Red-light cameras return to use in N.J.

The red-light cameras are back in action.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation on Wednesday told 21 towns they could resume issuing tickets based on information from red-light cameras at 65 intersections.

Tickets also can be issued for violations recorded since June 19, when the red-light camera program was suspended in those towns, the department said. The cameras were operating during the last month, but towns had not been permitted to issue tickets while lights and cameras were inspected.

Cameras at intersections in Cherry Hill, Glassboro, Stratford, Monroe, and 17 other New Jersey communities have been tested and found to be properly calibrated, the department said.
"Drivers are now on notice: If you go through a red light, or you fail to come to a complete stop before making a right turn on red, you will be ticketed," Cherry Hill Mayor Chuck Cahn said Wednesday.

Cherry Hill has a backlog of 3,276 red-light violations awaiting review by police officers, deputy solicitor Erin Gill said.

If officers determine the violations, recorded by cameras at Springdale Road and Route 70, are valid, "those motorists will receive tickets," Gill said.

"As Gov. Christie said last night, 'If you don't go through red lights, you have nothing to worry about,' " Cahn said. " 'It's when you go through the intersection when it's red that you have two problems. The first for sure is you're going to get a ticket. The potential is that you could kill yourself or somebody else.' "

The 21 towns were ordered last month to analyze their lights, cameras, and traffic speeds by Aug. 1 to certify that the yellow phase was long enough to meet the standards of the red-light camera pilot program.

The program requires the yellow phase of the light to be at least one second long for every 10 m.p.h. of the prevailing speed of approaching vehicles.

So, if at least 85 percent of cars are going 45 m.p.h., the yellow must be 4.5 seconds long.

After engineers' inspections, "in each case, the results have confirmed that the duration of a yellow light at the authorized intersection meets the minimum duration as required by the legislation," NJDot said Wednesday.

Red-light cameras have been controversial - and lucrative - since New Jersey started the pilot program in 2009 to test their effectiveness in reducing crashes and injuries in 25 municipalities.

http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-27/news/32870379_1_red-light-cameras-cameras-at-nine-intersections-intersections-in-six-municipalities

Red Light Camera Applications: Do They Really Work?

Are you trying to avoid a speeding ticket? Guess what: now there's an app for you. Believe it or not, cutting edge mobile phone technology is now helping drivers like you avoid getting tickets from red light cameras and speed cameras.

Whether or not you believe that red light cameras actually do make roads safer or whether you think they're just an unfair money grabber, you probably do not want to be the one who gets a ticket!

Now, you can keep track of the locations of speed cameras in your town and city. You can be alerted to their presence in time to slow down and avoid a hefty fine. This is good news, isn't it?

The way the technology works is that satellites are accessed by your GPS or smartphone to alert you to red light cameras, mobile speed traps, and police checkpoints.

How Smart Is Your Smart Phone?

One popular app is the Phantom Alert app. Drivers say this is extremely successful and has helped them avoid fines and tickets. In one real-life test, a driver reports that as she was coming up to a red light camera, the Phantom Alert app warned her to reduce her speed. This is exactly the kind of help you need when you're driving along not paying attention.

In the same test, speed cameras were also successfully spotted and the driver was able to slow down in time. Wow!

Being Good Neighbors

Some of this kind of technology relies on drivers to enter information about the locations of red light cameras and speed traps on an ongoing basis. The more drivers share info, the better the apps will be. The more accurate the information will be and the more likely it is that you will avoid paying fines and save money. So think of yourself as a good neighbor to other drivers.

How Do Police Feel About Apps that Help You Avoid Speeding Cameras?

Of course it depends on who you talk to, but many police officers do not see a concern with drivers like you using smart phone technology to avoid tickets. It is not illegal. And the point is, someone using a speed camera detector is obviously going to slow down in dangerous areas, or stop for a red light where they might otherwise not have. This makes this roads safer for everyone. Most good cops do not want to give you a ticket; they want to keep you safe and help everyone follow traffic laws!

Just be sure you are not looking at your smartphone or GPS all the time and getting distracted. The point is to be less distracted not more! There are lots of different kinds of speed camera detectors so make sure you choose one that lets you keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Red-Light-Camera-Applications:-Do-They-Really-Work?

Avoiding Red Light Camera Traps

Did you know the red light camera traps set up to catch people running red lights are privatized?

That's right! Private security companies!

The cities who use these cameras profit a small percentage of the security companies revenue from the tickets you and I receive, with the bulk of the fine remaining with the security company!

If you have watched the news lately you would have seen cities like Baltimore being investigated for slowing down the yellow light in order to get people to run the red light, and collect a portion of the ticket that will be issued!

It's obvious that in these hard economic times, even big cities will find a way to stick it to us when we least expect it.

In order to combat these unfair practices, some companies have developed license plate photo blocker sprays.

The spray acts like the multi colored cars you see on the road today. When they are coming at you, they are one color, as they pass they become many colors.

This is due to the molecular make up of the paint.

Photo blocker sprays work in much the same manner. When a camera tries to take a picture from an angle above your vehicle, all it see's is a white flash!

There's even more good news for people who don't like sprays but want to avoid red light camera traps.

Other companies have developed license plate covers that are clear, but again cannot be photographed from an angle because the molecular structure of the plastic cover is altered in much the same way as the sprays are.

And in related news, the fight for avoiding police speed traps has taken a turn for those states that have anti radar laws.

New downloads for your GPS systems allow the user to see police radar traps. Some up to 10 miles in advance.

And these are Legal in all states!

Garmin, Tom Tom, Magellian and many other GPS systems all have the interface already provided to accept the download.

Personally, I don't believe private security companies should profit from our misdemeanor traffic offenses.

I think this will lead to higher and higher ticket fines and when the government see's their profit share, they will probably privatize speeding tickets too.

Imagine being pulled over by a fat guy wearing a beard, driving a Toyota, walking up to your car with his shirt untucked...handing you a ticket for traveling 1 mile over the speed limit!

Join the fight to prevent privatization of police issues in your state.

Vote against any politician who see's red light camera traps as a good thing and write your congressman to voice your opposition.


http://ezinearticles.com/?Avoiding-Red-Light-Camera-Traps