If a vehicle crosses the white stop line while the light is red it is a violation even if you stop on the line. The speed sensor will activate the system if it thinks you are going too fast to stop in time. It may take your picture but if you stop before the line you are safe. The pictures and video are reviewed by people at the company that owns the red light camera and a police officer who works for the town. Don't expect them to cut you any slack in the least. I think the town is expecting to bring in $100,000 per year in fines. That figure is on top of the fees paid to the red light camera company.
Practice
I'm sure we have all seen instances of people running a red light. The light is red and they go clean through the intersection. No one will dispute that that is a bad thing and people who do that deserve a ticket. But what about stopping on the line or six inches over?
In my observations I never saw anyone go through the intersection on red. I did see the flash for the cameras go off about every five to ten minutes. People were stopping over the white stop line. Some people missed it by a few inches, others by a whole car length. I kept thinking it seemed unfair to be so picky but where should we draw the line. Then I realized they did draw a line and it is the one painted on the road. Now we have to treat driving like sports. If you cross the line on red you are out.
I also saw people stop over the line on yellow and that is not a violation. The logic involved boggles my mind but then a lot of laws are not entirely logical. If you are in the intersection already over the line when the light turns red that is not a violation. Your car can end up at the same place during a red light but how it got there and when will determine whether you get a ticket.
How not to get a ticket
It's probably a good idea to practice stopping correctly all the time. I know I have had to. The intersection does have signs indicating it has photo cameras but they get lost in all the other signs. Sometimes I can't see them even though I'm looking for them.
To avoid a ticket when the light is red you must stop before the white line. If any part of your car is on or over the line you will get a ticket.
If a right turn on red is allowed you must stop your car before the stop line and then proceed to turn right on red. You must stop your car within one car length of the stop line without going over. This means if a car in front of you stops and turns right you must also stop at the stop line before proceeding to turn right. If you need to pull out a little to see you still have to stop at the line.
A stop by the way is a complete stop for three seconds. How many of us are guilty of rolling stops? I have seen many people do a rolling stop on a right turn on red or at a stop sign and once again the line is drawn at a complete stop. If you didn't do a complete stop then you didn't stop at all.
Sometimes people accuse towns of cheating by shortening the yellow. I didn't see any evidence of that here. The yellow time is at least four seconds but not quite five just like it has always been.
The information presented here is a guide and not meant to be legal advice. I want to see the red light camera companies go out of business and the only way to do that is make sure no tickets get issued. We can do that if we all follow the rules. I realize that is unlikely. Red light cameras have been around for a long time and they will be around as long as they can generate revenue. The government says it is about safety but that seems to be debatable.
According to the "Lawrence Township Red Light Photo Enforcement Program Fact Sheet" which was posted on the township website on December 21, 2011:
Motorists must take note that the failure to stop at or near the stop line of the intersection will result in the issuance of the summons. It is also important to note that New Jersey Law requires vehicles to stop at the stop line prior to making a right turn on red. Lawrence Township guidelines require vehicles to stop in the area of the stop line within one car length for a violation to be issued. For example, if a vehicle stops three feet past the stop line but does come to a complete stop, no summons will be issued.
I wouldn't take the chance though. It is better to stop before the stop line. Other places might not be so lenient and this policy could change in the future.
Here are some links for more information: