I was on GCS city council in 2011 when we decided in favor of the Red Light Camera program. I still believe in the safety aspects of the program--nobody is so important that they need to jeopardize the safety of other motorists at a signalized intersection.
I do, however, see the trend to use red-light cameras as another piggy-bank for bloated government budgets. However, I notice that the amount of revenue generated by the program is declining based on the following current budget analysis:
2022: $1.034 million
2023: $0.761 million
2024: $0.668 million
2025: $0.800 million (Projected)
From the revenues generated by the City, approximately $0.260 million is paid to the equipment vendor. This leaves $0.540 million for the City general fund, less adjudication costs. The biggest revenue pigs is the State of Florida, which probably gets over $0.800 million annually from the five red-light monitors in the City.
I am OK with the program because if I run the red light and get caught, I don't get points against my license and increased insurance costs. In 2012 I was asked by an attorney to discuss traffic signal sequencing with respect to the red light laws. I told the judge that reducing the yellow light sequence from 4 seconds to 3 seconds was disingenuous and that County traffic signalization should be changed back to 4 seconds to allow safer transit through the intersection by vehicles who enter the intersection during a yellow light. I noticed a couple of months later that the yellow signal sequence had be changed back to 4 seconds.
There is a requirement in Chapter 316.0083 for municipalities that use red-light cameras to submit a report that discusses improvements to intersection safety. I don't know if the municipalities actually file this report.
New subscriber.
I was on GCS city council in 2011 when we decided in favor of the Red Light Camera program. I still believe in the safety aspects of the program--nobody is so important that they need to jeopardize the safety of other motorists at a signalized intersection.
I do, however, see the trend to use red-light cameras as another piggy-bank for bloated government budgets. However, I notice that the amount of revenue generated by the program is declining based on the following current budget analysis:
2022: $1.034 million
2023: $0.761 million
2024: $0.668 million
2025: $0.800 million (Projected)
From the revenues generated by the City, approximately $0.260 million is paid to the equipment vendor. This leaves $0.540 million for the City general fund, less adjudication costs. The biggest revenue pigs is the State of Florida, which probably gets over $0.800 million annually from the five red-light monitors in the City.
I am OK with the program because if I run the red light and get caught, I don't get points against my license and increased insurance costs. In 2012 I was asked by an attorney to discuss traffic signal sequencing with respect to the red light laws. I told the judge that reducing the yellow light sequence from 4 seconds to 3 seconds was disingenuous and that County traffic signalization should be changed back to 4 seconds to allow safer transit through the intersection by vehicles who enter the intersection during a yellow light. I noticed a couple of months later that the yellow signal sequence had be changed back to 4 seconds.
There is a requirement in Chapter 316.0083 for municipalities that use red-light cameras to submit a report that discusses improvements to intersection safety. I don't know if the municipalities actually file this report.
That is what I know.