Police: Cameras' goal is to reduce number of traffic accidents

By Angie Thompson/senior reporter

TIFTON May 20, 2008 08:27 pm

— The City of Tifton is making a profit from fines generated by two RedFlex traffic cameras but the primary goal of reducing the number of traffic accidents, injuries and deaths is the real payoff, according to the Tifton Police Department.
“We’d love to see a camera at every intersection of U.S. Highway 82,” Tifton Police Chief Jim Smith told Tift County Rotarians Tuesday during a presentation to the club.
The traffic-system intersection cameras were installed — one at the intersection of U.S. Highway 82 and Virginia Avenue and the other at the intersection of U.S. 82 and I-75 — in late February 2007. The camera at U.S. Highway 82 and Virginia Avenue records westbound traffic and the camera at U.S. Highway 82 and I-75 records eastbound traffic.
The City of Tifton pays $4,770 each per month to RedFlex for the use of the cameras, for maintenance of the cameras and for administrative services related to the issuance of citations. Those who are deemed to have violated traffic laws and are caught on camera are issued a citation and ordered to pay a fine of $70.
Capt. John J. Tyson of the TPD’s Patrol Division said the city’s contract with RedFlex ensures that the city will always make money on the system.
“We can never owe them more money than they take in for us,” Tyson said.
At Tuesday’s Rotary presentation, Tyson showed video of people running red lights at both Redflex camera locations. In one case, a large truck (traveling westbound on U.S. Highway 82) ran the red light and collided with and almost broad-sided a small car at the intersection of Virginia Avenue. The camera system clocked the truck’s speed at over 50 mph. Other video showed near-misses with people driving through red and yellow lights and video of drivers not coming to a complete stop before making right turns.
Tyson said the overall amount of traffic accidents has been reduced by 18 percent since the cameras were installed.
“This is making money, and I had much rather get that money from people who violate traffic laws than from taxpayers,” Tyson said.
According to statistics Tyson furnished, for the period of January through April 2006 city officers responded to 245 accidents at intersections. For the same period in 2007, 187 accidents at intersections occurred and for the same period this year, 181 were recorded.
Citations issued for this April totaled 320 with the average collection rate of over 95 percent. Tyson said approximately two-thirds of those people issued a citation by the system respond. Some of those cited move and others legitimately claim they no longer own the vehicle captured on video by the camera.
During March, 648 city traffic citations were written with 309 of those being for speeding; 28 for driving too fast for conditions; 27 for failure to stop at a stop sign; and eight for running a traffic control signal.
Tyson said only off-duty police officers patrol traffic on I-75. Three cars patrol twice each month on I-75, Tyson said.

To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.