Study Shows New Jersey Supports Use of Red Light Cameras

A recent study by The National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR) revealed that a majority of New Jersey residents support the use of red light safety cameras. The state is currently trying out a five-year pilot program for red light cameras across 17 municipalities.

A red light camera is a camera placed a few feet back from an intersection that catches people as they violate a red light by recording the car's license plate.

The program, though, has yet to reach West Orange. 

"There was word from the state that they were not going to approve any additional ones," said West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi.

Business administrator Jack Sayers said the state sent out a memo last year that said the program was full and not accepting more applications. 

The study showed that 77 percent of registered voters favored the use of cameras at busy intersections, while 43 percent "strongly support" the measure. 

Roughly half of 600 polled said they drive more cautiously knowing that red light cameras are lurking at street intersections. 

The study also showed that people were in favor of red light cameras near schools and construction areas. 

About three-quarter of those polled said they supported the cameras for the safety of drivers and pedestrians, and a little more than half said they favored the measure as a way of preventing law violations. 

The new study follows a national survey conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showing that a majority of drivers in cities with red light programsm support their use. According to the survey, two-thirds of drivers in 14 big cities with established red light camera programs are in favor of the cameras, and more than 90 percent of drivers surveyed in the 14 cities believe red light running is unacceptable. More than 80 percent says it's a serious threat to personal safety.

Sayers said the township has yet to follow up with the state on the status of the program since last year. "Right now, it's on the back burner," he said. "It's a revenue generator and it's something we would consider." 

But even if the state lifted the limit on applications to the program, Parisi said the move was not something he was prioritizing right now. 

"We need to enforce the laws but I don't necessarily agree with that 'gotcha' mentality," said Parisi. "We want our roads to be safe and our motorists to be safe and until we have more information, we're not prepared to move on that."  

The red light camera program was introduced in  and explaned by Charles Callari, New Jersey regional business development director at American Traffic Solutions.

At the meeting he said there would be no out-of-pocket expenses for the municipality or no up-front costs to install the cameras. Instead, the company would take a portion of the revenue received. A red light camera violation in New Jersey is an $85 fine with $46 going to the municipality, $27.50 to the county and $11.50 to the state.