Arlington County police are installing new red light traffic cameras, reinvigorating a photo enforcement program that state lawmakers temporarily banned in 2005.
Four new cameras are scheduled for installation later this month at intersections in Rosslyn and Ballston, with potentially 16 more cameras crowding the planning pipeline.
Drivers photographed running a red light — or even nosing into a crosswalk after a light has turned red — will face a $50 fine and a civil infraction, similar to a parking ticket.
Moving violations issued by police officers typically carry $100 fines, points and court costs, but because the cameras identify vehicles — not drivers — the penalties are less severe.
Eyes in the sky
Planned locations of the new cameras:
» Eastbound Lee Highway at North Lynn Street
» Southbound Fort Myer Drive at westbound Lee Highway
» Westbound Lee Highway at Washington Boulevard
» Northbound North Glebe Road at Fairfax Drive
Note: All cameras scheduled for activation June 14.
Detective Crystal Nosal, a police spokeswoman, said a 30-day “awareness period” will go into effect whenever a new camera is installed at an intersection. Drivers photographed running red lights during the period will receive a warning in the mail, but will not rack up fines. “Obviously this will generate revenue, but that’s not our main focus. Our focus is to have safer intersections,” Nosal said of the county’s new camera program, dubbed “PhotoRED.”
Red light cameras reduce the number of crashes by 40 percent, according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The study also found that red light cameras promote safer driving in those areas — not just intersections — where cameras are present.
Arlington police said they chose the four sites for the new cameras based on the amount of pedestrian traffic and the frequency of vehicle crashes.
The county employed a photo enforcement program in 2005, but the General Assembly that year banned the use of traffic cameras.
“Some people felt it was a violation of privacy,” Nosal said.
But the state passed a new law in 2007 that allowed red light cameras, opening the door for Arlington’s new peepers. The new law requires the county to install “conspicuous signs” within 500 feet of the cameras to alert drivers, and Arlington police must conduct a public awareness program whenever new cameras are installed.
An Arlington County police officer will review and certify all camera violations before fines are issued.
